asbestos

What is Asbestos and how do you get rid of it?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral made up of extremely small fibres. It was used in building construction commonly between 1945 and 1985 but was banned from use when the risks it can potentially bring were identified.

On average 20 tradesmen die every week as a result of asbestos exposure. Building contractors, plumbers, electricians and decorators are particularly at risk because they might interact with asbestos without realising that they are.

The management and responsibility of asbestos are laid out in Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

You are most likely to uncover asbestos in a number of places:

  1. Sprayed asbestos and asbestos loose packing, which is being used as fire protection
  2. Moulded or pre-formed lagging used as thermal insulation to pipes and boilers
  3. Asbestos Insulating Board used for fire protection and thermal insulation or as partitions and ducting
  4. Asbestos cement products which have most lily been moulded into corrugated roofing sheets, cladding, guttering, downpipes, flues and water tanks

If asbestos material is disturbed or if they are in poor condition, they release a huge number of needle-shaped fibres which can be inhaled into the lungs. These fibres can then lodge in the lungs and can lead to several diseases a number of which are fatal, namely lung cancer, asbestosis or mesothelioma. Click here, to learn more from the government.

Frighteningly your home has a 50% chance of containing asbestos but experts say that if the asbestos is not disturbed you are at little risk of harmful exposure, but the sites or pockets where asbestos may be harbouring must be regularly checked as a preventative measure

Who is responsible for maintenance or repair?

If you are responsible for maintenance or repair of premises or equipment, you are the duty holder and will need to follow the next steps, but this only applies to the following:

  • All non-domestic premises
  • The common parts of domestic premises

Testing for Asbestos

If you are not planning on undertaking any works and you have had your premises checked previously for asbestos you do not need to worry. But if on the other hand, there are a number of surveys you can have performed to determine asbestos’s presence:

  • Asbestos management survey
  • Refurbishment/Demolition survey
  • Brownfield Sites asbestos survey
  • Old Equipment pre-2000 guidance service

N.B. Before undertaking any asbestos work you are legally obliged to inform those at risk of any works you have planned.

Removing Asbestos

We highly recommend bringing in a professional to remove asbestos but if you believe you are qualified to remove it yourself then there are a number of steps you can take to do so.

The link below will take you to a website which will allow you to get in touch with someone to help you remove the asbestos from your home.

Before beginning asbestos removal work, however, it is essential that either yourself or contractors complete the ASB5 form and return it to the Health and Safety Team before starting.

Competence for removing asbestos is something that is formulated over time not just by taking a simple course, however, the recommended information is often learnt through the book in the link attached.

If you are in the process of moving house, consider taking out a bridging loan to save yourself the stress of waiting for a mortgage to clear and potentially losing your property altogether.


squatters

What happens if you have squatters?

Squatting is when a person enters a property on purpose without permission and lives there or has plans to live there. Squatting is occasionally referred to as “adverse possession”, but this is not a term you are likely to hear colloquially.

It is important to remember that squatting in a residential building is illegal. It can likely lead to 6 months in prison or alternatively a large fine, or in a worst-case scenario both.

A person who enters a property with the permission of the landlord or owner is not considered a squatter.

N.B. If you are renting a flat or house and you are late with your rent but you continue to live at the property you are not squatting if you continue to reside there.

What is legal and what is not because slightly more confusing when looking at the protocol surrounding squatting in a non-residential building or land. Whilst it isn’t technically a crime, it is a crime to damage the property.

It is also typically a crime not to live a property when you are asked or instructed to do so by a following number of persons:

  • The owner
  • The police
  • The council
  • A repossession order

Why do people squat?

Before dealing with the squatter it might be relevant to consider the motivations behind people choosing to squat.

The United Kingdom has a long history of issues with squatting however things became critical in the 1960s and 1970s as the youth became more interested in alternative lifestyles and became more politicised. However, these lifestyle squatters are in the minimum and it is mostly rough sleepers or other vulnerable groups who will be squatters. According to the homeless charity Crisis, 39% of homeless people have squatted for some period of time.

Removing Squatters

You can remove squatters uses two main processes. The first is called an Interim Possession Order or making a claim for possession.

N.B. Do not try to remove the squatters yourself by threatening them verbally or using physical force, because if you do this you are technically committing a crime

Interim Possession Orders

You are only eligible to apply for an IPO if it has been 28 days or fewer that you discovered your property is being squatted on.

The IPO has to be filled in and then sent to a county court. The court will then send a confirmation of receipt within a few days and they will also send you a number of extremely important documents that you must present to the squatters within a 48-hour time frame.

Once the squatters have themselves received the IPO they are at risk of going to prison if they don’t leave your property within 24 hours or they don’t stay away from your property for 12 months.

If you want to the final possession of the property in question you have to file a claim for possession. You can do this either as a part of your IPO application or separately online, it depends on your preference but both are valid.

N.B. You cannot use an IPO if you are also claiming for the damages caused by the squatters if this is the case you should make a normal claim for possession; or furthermore, the IPO does not apply if you are trying to evict former tenants, sub-tenants or licensees

N.B. It is important to remember that to have an interim possession order can often be as costly as a couple of thousand pounds.

Squatters' Rights

A squatter who has been residing or a property or piece of land can potentially become the registered owner even if they’ve occupied without the owner’s permission.

As a squatter who are eligible to apply for this if you fulfil the following conditions:

  • Either one or a succession of squatters have occupied the property for an uninterrupted period of 10 years or more
  • You or those who came before you have acted as if you were indeed legal owners of the poetry
  • You or any of the predecessors didn’t have the owners permission

How to keep squatters off your property?

As if fairly obvious having efficient security is one of the most crucial factors to preventing squatters from coming to settle on your property. If they force their way onto your property they have caused physical damage and this is an offence. If you are leaving your property for an extended period of time it might be worthwhile informing neighbours and other relevant individuals so they can keep an eye out on your property. There is a third option, which is to sign your property over to one of the numbers of UK property guardian schemes which look after properties of personal and commercial use on behalf of the owners.

What do you do if you suspect there are squatters in your neighbour's property?

If you are of the suspicion that someone might be squatting in your neighbour's house and you are aware that they have not asked for anyone to come stay there whilst they are away, it is the best course of action to call the police.

Where will a squatter live after they have been removed from the property?

If you were previously a squatter and then are removed from the property and have nowhere to reside there is the chance that the council may be able to rehouse you or help organise alternative residential plans for you.

For those who are in the process of buying a property but need to complete before they are likely to get a mortgage approved, see our information on bridging loans.


Eviction-notice

What happens when you get evicted?

Eviction is the removal of a tenant from rental property by the landlord. In some jurisdictions, it may also involve the removal of persons from premises that were foreclosed by a mortgage.

When you are being evicted it can sometimes be called seeking possession.

It is important to remember that you may be able to stop or delay eviction and advice for this can be provided through Citizens Advice or Shelter.

If your case is rushed to court you may be able to gain help from an advisor within the court perimeters.

Before evicting you, there are a number of steps that a landlord, council or housing association needs to go through (it is important to educate yourself however as these can change in certain circumstances and depending on certain types of tenancy). The basic steps before eviction are as follows:

  1. You will receive a written notice that the council or housing association plans to evict you
  2. If an agreement cannot be reached between the tenant and the organisation a court order for the purpose of possession can be put into place
  3. The court will then decide when you can be evicted
  4. If you don’t leave upon these notices, the bailiffs can forcibly remove you and your belongings

Section 21 Eviction Process

and-section-8-notices">A section 21 notice is the form your landlord must give you to start the process to end your shorthand tenancy. It gives you the notice to leave your home, but it is legal for you to stay in your home after it expires.

Your Landlord gets a possession order

If your and-money/rent-arrears/eviction-for-rent-arrears/">landlord wishes to evict you they will need to get a possession order from a court

If you are a private tenant with an assured shorthand tenancy, your landlord may have been granted a possession order without the need for a court hearing. You will be told to leave the property no longer than 14 days after the order is granted, although it may be possible to ask for this date to be delayed under certain circumstances. There are three main types of possession order that your landlord has the potential to be granted:

  • An outright possession order

- This will be issued if you are unable to convince the judge that you can keep up your rent payments and pay back what you owe. The possession order will state that you have to leave the property by a certain date. If you do not leave by this date your landlord will apply for a warrant of possession.

  • A suspended possession order

- A suspended possession order means that you are allowed to stay in your home as long as you keep up your rent payments and give back what you owe. If you do not stand by this arrangement then your landlord can go to the court and apply for a warrant of possession.

  • A postponed possession order
  • A postponed possession orders similar to a suspended possession order.

- It essentially means that you are allowed to stay in your home as long as you keep up the rent payments and pay back what you owe. If you do not stick to this arrangement then they will go through another procedure to evict you

If you are in the process of buying a property but do not have time to wait for a mortgage to clear, the solution may be a bridging loan. It is a loan which acts to "bridge the gap" between you and the mortgage coming in.


The difference between a secured loan and an unsecured loan

You may have come across terms ‘secured’ and ‘unsecured’ when it comes to loans. But what exactly does this mean? In fact, unsecured and secured loans are two very different things and to know the difference between the two is fairly vital before you go ahead and fill out any application forms for a loan of any kind. In this guide, we aim to clear up and confusion and provide clarity on what means if a loan claims to be secured or alternatively, unsecured.

What is a secured loan?

secured-loans

A secured loan is also referred to by some as a homeowner loan. This is because a secured loan has the debt associated with it linked (or ‘secured’) to the loan borrower’s property. Therefore, it becomes obvious that secured loans are only available to be taken out by people who already own or are buying their own homes. A secured loan can be used to borrow anything from the £5,000 mark and upwards.

With a secured loan, the amount you are entitled to borrow, the duration of the loan agreement and the amount of interest which will be offered is wholly dependent on personal circumstances and the amount of free equity which you have in your property.

Essentially, free equity is the difference between the amount you will owe on your mortgage and the actual value of your home.

What is an unsecured loan?

Now we are looking at an unsecured loan. An unsecured personal loan is available to those who have at least a fairly decent credit score. With an unsecured loan, what differs mainly is that you do not have to be a homeowner to obtain it. You can use an unsecured loan to borrow anything which ranges from £1,000 to £25,000. However, keep in mind that they are generally at their cheapest when you are borrowing between £7,500 and £15,000.

To avoid paying more than you should, be sure to always check the terms and conditions for any charges and fees which may not be initially clear, such as an early repayment penalty.

Pros and Cons

Let’s talk about the advantages and disadvantages of both secured and unsecured loans to compare and contrast what is best for you.

Pros of a Secured Loan

  • Taking out a secured loan will mean that the repayment period is usually going to be longer. Meanwhile the fixed monthly payments should make it easy for you to manage the repayments as a whole.
  • The amount available to borrow for via a secured loan is usually much higher than that of a personal loan, which will only go up to about £25,000 in most cases.
  • If you do not have an excellent credit history, you may just find that you actually have little choice but to take out a secured loan over a personal loan. With your property acting as security, you will be seen less as a risk and it will make the loan easier to qualify for.

Cons of a Secured Loan

  • With a secured loan, you will need to keep up repayments or risk losing your home as collateral.
  • There is the potential to be fees and charges such as early repayment penalties as they could increase the cost of borrowing.

Pros of an Unsecured Loan

  • Unsecured loans are more widely available to a larger proportion of people. You do not have to be a homeowner. For example, in the case of online payday loans, you may be a tenant, but still eligible for the loan
  • Flexibility is offered in terms of choice as to how long you have to repay the loan – most loan borrowers opt to make fixed repayments for a period of between one to five years.
  • You may find that some unsecured loans come with the option of a ‘payment holiday’ which can be about two or three months are the start of your agreements.
  • Typically, the best loan rates are for borrowers of an unsecured loan who are looking to repay what they borrowed over three to five years. This means they you will pay a higher interest rate to borrow over a shorter period of time.

Cons of an Unsecured Loan

  • The interest charges which are applied to larger or smaller amount can be rather expensive.
  • The best deals are only really open to those who obtain the best and highest credit scores.

If you are looking for a quick way to obtain property and do not have time to wait for a mortgage to clear, bridging finance may be the best option for you.

Read more about unsecured and secured loans with this guide from the and-unsecured-borrowing-explained">MoneyAdviceService.


lock-doors

What to consider when buying a house

They say one of the most stressful things in a person’s lifetime is buying and selling a house and the consequent move which follows. There is no doubt that buying a house will be one of the biggest and most important purchases of your entire life in which small mistakes can result in big costs.

Consider whether you should be buying at all

Ask yourself, is it the right time for me to buy rather than continuing to rent? As of recent in the UK, house prices have steadily been on the rise and this is adding pressure to anyone trying to buy. This is why a pause in thought is vital to really think if now is your time to make that huge purchase.

As a buyer, you should focus on whether buying is going to realistically be affordable for you, you must take into account the little costs and continuous costs which you do not have to think about when you are simply a tenant. Do not think that jumping straight on the property ladder is the best option just because the British mentality and media are telling you so.

Mortgage & Loans

money-gold-coins

Part of buying a property is taking out a mortgage. Very few people can straight up buy a property without having to take out a mortgage, so chances are you will have to do so.

You need to uncover how much you can borrow when it comes to a mortgage, this will be based on a variety of different factors.

You can use a Mortgage Deposit Calculator as provided by Money Saving Expert to determine when you will have the correct amount to pay for a deposit on a mortgage. Government schemes such as Help to Buy have actually aided in the improvement of the choices of mortgages for people with 5% to put down. However, borrowers will pay a premium at this level. The deals do become more competitive at 10% or 15%. But for the most decent of rates, you will need around 25% for your deposit.

If you are needed to urgently complete on a property, you may want to explore the option of a bridging loan. A bridging loan is a type of short-term finance which can be used to “bridge the gap” financially when a mortgage might take too long to come through, resulting in losing the desired property.  With a bridging loan, you can receive your funds within a matter of days.

Consider boosting your credit score

It would be a mistake to apply for a mortgage before checking out your credit files to see if they are error-free. Having any small mistakes can result in your application being rejected. An example of this may be active accounts which are registered to an old or a wrong address. To avoid heartache, check through your credit files and ensure that any active accounts are registered to your current address.

Check out the potential neighbourhood

No matter how lovely the home is itself, the area in which it is located is essential to your happiness when living there. Before completing on a property or even putting an offer in, you should check out the local area to make sure it is the type of place that you would want to live in.

Visit local parks, pubs and shops to see what the neighbourhood is like at different times of the day. Are the facilities good and well-maintained, or are they covered in graffiti and look half-abandoned?

Consider making a checklist of things within the house and in the neighbourhood, that may be deal breakers. This could be damp in the home or no train station in the area which may be needed for ease of travel or a commute.

It may be a nice idea to chat to a few locals in the places you visit and ask about life in the area. Whilst you are visiting, why not take photos and use them for reference when making your decision. This goes for the local area as well as the actual property, but do get permission from the estate agent.


Guide-to-listed-buildings

A Guide to Listed Buildings

If you own a listed property, you should see it as both a privilege and a huge responsibility. Whilst some of the most beautiful homes in the UK are listed, they come with a few complications and obligations when it is under your control.

The special status will bring prestige and will increase the value of the property quite substantially. If you are willing to invest time and the necessary care and money into your property, a listed property can surely thrive and add to the preservation of Britain architectural history.

 

Why are buildings given a listing status?

Across the country, there are an array of different types of listed properties which come in all shapes and sizes. When property is seen to be of ‘architectural or historical interest’ it is added to a list of the buildings register of listed properties. The idea is that being on the list protects the property from being modified in an inappropriate fashion or from being poorly maintained by any of the current or future owners.

 

Protection-from-renovating-listed-building

 

Minor repairs and restorations are usually accepted. However, most home-improvement projects are subject to listed building consent. Likewise, if the local council deems that you are not looking after your listed property correctly or are having it altered without their consent, they are within their rights to take action to secure repairs at your expense – they may even make a compulsory purchase order.

 

How do I know if my home is listed?

The older your home, the more likely it is to be a listed building. Across the span of the UK, there are around half a million listed properties at present. These include buildings which were built before the year 1700 which still survive in their (or close to) their original condition.

If you are curious to find out whether your property is a listed one, you can search your address on one of these relevant governing bodies:

 

Categories of Listed Buildings

Across the UK, the listing categories vary. In England and Wales, there are three main grades which are: I, II and II*.

You will find that most listed buildings are given a Grade II status, these are properties which are seen as of special interest. Around 92% of properties are Grade II.

Only a small 5% are listed Grade II*. To gain this status, a property has to be of more than special interest.

Buildings which are deemed of outstanding or national architectural or historic interest only make up 3% listed as grade I.

 

Can you make changes to a listed property?

As mentioned, a listed property has a protected status, but this does not prevent all changes being made. In fact, it has been found that most applications to make changes to a listed building are actually approved.

The aim in listing a property is to make people aware that the building needs to be treated with special care and preserved in any way possible. If you apply to make changes to your listed property, an assessment will take place to evaluate the impact the proposed changes may have on your property before they can be approved. This will usually be carried out by a conservation officer who is part of your local authority planning department.

For any like-for-like type repairs, they much aim to match the existing materials and details of the original property. If this is plausible, then there should no issue with making these changes. ‘Improvements’ however, may have to be reversible.

You are also able to extend your listed property, within means of approval. Designs which show a clear distinction between the old and the new can expect to be rejected unless it is something like a glass room extension.

Like with minor repairs, it is important when building an extension to use similar materials to the original. This will probably result in your extension having to remain quite simple in nature.

To appease the local authorities as well as saving yourself from heartbreak, it is best to go about hiring an architect who has experience in listed buildings.


Getting-house-ready-for-viewings

How to Get Your House Ready for Viewings

As we all know, when it comes to selling your home, first impressions can make or break the sale. When you are selling your house, you only have one chance to make that first impression so it is important to get it right. Thus, it is important to get your house ready for viewings.

Many buyers desire a home which is not going be high maintenance and have as little damage to it as possible so they do not have to carry out much renovation. In addition, the presentation of the property is a key form of marketing – it allows the potential buyer to see themselves in that environment and buy into the “lifestyle” you are offering. Obviously then, the more prepared you are with the presentation of your home which is up for sale, the more chance you have of it being snapped up quicker – so much so that the buyers may need to take out a bridging loan!

There are several ways which sellers often fail to take advantage of very simple ways by which you can totally transform the presentation of your home in order to sell it quicker and for its highest value. Therefore, so you do not make the same error, we have put together some tips on how to ensure your home which is up for sale is presented beautifully and looks the best it can for the viewings:

  • Fix the exterior appearance
  • Declutter
  • Promote the best room

 

Cleaning-house-for-viewings

 

Fix the Exterior Appearance

The first thing any potential buyers will see is the outside of your house. Make sure your front garden is well-kept; a mowed lawn, trimmed hedges, fresh follower baskets, a swept pathway and the weeds pulled out of the grass, etc.  A well-presented front garden is inviting and from the second someone lays eyes on the property, they will feel as though it is somewhere they would feel comfortable.

The roof tiles should be cleaned and updated if need be. Cracked, damaged or missing roof title, if visible, should be investigating and put right before your house starts with the viewings.

Front porches alone add value to your home, but a well-presented one will make the property all the more desirable from the outside. Similarly, window and door frames should be cleaned and re-painted and glossed if necessary. An appealing entrance is vital when inviting people into your home who are potentially going to purchase it.

 

Declutter

If you are moving out, decluttering will not only help you sell your home but it will also make your life a lot easier in the moving process and in the long-term.

To declutter your home best, start by making a list. It makes sense to split the list into different rooms and along the way, decipher what you believe needs to go in the bin or what could be given away to a friend or even to someone less fortunate than yourself by sending it to the charity shop.

Give yourself a timeframe and you can work through the list – perhaps one room at a time over a number of days.  It is advisable to start with the hallway as this should be a priority since it is the place people will first walk into. With the hall, think space and functionality.

 

Promote the Best Room

It is up to you to decide what you believe to be the selling room of your home. In most cases, this is the kitchen or a reception room.

Whilst it is not always essential to redecorate these rooms in any capacity, prioritising the cleanliness and presentation of them is essential as they are potentially your major selling point.

In your best room, as well as the rest of the house if it is within budget, you should aim to remove anything which may cause a potential buyer to doubt the property. This could be damp patches, cracks in the walls or ceiling, peeling wallpaper etc. To fix these, it is typically relatively inexpensive and in all honesty, worth the small investment since they could easier put a potential buyer off making an offer on your home. Any problems with the property will mean you fall victim to the potential buyer’s surveyor who will use these as a way to negotiate the asking price down further than you’d ideally want.


planning-permission

A Guide to Planning Permission

Getting planning permission can be key to the success of your building or development project. Most of the bridging lenders we work with do not require planning permission prior to making an application. Accordingly, it is best to see if you can get the finance first before going through the application and process of getting planning permission.

When you will need planning permission: If you are adding to the exterior of the building - whether it is adding extra rooms, floors or extensions, this could be blocking a neighbour's sunlight, driveway or getting too close to the home. Therefore, you have to ask permission from your local council.

When you do not need planning permission: For an internal renovations or refurbishments, this is not affecting any neighbours or people around you (except maybe some noise). Therefore, you do not require planning permission if you are just changing the interior design of the home, breaking through some walls to improve the layout or adding a conservatory provided that that it is no longer than 10 feet. You may need advice if you are looking at converting a garage into a room and how this will impact those around you.

 

Planning-permission-for-house

 

What is planning permission?

Planning permission is required if construction of a new building or extensive changes to an existing building are to go ahead. This will require an applicant receiving consent from the local planning authority in the form of planning permission.

The reason you need to obtain this permission before you can build or change anything extensively is that the system has been designed to control inappropriate development. For example, you are not likely to get planning permission for an ultra-modern home situated in the countryside, surrounded by traditional farmhouses. The system makes sure all buildings are appropriate and in-keeping with the surroundings.

You will need to get planning permission if you are building a completely new house, adding outbuildings or building on an extension. It does depend on the size of the project and the level Permitted Development rights afforded or still remaining on a property.

 

Approved or Rejected: How are applications decided?

The local planning authority will aim to base its decision on a set of ‘material conditions’, which can include – but are not limited to:

  • Parking
  • Highway safety
  • Noise
  • Overlooking/loss of privacy
  • Traffic
  • Layout and density of building
  • Impact on a listed building and the surrounding area
  • Design, appearance and materials
  • General government policy
  • Disabled access
  • Nature conservation
  • Proposals made in the development plan
  • Previous planning decisions

In England and Wales, neighbours are often consulted with and invited to comment on the plans alongside the local parish councils. However, only objections which are based on material considerations will be taken into account. If there are objections of this nature, the decision will be made by a majority vote by the local planning committee. If there are no objections and the officers recommend approval, then the council will usually grant the planning permission using what are known as delegated powers. Having no objections will clearly speed up the process for an applicant.

 

Permitted development rights

At the very beginning of the planning systems creation in 1948, the concept of permitted development. In the Town and Planning Act on the 1st of July 1948, this concept allows for minor improvements, such as a modest extension or a lost conversion, to your own home can be taken without having to file for planning permission so not to clog up the system with minor adjustments to a property.

The level of work that can be carried out under Permitted Development depends entirely on a variety of factors. These include the extent of work already carried out on the property and the location of the property (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty have different rules, as to Conservation Areas).

 

How much will an application for planning permission cost?

When applying for planning permission, there will be a fee. You can except the fee for submitting a planning application to vary depending on the nature of your requests for the transformation of a property or building of one.

The cost of a full application currently sits at £462 for the creation of a new dwelling in England, however, the fees are different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.

For an extension, an application made in England will cost £206 as it stands. Meanwhile, the typical cost for this in Wales is £190.

In addition to the fees for the actual application, further smaller payments can be made for the discharge of ‘planning conditions’ which must happen before any kind of building, development or renovation occurs.

 

What are planning conditions?

Planning permission will be subject to certain planning conditions which are required to be met and agreed within a given period of time. The planning conditions are absolutely essential and failure to comply may result in what is known as a ‘breach of condition notice’. If you receive this notice, there is no opportunity to appeal and may even go through the courts of prosecution.

The conditions can be very simple and usually are, such as the requirement to use a certain type of material to match the existing ones or the surrounding buildings.

You can apply for planning permission here.

 


Improve-the-exterior-of-home

Ways to Improve the Exterior of Your Home

If you are renovating a property through a construction or development finance lender, making the house look good from the outside is so essential. Whether you plan to sell it for a higher value or rent it out to tenants, you want the property to look appealing for any potential residents.

If you are looking to improve what your house looks like from the outside, whether that be adding a bit of colour, making some more drastic alterations or to just generally spruce up the front of your house, we have the perfect ways by which you can achieve you dream looking home to majorly improve your curb appeal. We have chosen things which we believe to be budget friendly, which is always great, especially when actively adding value to your home:

  • Refinish your front door
  • Improve the hardware of your front door
  • Window boxes
  • Create a pathway
  • Re-paint your home
  • Keep the garden maintained
  • Improve or add to your porch

 

Refinish your front door

 

Improve-exterior-of-home-front-door

 

Your front door has a lot to answer for when it comes to the appearance of your house. If your front door is old, outdated, dull or the paint is chipped, you can easily make a huge improve to your whole house just by fixing it up. You can brighten up the exterior of your home by choosing a bright colour, this is sure to be the perfect welcome for any guests, passersby and for the family after a long day at work or at school. You can also consider re glossing your door, if it looking a bit dull but the paintwork is still good and you are happy with the colour.

To redo your front door, it will not cost much at all and should take less than a day to be completely done. The effect it will have on your curb appeal, however, will be priceless.

 

Improve the hardware of your front door

This is one of the simplest things you can do to change how your home looks.

You can also improve your front door by getting a new doorbell or knocker – there are some seriously interesting ones out there. In addition, you could treat yourself to a number/name plate for identification. Make sure you place this somewhere that it is visible and not behind a bush or is too damaged to be read, or you may find that your post could end up somewhere else!

You can replace the hinges if you think they are looking (and sounding) a little shabby. Along with this, you can replace all other hardware like the key lock and the door handle.

 

Window boxes

 

Improve-home-exterior-window-boxes

 

Who doesn't love flowers to decorate their home? If you build or buy some window boxes, it will give you the opportunity to adorn the outside of your house with bright and vibrant plants. Adding splashes of colour with plants and flowers will make your home look more inviting than it already does, and even more beautiful.

Keep up with the time of year by planting seasonal flowers and plants. You could also use the boxes to grow herbs in, which you can then use in the kitchen to make amazing meals, which is another bonus!

Window boxes are inexpensive and can really make a difference to the “mood” of your house. You can place them wherever you like, whether that just be a few windows or all of them!

 

Create a pathway

Having a pathway is a must if you want to increase the value of your property as well as it's curb appeal. A pathway not only looks good, but is very effective in decluttering your driveway from leaves and the like. Just simply having a pathway can be a reason for you to keep it swept or to keep your front garden less cluttered. The pathway will highlight the problem, should it occur, especially when the pathway becomes less visible due to clutter.

If you want to get a stone walk way but find that the price is a bit steep, you do not have to use real stone! You can simply purchase some stone forms and then fill those forms with concrete to make them look like real stone. This can be completed in a couple of days.

 

Re-paint your home

 

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The ultimate way to spruce up a home's exterior is to re-paint it. You do not have to change the colour if you do not wish to, but a fresh lick of paint is a sure way to make a massive improvement and increase curb appeal.

You can bring in a professional painter to complete the job, or you can do it one weekend yourself - very easily. Of course, it will be cheaper to do it yourself, so if you are on a budget this may be the better option.

 

Keep the garden maintained

Doing things like making sure the lawn is mown and the plants are alive can be make a huge difference – so make it your mission to keep on top of garden maintenance.

Depending on where you live and how much sunlight your garden gets, you should find yourself mowing the garden at least once a week during the warmer months. However, during autumn and spring, once every other week should do the job.

Keeping the garden maintained will raise your homes value, curb appeal and will take no time at all – it can also be very enjoyable!

 

Improve or add to your porch

The overall look of the house is somewhat dependant on the look of the porch, if you have one. The way it looks is extremely vital in creating overall feel of the outside of you home. Your porch, like a front door, will be seen by everyone who passes by, and those who visit, and those who will walk through it.

If you do not have a porch, consider adding one to your property. Adding a porch can add a lot of character to your home, character that may be lacking from the outside of the property, It will also add value to your home as it is a bonus that it can have functional storage qualities!

Additionally, it may be worth considering adding a porch to your home if it does not have a hallway, but rather your home opens up straight into a living area. Adding the porch then will be sure to create the illusion of more space and provide storage.