Monthly Archives: March 2012

Top FiveGreen Value for Money Home Improvements

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High quality, desirable home improvements such as loft conversions and double glazing can be a good way to make your home more comfortable, and increase its value on the market.  They can also help to lessen the impact your family has on the environment and could save you money on utilities. Poorly chosen, or botched home improvements, however, can do a lot of harm to your home.  Before you rush out to hire some contractors or pick up tools yourself, check out this list of home improvements that can be great value for money.  Perhaps one of these should top your renovation list?

1. Double Glazing

If you don’t have double glazing already, then you should definitely consider getting it installed.  It will make your home quieter and less draughty, reduce your heating bills, and increase the value of your home.  Installation is usually a fairly quick process too.

2. A Loft Conversion

Loft conversions are a good way to increase the amount of space available in your home.  They also do this without the environmental impact of a regular extension to your home as no further foundations are required. Simple loft conversions (such as adding an extra bedroom) can be fairly inexpensive.  If you pay a little extra to get an en-suite bathroom installed too, then this will add a lot of value to your home.  Check with an real estate agent before you opt for a loft conversion if your primary concern is return on investment.  It is possible to “over-upgrade” your home compared to others in the area.

3. Insulation

Insulating your home might not enhance its looks but you’ll definitely feel the benefit next winter, adding insulation to your roof and walls is quick cheap and will instantly reduce your bills.

4. Installing or Upgrading Central Heating

Adding central heating to a home that does not currently have it can increase the value of the property by up to 13%.  If your home already has central heating, but it’s fairly old, then it may be worth investing in a new energy-efficient boiler.  It may not be the most exciting of home improvements, but it could save you a lot of money on your heating bills, and will make your home more appealing to eco-conscious buyers.

5. Open Plan Living

If you’ve just invested in a loft conversion, and have moved your bedrooms upstairs, then why not open up some space and try open-plan living?  The benefits are numerous – a nice sociable living space, lots of natural light, and plenty of fresh air.  Open plan living is best suited for households with older children, and no pets, as a shared kitchen/living space can be dangerous if you have young children running around.  If your lifestyle suits it, though, it’s a nice way to live, and can appeal to a lot of buyers.

This post was written on behalf of Buckley Loft Conversions by James Harper.

Creative Ways to Reuse Carpet

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In today’s world there is a big push toward reducing, recycling and reusing the materials that we use in our day to day lives. For many materials such as glass and metal this is a straightforward process and as time goes by more facilities become available for recycling different materials.

However, some materials prove difficult to recycle to this day. One such material is carpet. Many carpets are petroleum based and therefore non-renewable, yet after redecorating countless carpets go to waste each and every year. Instead of sending a carpet off to the local landfill there are some creative ways to reuse this valuable material.

A touch of luxury for a dog

What may have already served its useful life for a person may be highly desirable for the family pet. If the dog sleeps outside carpet could be used on the floor of the doghouse. Not only would this offer a degree of comfort for the dog but it would also insulate the dog from the cold ground underneath.

If the dog sleeps inside the old carpet could still prove to be useful. It could be cut to size and then used to line the bottom of the dog’s basket or cage. Again, it would offer an element of comfort and insulation for the dog.

A fully equipped playhouse

Many young children have a desire to have a den in the garden, somewhere that is theirs and theirs alone. Often they have grand plans for this den. An old carpet can help to satisfy this desire by bringing an element of the home into the garden.

The carpet could be used in a child’s playhouse or even in a tree house to bring a level of comfort and insulation. Moreover, the carpet could be used to make safe surfaces that would otherwise prove to be slippery when wet.

Mats for the home or the car

When cut down to size sections of old carpet can make ideal door mats and car mats alike. Such a mat could be placed at the entrance to the home or in the garage to wipe mud and other dirt from shoes on entering. Sections of old carpet could also be used for the storage of dirty shoes to protect the newer carpet underneath.

Old carpet could prove to be useful in the car, protecting the fitted trim of the vehicle or even the floor of the boot. This can serve to make the cleaning of the car more straightforward and can ensure that the car looks newer for longer without damage to the upholstery.

Before consigning an old carpet to the landfill site where it will stay in a hole in the ground for the foreseeable future it is worth considering what uses could be found for it. Whether adding comfort and insulation for a doghouse or a child’s outdoor playhouse or providing protection from dirty shoes for the car or the home an old carpet may still have life in it yet.

This post was written by James Harper on behalf of Stewart Groom Flooring.

Improving your Home’s Kerb Appeal

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Many people, when looking for a new home to buy, will immediately make a decision on a house based on its kerb appeal. The kerb appeal of the house is the view that potential buyers will get when they first look at the house from outside or when they first drive by. It is for this reason that it is very important for anyone wanting to sell their house to spend a little time considering the kerb appeal of their property and how to improve it.

It is easy to improve a property’s kerb appeal simply by spending a little time outside the front of the home and making home improvements. Admittedly, this can be very difficult for homeowners that view their home every day. Seeing faults can be difficult but it is vital to ensuring that the home will not be immediately written off by anyone who views the exterior of the home.

View your home as a potential buyer would

Before beginning home improvements to the exterior of a home it is important to try and look at a home as a first time viewer would see the house. Try and see and positive aspects of the front of the house and make a mental note to highlight these areas. Make a note also of any glaring faults with the front of the home and improve or minimise these areas.

Mould and mildew are two of the biggest problems with many home and these can instantly turn a person off buying a home. Mould and mildew do not look attractive. Although a home owner may grow accustomed to seeing such sights every day and may not notice them, be assured that a first time buyer will notice. It is just as important to make sure that any paving slabs are clean and do not have weeds growing in between the cracks.

Green is good

If your home boasts some of the latest green innovations like solar panels and double (or even better triple) glazed windows and properly fitted frames, these benefits will shine out to potential buyers looking to save on energy bills.

Tidiness can make a big difference

Making the front of the home appear neat and tidy is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve the appearance of a home. Toys in the front garden or gardening implements will all make the outside of the home look untidy and disorganised. This may have a negative impact on how the viewers see the inside of the home also.

Another very effective way in which to improve the kerb appeal of a home is by making the most of the windows and the window frames at the front of the house. If these are shabby or look dirty then consider purchasing some new window frames. If this is not possible then ensure that all guttering around the house and all the window frames and windows are thoroughly cleaned and look great.

Overall, it is easy to make a big difference to the kerb appeal of a home simply by making small changes. Ensuring all window frames and guttering are clean, that the garden is neat and tidy, weed-free and all mould and mildew are cleaned away will ensure that any home looks the best from the kerb that it possibly can.