Do-It-Yourself activities can add real value to your home but if not properly executed, they can also have devastating effects.
This bank holiday, the National Association of Estate Agents is warning home owners to think twice before embarking on ambitious home improvement plans.
NAEA has the following tips for those considering DIY this bank holiday weekend:
New walls
Having freshly painted walls seems to be the favoured option among home improvements; however this can often be a thankless task if it involves removing wallpaper. Don’t be tempted to paint over patterned wallpaper; it makes the paper harder to remove and it can still show through. If you do decide to remove wallpaper, remember it takes a long time and usually requires the purchase or hire of a steamer to ensure a professional finish; if you don’t you could destroy the drywall and create a pitted surface on which to paint. If you live in an old house, check if the walls are lath and plaster – if so, proceed VERY carefully or you may remove the wall with the paper!
Refreshing your kitchen
You don’t necessarily need a brand new kitchen to improve your home. For better financial returns, focus on the simple touches: blinds rather than curtains or new cupboard handles. A new work surface can add real value, but employing a professional joiner rather than DIY is preferable here!
Bathroom revival
Updating old fixtures, re-grouting and repainting with mould resistant paint is usually the best way of updating a tired bathroom if you're on a budget. Installing new fixtures is one for the experts, but you can make a real difference with some simple tile surrounds, matching towels and a new loo seat!
Outdoor space
As its August bank holiday, if the weather is kind to us, outdoor home improvements are appealing. Trimming back overgrown hedges and shrubs, planting colourful seasonal flowers and mowing the lawn are easily achievable. Keep the big tasks such as installing decking, which has the potential to damage housing foundations, or paving, to the experts.
Don’t be dated
Finally, remember that like fashions, household trends change, even on an annual basis with some things. If you’re preparing your home for sale, don’t opt for the design or colour that’s right in vogue, because it won’t be to everyone’s taste. Instead choose something classic and neutral that will be easy for most people to imagine themselves living with, and that will stand the test of time.
Jan Hÿtch, President of the National Association of Estate Agents, said:
“In a tough market, DIY home improvements can seem like the best way to increase the saleability of your home and the bank holiday presents us with the perfect opportunity. TV DIY shows have made amateur tradesmen of us all, however there are some notable pit falls that home owners should be aware of before embarking on improvement efforts.
“It’s important to realise that some changes add more value than others and it’s a risky game to start a big project if you don’t have the skill set to finish it. Stripping the papered walls in favour of white paint, or building garden decking to create a new outdoor space are two examples of how DIY could add real value, but also have the potential to devalue a home if done badly. If you are planning on selling your home, always run any significant plans past a NAEA member, who can give you professional advice on what changes will add value and which ones won’t, or which ones should be left to a qualified tradesman. NAEA members have their finger on the pulse as to what attracts buyers, and will be more than happy to share their knowledge with you.”
