In the current climate, many homeowners are electing to improve their property in the hope of adding to it’s market value; but sadly, it seems that many are making expensive mistakes.

Homeowners looking to make improvements - specifically with the aim of increasing the value of their property should think about practical, functional improvements which will have broad appeal - rather than putting an ‘individual’ stamp on their homes.

Below are our top five home improvement blunders, which are likely to detract from your home rather than adding value:

1. Outdoor Hot Tubs - whilst this might seem like a nice idea, they’re rarely used. They also take up space in the garden and require maintenance. They’re also expensive, and not likely to add anything to the value of your property.
2. Extravagant Kitchens - whilst a kitchen can really sell a property - rather than choosing something ‘bold’ - go for a clean unfussy design that is likely to appeal to the broadest audience.
3. Crazy Bathrooms - again, if you’re looking to sell your property a clean, unfussy white bathroom suite is what you need. ‘Individual’ touches are not required (you might love the barbie pink floor tiles, but others might not).
4. Eccentric Decor - buyers look for high quality finishes, not gimmicks. Neutral colours often work best - you can always add splashes of colour via furnishings, cushions, rugs, artwork etc. These are easier for buyers to see past if they are not to their taste. 
5. Unsympathetic Renovations - stripping a Georgian cottage of all it’s character to try to create modern open plan living is a definite no-no. Likewise a period fireplace in a new build is probably not the best way to spend your money. Be sympathetic to the style and character of the property you own. 

So what should you do? 

Nationwide Building Society suggests that home owners should focus on functional renovations in order to stand the best chance of boosting the market value of their home:

1. A 10% increase in floor space (i.e. square footage) adds between 5%-7% to the value of a property. However, the additional space needs to be usable - e.g. add a conservatory, home office or similar.
2. Adding an extra bedroom and en suite bathroom via a loft conversion or by extending over the garage can add 11%-20% to a property (for those homes that are expanding from a two bedroom to a three bedroom, or those that are expanding from a three bedroom to a four bedroom).
3. Energy-efficiency measures such as double glazing can also boost a home’s value and make it easier to sell. If you are selling or renting your home, you’ll need to provide prospective buyers / tenants with an energy performance certificate; undoubtedly homes which are more energy efficient are likely to appeal more. 

Other top tips:

1. It’s worth spending money making sure your home has curb appeal - make sure your front garden and driveway are presentable and your front door is well maintained - you don’t want people to be turned off before they’ve even entered your property.
2. If you do have an extension make sure that you get the necessary planning consent. If you don’t have the consent, then a buyer is unlikely to go ahead and purchase your property, as they may be asked to take the extension down.

Want to Go Green?

If you’re thinking about replacing your windows with a more energy efficient alternative, you’ll be pleased to hear that the GGF have launched their carbon calculator.

Who are the GGF?

GGF stands for the Glass and Glazing Federation. The GGF is a trade association for companies who make, supply and fit glass and glazing products.

The calculator was developed by the GGF in conjunction with the government and the Energy Savings Trust who have verified the calculations.

The Carbon Calculator

The Carbon Calculator is a simple tool which allows homeowners to calculate how much they could save on their energy bills, and how much they could reduce their carbon footprint through the installation of energy efficient double glazing.

Best of all it illustrates how the highest rated (’A’ rated) energy efficient windows perform versus those rated ‘B’ to ‘G’. So you can see for yourself the saving you’ll make if you elect to have ‘A’ rated windows installed, versus ‘C’ rated windows.

How to Use the Carbon Calculator

Click here, then simply enter:

1. The type of windows you currently have
2. The kind of property which you live in
3. The approximate size of the windows you are planning to replace
4. The type of fuel you use
5. The rating of your replacement windows

The calculator will then return your annual savings, the total savings made over a period of years and the total amount of carbon you will save.

Here at SEHBAC we think that this is an amazing tool, and will be very useful for consumers who are keen to understand the benefits of installing energy efficient windows; and helping them to decide which rating they should go for.

Further Reading…

If you’re looking at replacing your windows and are particularly interested in energy saving you might find our other blog posts on the subject useful:

Energy Savings - a Question of Trust

What are Energy Efficient Window Ratings?

If you have any questions, or further queries with regard to energy efficiency and/or double glazing we’d be happy to help. Please leave a comment on this post, call us on 0800 666 444 or drop into one of our show centres where our staff will be happy to assist you.

Image credit kevindooley

Whilst PVCU is exceedingly durable and therefore requires very little maintenance, in order to keep your PVCU windows looking their best (and indeed functioning well), we’ve pulled together some simple cleaning and maintenance tips.

Have you got a tip you’d care to share? Please let us know in the comments!

How to clean PVCU surrounds:

When researching this article we were amazed at the number of tips out there for cleaning PVCU. For the most part it is safe to use any light household cleaners on PVCU, and a little washing up liquid diluted in warm water will remove most of the dirt from the PVCU surrounds.

However if you have heavier soiling and need to use something a little stronger we would recommend the use of a cream bathroom style cleaner such as Cif, or a specialist PVC cleaning fluid. Whatever you’re using it’s best to double check the suitability of the product prior to going ahead (most cleaning agents will tell you which materials their product can be used on). If in doubt, test the cleaner on a small inconspicuous area first.

Whichever type of cleaning agent you use, make sure that your rinse the PVCU surrounds thoroughly to ensure that no residue is left.

Likewise consider which type of cleaning cloths you are using - ideally use a soft cloth or a sponge. If you have to remove very stubborn dirt, then you could try a non-scratch washing up sponge. But under no circumstances use a very abrasive cloth - e.g. a steel cleaning pad as you run the risk of scratching the PVCU.

How to clean your windows:

We could talk top glass cleaning tips forever and a day (but you might get bored, and we wouldn’t want that).

Personally, I use warm water with a little washing up liquid to get rid of surface dirt, then dry the window. To get rid of streaks polish with crumpled newspaper.

Alternatively there are many specialist glass and window cleaners on the market that also do an excellent job.

How to clean window sills:

Again, most light cleaning agents are perfectly safe to use on wooden window sills, provided that they do not react with the lacquer or paint which they have been treated with - again check the manufacturers recommendations - if your cleaning product says do not use on painted or varnished surfaces, then find a suitable alternative.

Basic Maintenance:

Around once a year check the moving parts of the window fittings and (if required) apply silicone grease or vaseline to the moving parts so the window continues to move smoothly.

Likewise cheack that none of the screws in the fittings are loose - tighten them if necessary.

Please note, most windows are supplied with a guarantee, and in order for it to remain valid you may find that any repairs need to be made by the company who originally fitted the windows. Therefore, if when checking your windows you spot something which you suspect might be a little more serious then it’s best to contact your window supplier directly, rather than trying to fix the problem yourself, as you may render your guarantee invalid. If your windows are still under guarantee then you’ll probably find that the original supplier will come out and resolve any problems for you.

Image credit newlivinghouston

Who to trust?

When seeking advice about anything it’s always difficult to know who to trust. It seems that when it comes to energy savings, consumers are really struggling.

According to a recent survey by the Energy Saving Trust only 17% of consumers trust the energy saving advice of those tradespeople who are undertaking work for them. 

It’s problematic.

We’re not going to sit here and tell you that you should trust us. There are an awful lot of cowboys out there and to be perfectly honest, you’re right to be suspicious.

What are the motivations of those people trying to sell you an energy saving solution? Are they just trying to sell you a more expensive product that you don’t really need?

Unfortunately this hesitancy could cost you dearly. Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said “Real cost savings - in terms of labour and minimising disruption - are on offer to householders who employ tradespeople to install energy-efficiency measures when they are in doing other work.”

So, on balance - what’s a green consumer to do if they’re not sure who to trust?

Well, we’d recommend that you take the time to educate yourself. According to the Energy Saving Trust you could save up to £340 annually on your household bills. Plus as all homes for sale or rent now need to have Energy Performance Certificates, a low rating may make your home harder to sell or rent in the future.

So, where to start?

We’ve pulled together a list of impartial resources which we think you might find useful:

The Energy Saving Trust are a non-profit organisation set up to provide free impartial advice on how to save money and fight climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions from your home. On their website you can compare products, read more about how to reduce carbon emissions and search for grants.

The BFRC (British Fenestration Rating Council) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the glazing industry’s trade association, the Glass and Glazing Federation. It is the UK’s national system for rating Energy Efficient Windows and on their website you’ll find everything you need to know about the ratings, the labels and what they mean.

The Government also provide guidance and further information on energy savings - offering tips, further explanations and useful links.

You might also like to have a look at the National Energy Federation website - there you can learn more about climate change and how to cut your carbon emissions. They’ve also got a great page where they bust some energy myths - interesting reading.

Finally, check out FENSA, they partner with the Energy Saving Trust and the British Fenestration Rating Council, from an energy savings perspective, so make sure your selected supplier is registered with them - if they’re not, our advice would be to find yourself an alternative supplier.

Obviously if you are looking for help and advice, we’d also be happy to help, why not visit one of our show centres, call us on 0800 666 444 or book a home visit.

Image credit phauly