Home improvements

Should I invest in a new bathroom or kitchen before putting my home on the market?

In most cases we would advise that it is not worth spending money on a new bathroom or kitchen if you’re thinking of moving house in the short-term. If however you plan to move in three years’ time or longer, it may be worth fitting a new kitchen or bathroom as you will enjoy living in your home over the intervening period with the benefit of the improvement and it will also help the marketing campaign when you do come to sell your home

Which is better – a wood burner or an open fireplace?

Either a wood burner or an open fireplace would be very popular with buyers and are a definite asset to any sitting room, with the difference between the two being primarily a question of personal taste. If you are deciding whether to install one or the other, our advice would be that a wood burner would probably have the edge as they often generate more heat than an open fire and are considered more energy efficient. When not in use, an open fireplace can allow draughts into the home and open fires may be more hassle to clean after use

Should I invest in a high-end outdoor seating area in my garden before bringing my property to the market?

During the pandemic, attractive seating areas were very much in vogue and many people upgraded their patios or installed a pizza oven or good quality built-in seating. Now that we are all free to socialize in restaurants and pubs again, the value of investing in a premium seating area has reduced. In most cases it may be better to spend on the quality and presentation of the garden overall. A well-presented garden, perhaps with a nice lawn, will appeal to a wide range of buyers.

Should I decommission an oil-fired heating system in favour of an air source or ground source heat pump?

As I write, the excessively high energy prices of the past winter have reduced to more affordable levels but we do not know whether costs will rise again in the coming winter and oil-fired heating remains an expensive option. The government has struggled to help promote renewable energy (and has struggled to discourage traditional heating options) so there is not currently a level playing field. Some homeowners have benefited from a renewable heating incentive payment while others have missed out.

Carbon remains very much the buzzword and the question is whether in the future any government will penalize homeowners for burning fossil fuels. We don’t know the answer but the UK has a goal to generate all electricity from fossil-free sources by 2035 and to be entirely carbon neutral by 2050. All measures that a homeowner can take to improve the insulation of one’s home are therefore worth the investment and it is certainly worth considering renewable heating systems, perhaps in parallel with solar panels.

Should I invest in a new driveway if I want to sell my home?

The entrance to a property is important and will always make an impression – good or bad – on the person viewing the property. One has a limited time during a viewing to convince the potential purchaser that your home is ‘the one’ so the driveway is worth an investment of your time and money. If you have a gravel driveway, make sure the gravel is even, well maintained, and an adequate depth. If you have a paved driveway, keep it weed free and ensure it is power-washed before any viewings begin.