Tag: Gardening

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How to add value to your home – part 2

Add value to your home with ASK Building & Repairs

In our previous blog, we visited the topic of adding value to your home and what you can do to get the selling price you’re after. As a building and repair company in Derby, we’re often asked to make improvements to properties to make them more appealing to potential buyers. Providing advice on home improvements is what we do!

From small maintenance tasks such as updating paintwork to bigger projects like insulating the loft, we can help get your home ready for selling so viewers think it’s worth every penny. Here’s how to add value to your home.

Resolve structural issues

As much as decorating and updating the inside of your home can boost its appeal, cosmetic improvements are fairly pointless unless any structural issues are addressed first. These can include external defects such as a leaking roof, missing roof tiles and a broken chimney stack, or internal problems like dampness, structural cracks in the walls or a collapsed floor.

This sort of work will be at the more expensive end of the scale when it comes to getting your home market-ready, but failing to address these tasks could make a big difference to the figure you sell it for. It’s best to discuss any structural issues with a builder or surveyor who will offer professional advice on resolving them. Once your home’s foundation is secure, you can update its aesthetics, knowing you’re in a better position to ask for the selling price you want.

Rewiring an old house

Whether you’re selling the house you’re living in or buying a property to renovate and market for a profit, the electrics may need updating if the building is old. Rewiring the house might well cause some disruption, but installing a modern unit with an RCD (residual current device) is a valuable safety feature because it will automatically switch off the electricity if there is a fault. If you reassess the electrics, adding an extractor fan in the bathroom is also worth considering. This is especially important if the room isn’t well-ventilated, as this accelerates the growth of mould.

You could also think about updating the lighting to make the most of the available space or add extra sockets to make the home more user-friendly. If you’re unsure whether your property needs rewiring or in need of an electrical update, you can speak to us for advice so you can make an informed decision.

Insulate your loft to improve your EPC rating

As energy bills remain sky-high and the cost of living shows no sign of changing, a home that saves money will stand out to a potential buyer. One of the ways you can add value to your property is by insulting your loft and making it more energy efficient. Up to 25% of the heat lost will be through the roof, so making this change has the potential to significantly reduce your outgoings. Providing advice on home improvements is what we do!

How it adds value to your home

This will increase the EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating, which many buyers check before even viewing a property. Because economic features are very much on the radar, people can often be willing to spend more on a property if they can see their long-term outgoings will be less. What’s more, there is a direct link between improved EPC rating and higher property value, so opting to get your loft insulated could see you get the selling price you’re after.

Project in mind? – How to add value to your home

Whether you have a big project in mind or have a snag list of smaller jobs to get through, ASK Building and Repairs can take the pressure off your shoulders and free up your time. We are based in Derby and are happy to view properties throughout the Midlands to provide a non-obligation quote and discuss the work in person. If you’d like to speak to us, please call 07773 019 410 or alternatively, you can email info@askbuildingandrepairs.com.

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How to add value to your home – Part 1

Update your garden with ASK Building & Repairs to add value to your home

If you’re thinking of selling your home, it’s important to add as much value to it as possible. This doesn’t always mean you need to begin a big construction project or renovate every aspect of the property, but there are repair and maintenance jobs that will make a big difference to its appeal.

How to add value to your home

First impressions count for a lot when you’re trying to sell up, but as a building company in Derby, we can take the pressure off and help to make your home as desirable as possible for potential buyers. 

Update your home’s exterior to make the right impression  

The outside of your home is the first thing people will see, so it’s important to make sure it’s in good shape. Buyers are likely to decide whether they like a property before they’ve even set foot out of the car, so the exterior needs to make sure it sets the right tone for the rest of the viewing.

Repainting brickwork is a good starting point, along with making sure your doors and windows are clean and damage free. You could also repair any broken cladding or consider adding plants and a trellis to soften the property’s appearance. Sometimes even the smallest changes can make a huge difference to your home’s kerb appeal and help it sell for the price you want, so it’s worth focusing your attention on or hiring the skills of a professional.

Make sure your garden is neat and tidy

Making sure your garden is well-kept and tidy will reflect well on your home. You don’t necessarily need to re-design your backyard, but there are steps you can take to ensure potential buyers have a good first impression of your property.

Adding a fence (or fixing a broken one) will improve privacy, while a decking area will add a functional living area between the house and the garden. It’s also a good idea to carry out basic tasks such as weeding, cutting back overgrown hedges, and ensuring the lawn is mowed and well-kept. If this sounds like too much maintenance, then there is always the option of artificial grass. You could also add coloured plants or paving slabs to your garden to add interest or a patio area for relaxing. Whatever you choose, the main thing is to ensure your garden is neat and tidy and shows viewers its full potential. A landscape gardening company can advise and help ensure your front and back yard is an extension of your home.

Address any decorating work and focus on the small details

Painting and decorating are usually the first tasks that spring to mind when it comes to updating your home before it goes on the market. You don’t need to give every room in the house a makeover, but smoothing over the small details will make a big impact.

Painting over any scuff marks or watermarks, replacing loose wall tiles and filling in cracks in the ceiling are all tasks that should be ticked off your list before the estate agent takes photos. It’s also advisable to replace mouldy sealants in the bathroom, get rid of peeling paint and mend any dripping taps so potential buyers aren’t tempted to form a snag list of improvements. These jobs can be easily resolved if you’re a confident DIYer but are also covered by ASK if you want assistance or professional advice.

A range of building services provided by ASK Building & Repairs

As a building and repair company in Derby, we provide a range of services that will help to get your property ready for selling. From painting and decorating, to gardening and brick work, we can visit your home to discuss the work you’d like doing and provide you with a no-obligation quote.

Let us help you add value to your home

If you’d like to speak to us about the project you have in mind, please call ASK Building and Repairs on 07773 019 410 or email info@askbuildingandrepairs.com. He will answer any questions that you have and arrange an appointment to visit your property and discuss the work in person.

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Why spring is the perfect time to re-do your garden

Why winter is the best time for garden improvements

We tend to think about the garden improvements we’d like to make during the warmer months. Once the sun starts to shine and it’s warm enough to sit outside, we often turn our attention to the jobs that need doing and wonder whether it’s time to add that new decking, invest in a patio or even have the garden landscaped. But as much as summer can turn our attention to the outside of our homes, it is often too late to get the work done in time.

Garden Improvements in Derby

Although many businesses that provide gardening services in Derby receive the most enquiries during the summer, you might be surprised that the colder months are the best time to book the work you’d like. Knowing what changes you’d like to make to your garden when it’s cold and neglected over winter might be challenging, but here’s why thinking ahead can help.

Shorter turnaround times for Garden Improvements

If you contact a garden maintenance company in June because you’re interested in making improvements, there’s a good chance they’ll already be booked up. This could mean the transformation you’d dreamed of won’t be ready until later in the year when summer has passed, especially if the job is complex.

By planning and contacting businesses that provide gardening services in the early spring, you’ll be much better positioned to enjoy your new garden in the summer. No one wants to sit out on a warm evening with their garden in disarray because it’s being worked on. But by booking ahead in the cooler months, you’ll be able to appreciate the improvements that have taken place and really make the most of your garden once summer hits.

Garden Improvement materials are easier to source

Amid summer, garden materials are in high demand. For gardeners, getting hold of the right goods when needed can sometimes be easier said than done and lead to delayed projects. During the cooler months, these materials aren’t as sought after, meaning suppliers have a better chance of delivering them in the identified time period.

This is especially important if gardeners are working on a big transformation and don’t always know at what point in the project they’ll need certain materials. By booking in the work during quieter periods, suppliers will be more likely to keep up with demand and have the materials available when gardeners need them.

You don’t use your garden as much when it’s cold

When your garden is being worked on, things can get untidy. The digging up of soil and clearing of greenery can be messy, so your garden is often out of bounds when a project is being completed – hardly an ideal situation during the summer when you want to use it the most.

Because improvements to our gardens can make things seem a little disorganised when the project is in full swing, it’s best to book the work in when they’re in low use. By opting to have the work completed in the spring when temperatures can still be quite low, it won’t seem as inconvenient because you won’t be using your garden as much when it’s still a bit cold and damp outside.

Gardening projects can be more difficult in the summer

The ground tends to be softer in the winter and spring months before the high temperatures kick in, which is much easier for gardeners to work with. Whether you’ve chosen a patio, a new fence or decking, excavating the ground will be much quicker and easier if it isn’t rock-hard or very dry because of the sun. What’s more, shrubs and foliage often need to be moved during gardening projects, and they’ll be better protected if they’re not dug up and re-planted at the height of summer.

Learn more from ASK Building

If you’d like to learn more about how ASK Building and Repairs can help transform your garden, please call us on 07773 019 410 or email info@askbuildingandrepairs.com, and we’ll answer any questions that you have.

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