All posts tagged: DIY hacks

Your loft could add £18k value to your home – if used right

Your loft could add £18k value to your home – if used right

Estate agents claim most homes are not using the space to its full potential (Image: Getty) A usable loft can add nearly £18,000 to the value of a family home and make it easier to sell, according to estate agents. Research involving 500 property brokers found a boarded and easily accessible roof space adds £17,677 to a four-bedroom property, £13,821 to a three-bed, and £9,867 to a two-bed. With the property market firmly in buyers’ hands, sellers are under pressure to make their homes stand out with affordable ways to increase appeal and value. Nearly nine in 10 (88%) agents confirmed that the homeowners they represent are increasingly looking for cost-effective ways to add value without the expense of an extension or a full renovation. Experts said the answer could be right above their heads, providing a significant return on an investment for as little as £260, achieved through raised loft boarding and insulation work. It comes after research commissioned by LoftZone found that properly fixing up a loft was named the most overlooked method …

Breaking ‘8am to 1pm’ rule on Saturdays could lead to £5k fine | UK | News

Breaking ‘8am to 1pm’ rule on Saturdays could lead to £5k fine | UK | News

Homeowners and builders should avoid breaking regulations set by their local council, or risk penalties (stock image) (Image: Getty ) People throughout the UK are being reminded of a weekend ‘rule’ ahead of spring, as numerous homeowners are poised to commence house improvements and DIY garden renovations. Typically, the prime time homeowners start working on their properties is between March and May, according to Zoopla. As the weather gets warmer, people often show increased interest in home improvement projects, making it the most active time to start renovations. After a chilly and damp winter, spring is often viewed as the perfect time to revitalise your home and garden. However, anyone planning any significant construction work in a densely populated residential area should be aware of a ‘noise rule’. Across the UK, the standard time for noisy construction work to commence is between 8am and 6pm from Monday to Friday, and between 8am and 1pm on Saturdays. Noisy work outside of these times could put you at risk of falling foul of not only your neighbours …

Brits miss out on £1,600 by not doing one simple thing | UK | News

Brits miss out on £1,600 by not doing one simple thing | UK | News

Brits may be missing out on an average of £1,600 by not checking the value of their car before they put it up for sale.   According to new research, 45% are unhappy about the amount of money we get for our vehicles, with a quarter saying they’ve lost out because they didn’t know its true value. The root of the problem, according to the study commissioned by Autotrader, is that 44% of British drivers don’t know what their car is worth or how to check it. (51%).  Experts at the automotive marketplace say that this means the average person could miss out on £1,600 – a month’s salary after tax for many. Erin Baker, editorial director at Autotrader, said: “So many people worry they’re not getting the best deal when they sell their car, and the research shows that fear is justified.” The survey suggests that a major issue is misconceptions around car sales and valuations. Almost a third (29%) of those polled think that getting a car valued takes several hours rather than a …