Now it’s so cold outside, chances are you’ve been spending a lot more time indoors than you do during the warmer months. So while you’re there, why not put the cold snap to some good use and start adding some value to your house? “It will give you something to do when the nights are drawing in, and could present a great investment opportunity if you’re thinking about selling in the future” suggests Battersea estate agent, Eden Harper.
Here are some of the best home improvement projects you can work on during winter time.
Decorating
A splash of colour is a welcome mood booster at this time of year, and even if you don’t want to go for something too bold you can give your home a new lease of life by smartening up the paintwork. Go for low odour paints so you don’t have to lose precious heat through open windows.
Carpets and floors
If your wooden or laminate floors are looking unloved or your carpet has seen better days, now is a great time to make a change. A new carpet provides instant comfort and insulation- perfect during the winter months- and a new hardwood floor is a great way to add some glamour.
Clear the Clutter
Your house is probably groaning with new stuff from Christmas, so if you’re struggling for space January is the perfect time to de-clutter. This month is traditionally the time we make changes and get organised for the year ahead, and having a good sort out is good for the soul. You can also make a little extra cash at boot sales and online by selling the things you no longer use- perfect if the purse strings are a little tight after the festive period.
A word of warning from Knightsbridge estate agent, Plaza Estates: “ When decluttering, it’s best to start small and then work up. If you tackle the whole house all at the same time you’re on track to a lot of stress and misery- do one bit at a time and you’ll be spurred on to do more.” In addition, after decluttering and sorting items, you might need to hire junk removal services to collect items that you no longer need.
Smarten up the Bathroom
If your bathroom tiles are looking a bit grotty or your grouting is discoloured, you may as well deal with it now. And if you have the budget, why not go all out on a new bathroom suite? This is one of the most common and profitable home improvements out there, with a clean shiny new bathroom suite adding an average of 3% the overall value- great if you’re thinking about moving on to pastures new in 2018.
Get Insulated
It might not be the most exciting of your home improvement options, but good insulation is worth its weight in gold when it comes to comfort and cutting down on energy bills. If you can afford wall to wall insulation and heated flooring then go for it, but there are some DIY shortcuts you can take that are also surprisingly effective. But it is always recommended to seek out help from experts like a wall insulation service.
“If you’re suffering from cabin fever it makes good sense to put all that time you’re spending at home to use” says Pimlico estate agent, Andrew Reeves. It will help you stay active, improve the look of your home and add to your investments- that sounds like a win-win to us!
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