DIY Dream or Disaster!

In the current financial climate, many people are considering the benefits of making a move on the property ladder. Whether you’re looking to buy a first home, looking to up-size with a growing family or downsize; or searching for a more manageable property, everyone has their own concerns when making a move on the property ladder.

These concerns prompted Brandon Hire Station to take a look at what the expert opinions are on popular DIY trends and if they will add value to your property or not.

According to their Experts if you’re looking to make improvements before selling your property, investing in rooms such as the kitchen, and bathrooms has the potential to bolster selling, this is likely because when it comes to property searches these are the rooms that are most likely to have an impact on potential buyers. Clean tidy and modern rooms are more popular with buyers as it means that they will not have to spend too much time updating them.

As expert estate agent George Clover of Helmores Estate Agents explains that by just maintaining a clear, clutter-free garden with a tidy garden or lawn, you can make a huge difference in buyers’ impression without it costing too much. George also believes that homeowners should present their properties as best as they can without being “scared to leave some potential for the next owner.”

Often times a lot of DIY trends might not add value to your property but they might add appeal.

The Pros and Cons of Astroturf:

Astroturf, otherwise known as Artificial grass is a popular alternative to natural grass turf. Its benefits include that it doesn’t need water, fertilizer, or mowing, will look presentable all year round and is highly resistant to weeds. Astroturf is ideal if you want to avoid waterlogged turf, and if you want to avoid pest infestations

However, as well as being initially expensive, artificial grass has some downfalls too. Other than the environmental cost of removing natural resources for nature and insects, the additional benefits of natural grass are also lost such as the ability to soak up moisture and provide an organic habitat for other back garden creatures and critters. Other downfalls of this new type of turf are that it is made of plastic, can become unbearably hot underfoot, and after a few years may require replacing due to becoming flattened with frequent use.

Astroturf is very much to personal taste, so if you are considering installing it or replacing it before selling your house, you may want to reconsider as the additional cost before selling may not add any value to the property. If you want to make your garden look more presentable, quick tidying; fixing any broken gates trimming any overgrown plants and bushes and quick mowing the lawn will just as increase your property’s appeal, without the added cost.

Is adding a downstairs loo beneficial?

Perhaps one of the most overlooked additions to a property when you’ve living in it, is the prospect of an additional downstairs loo. Not only does a downstairs loo provide an easily accessible utility for those less capable of climbing stairs, an extra loo is also a big help if your main bathroom and toilet are in one room. This extra convenience allows there to always be an available facility if the main bathroom is out of use, such as in morning times when one member of the house needs to shower.

If you have the space and the funding to add an additional toilet and/or bathroom downstairs then it can really add to the value of a property as well as increase its selling appeal. Before installing one, consider all the costs of adding one including if you will need to add extra wiring or lighting, and how easy plumbing it into the house would be.

Adding value to one’s house might seem important, especially when looking to sell, but you should always keep in mind that whatever you put into improving the property, you’re not guaranteed to get it all back. Consider speaking to a registered property valuator to assess the current value of your property, and discuss what improvements could be made to improve its value before committing to any decisions.

However, if you are simply looking to improve your living quality, consider how long you expect to be living in your home, and make the decision on whether or not you will get the most out of these home improvements.