Having to spend so much time indoors during the various lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic made people face up to the work they needed to do on their homes.
Of course, home improvements often require a decent level of investment, which is even more difficult to budget for with inflation at a 40-year high amid a cost of living crisis.
If you’re in a position to crack on with doing up your property, though, we’ve got some handy tips to help you get your priorities in order and the job done quickly.
Where should I start?
If you’ve got a few rooms in need of freshening up in your house, it can be tough to figure out which should be your first port of call. The top ten areas of the home people tend to be interested in improving are as follows:
- Garden
- Bedroom
- Kitchen
- Bathroom
- Living room
- Hallway
- Dining room
- Loft
- Home office
- Utility room
Personal preference will always be a factor when choosing where to focus your efforts. However, if you have your eyes set on a potential move in the near future, prioritising the areas at the top of the list will help your home make a mark with prospective buyers.
The tools you’ll need
Hiring contractors to update each area of your property will quickly become costly. If you’re looking to undertake widespread renovations, it could be worth considering taking a DIY approach.
Of course, you’ll need to ensure you’ve got the best tools for the job before you get started. Rather than going for the cheapest options available, pick a renowned brand like DeWalt power tools so you know your equipment will be able to stand up to the challenge.
A drill, jigsaw, nail gun and multi-tool will be key for any indoor projects you undertake, while a hedge trimmer, chainsaw and blower are great for large-scale garden overhauls.
Think about adding value
Although you’ll get the benefit of living in a property that’s received some recent refurbishments, it’s only natural to want an additional return on your investment.
When you decide to upgrade a part of your house, it is worth prioritising areas that will help lift its overall value.
For example, converting a cellar could send the price of your house up 30%. Even simply sprucing up the front garden to improve your home’s kerb appeal could bring about an uplift of 2-3%.
That’s hardly something to be sniffed at and could easily equate to a fair few thousand pounds!
