Category Archives: Home Improvements

Home Improvements, News, Remote Working

Lockdown leads to increasing demand from UK homeowners looking for affordable extra space

LOCKDOWN has led UK homeowners to seek out simple, affordable, sustainable solutions to give them extra home space in 2021.

YouKube, a UK company producing state-of-the-art garden rooms for use as work-from-home offices or extra living space, have seen a surge in interest since the latest lockdown started.

The Covid pandemic had already prompted pressure on space, with parents and children juggling the pressures of working from home with home schooling, as well as trying to find room for their leisure activities.

Now that the latest lockdown is hitting home, YouKube has been receiving inquiries from all over the UK for its simple, affordable, sustainable solution.

YouKube can be adapted to suit a homeowner’s needs as an office, children’s playroom, gym, studio, sauna, relaxation room, or other use at a fraction of the cost of adding an extension to a house, and usually doesn’t need planning permission.

Eddie Black, managing director of proven solutions business Eco, and Darren Cardwell, managing director of lifts design experts Axess 2, run Eco Axess which designs and manufactures YouKube from bases in Scotland and Lancashire.

Eddie said: “We have seen a big increase in inquiries for YouKube since the latest lockdown started.

“People are saying they were willing to put up with the multiple, and often conflicting, demands on their home space for a limited period in 2020.

“But now that we are into 2021 and back in lockdown many are saying they need to find a sustainable way to gain extra home space.

“YouKube provides them with a simple and affordable solution and it’s proving an extremely popular option.”

Darren said the UK credentials of YouKube are also appealing to customers – with no post-Brexit delays in manufacture and supply of the stylish Eco Axess products.

Darren said: “With YouKube being 100 per cent designed and manufactured in the UK there are no concerns about any delay in supply.

“All the work is carried out at Eco Axess bases in Scotland and England so we have no issues with any borders. It’s a purely UK product which is something which is appealing to consumers as well.

“It is giving the customer that trust and certainty and taking all the worry away from them.

“They know the price they are quoted is the price they pay, and they know that the product will be delivered to the agreed timescale.

“We have people contacting us wanting them for a range of uses and we are only too happy to help provide what the customer wants.

“We can provide a bespoke fit out. They offer so much versatility, the applications are endless.

“They might want an extra work-at-home space; an extra space for the children, or a relaxation space to get some work-life balance back into their lives if their homes feel as if they have become too much like an office or a home-school environment. It’s such a flexible space, it’s entirely up to the consumer what they want to use it for.

“YouKube provides them with that simple, one-stop shop solution, whatever their requirement.”

To find out more about YouKube visit www.youkube.co.uk or phone 01200 403060

Home Improvements, News, Property

Six considerations for creating your perfect ‘forever home’

Homeowners or buyers wishing to settle down in a ‘forever home’ can look to these six simple considerations when creating a house to call a home.

A ‘forever home’ is a property that suits requirements in the short and long term – so it needs to be a flexible space to fall in love with. Whether future plans are growing a family, downsizing and retiring, or making a return on investment, it’s important to consider how a living space can be shaped to meet specific needs and goals.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown has prompted many to consider whether it’s time to move to a new house or start improvements on current properties. When it comes to making your home work for you, the property experts at Stormclad have shared their thoughts on achieving your ideal ‘forever home’.

John Evans, managing director of Stormclad, said: “With everyone spending more time in their own homes, now is the ideal time to either carry out exciting upgrades on existing properties, or search for your next home, to improve your quality of living.

“Here at Stormclad, we have more than 20 years’ experience in helping our customers transform their houses into dream homes. Whether it’s deciding what can be done to a current property now, or assessing whether a new property has the potential for extensions and improvements in the future, we wanted to share our tips on ways you can add value and quality features to your home, that will last the test of time.”

Here are six things to consider for your ‘forever home’:

1. An extension to create space
Adding an extension is undoubtedly one of the biggest changes you can make to your home – whether you’d like to extend the kitchen, add a utility or study room, or an extra bedroom – there is plenty of scope for you to enhance your home with the additional space an extension provides.

An extension will almost always add value to a property, so it is well-worth the investment once you have done your research and secured planning permission.

If you are looking to buy a new home, consider whether there is potential to extend the house at some point in the future. Local estate agents will be able to offer you advice, and you can also look to other properties in the neighbourhood to see whether they have benefited from an extension, so you know that you have the option, if you decide it’s something you want.

2. Maximising the space available
For the interior of your home, consider where you can create spaces of value for yourself and your family. In these uncertain times, with many people staying at home and working remotely, it is important to create suitable, comfortable spaces for yourself and your household to ensure a good living quality for everyone. Quiet, tranquil spaces for relaxation and reading, a study for working, and a well-maintained garden are just a few suggestions when considering how to ensure your property is a ‘forever home’.

3. Outdoor space
An often under-utilised area of the home is the garden – whether you’d like to transform it into a children’s play area, a space for your pets or an alfresco dining and relaxing spot, there are easy ways you can improve your outside space for the long run.

If you want a dry outdoor space for your summer barbecues or winter fire pit, then consider adding a veranda to your property. Whatever the British weather has to throw at you, adding a veranda to the exterior of your home provides a stylish shelter from the sun and the rain.

4. Invest in upkeep and quality appliances
One of the easiest ways to ensure your house is a ‘forever home’ is to commit to a regular maintenance regime to keep everything running smoothly and looking and feeling fresh.

Adding a new layer of paint, deep cleaning carpets and investing in new blinds or stylish shutters are just some of the ways you can update and refresh your home quickly and easily, so that it remains a place you enjoy being. If you’re moving into a new home, these are simple steps you can take to stamp your own personality on a property straight away.

It is also worth investing in quality fixtures in the home – appliances and electronics such as ovens, fridge freezers, tech, heating controls and dishwashers are worth spending a little extra money on as their quality means they will last much longer than cheaper alternatives.

5. Money-saving double glazing
Windows are one of the areas most prone to heat loss in the home, with single paned windows capable of emitting around 84% of a room’s heat. To safeguard your home for the future, consider investing in double glazing to retain heat in your property and save money.

Installing double glazed windows will retain the heat in your home by trapping a layer of air between two panes of glass which stops the air from circulating, resulting in a decrease of heat loss across the window. With modern double-glazed windows, the space between the panes is often filled with denser argon gas which will slow down heat loss even further.

Older windows can look outdated, so replacing them with a durable frame such as aluminium, will transform the look of your home outside and in and continue to look smart over time.

6. A spacious conservatory
A brand-new conservatory extension is a great way to add a light and airy room to your home. The versatile space is ideal for a whole host of uses, and can function as a dining room, playroom, living area or home office.

This option may suit you and your family more than choosing a traditional extension, as it provides a space with a different feel to the rest of the home and helps to bring the outdoors in with plenty of natural light.

Home Improvements, News

Government loses potential for £15bn economic boost and job creation

The Government must cut VAT on home improvement works to 5% to boost jobs and stimulate the economy. This is in response to the PMI data, published today, which shows that staffing numbers across the construction sector were in decline.

According to independent research conducted on behalf of more than 60 organisations including the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), cutting VAT to 5% for the period 2015 to 2020 would have generated an economic stimulus of £15.1bn and 95,480 extra jobs.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The Government must prioritise measures that create jobs in every community, and that will tackle climate change. Cutting VAT is an oven-ready fiscal policy that will help to generate billions in economic stimulus and tens of thousands of jobs across the UK. Local builders train almost three quarters (71%) of the industry’s apprentices, so supporting the repair, maintenance and improvement sector will help industry to train, train, train as well as build, build, build. Cutting VAT will also help us decarbonise our homes, as we know households prefer to do this as part of larger home improvement works.”

Dr Patrice Cairns, RICS Policy Manager said: “There is an urgent need to improve the energy efficiency within the UK’s building stock and retrofitting provides this opportunity. As the UK continues to spend more time at home, for our work as well as leisure, the benefits of green home improvements will continue to gather momentum. Government must use this unique opportunity to work with the professional expertise of industry and implement a holistic approach to retrofitting that will achieve significant carbon savings, both operational and embodied.”

Dr Cairns continues: “As the government begins to think about a strategy for rebuilding the economy in the wake of the COVID-induced recession, committing to a more sustainable stock of housing provides an opportunity both to kickstart business activity and focus on the green agenda. Government endorsing our call to reduce the VAT regime for home repairs, maintenance and improvement work would be a swift step in the right direction. Although the incentive to encourage retrofitting will carry an initial cost, it will be at least in part offset by the benefits associated with job creation, which will be much needed in the wake of the likely rise in unemployment as the furlough scheme concludes. It will also provide tangible long-term rewards both for the wider economy and individual households.”

Home Improvements, Homeowner Advice, News, Property

Changes that will really add value to your home after COVID-19

In these uncertain times, what can homeowners do to shore up the value of their properties? David Knight, Digital Manager at Roof Windows 4 You, shares changes that can increase the potential asking price of your home.

The COVID-19 outbreak and resulting lockdown has brought about huge shake-ups in the housing market, and many homeowners are becoming concerned that house prices could be the next victim of the virus. Last month, The Centre for Economics and Business Research predicted that house prices will fall by 5% this year and a further 10.6% in 2021. The CEBR also warned that prices might not bounce back until at least 2023 (This Is Money). So, if you were hoping to sell your home at some point in the next few years, you might be looking for ways to help boost the value, so you can achieve a higher asking price. In this article, I’ll share four effective ways you can help to increase the value of your property.

Increase your kerb appeal

It’s a cliché, but it’s true: first impressions count. The exterior of your home is the first sight that will greet prospective buyers when they come for a viewing, so it pays to make it look as welcoming as possible. Ideally, your front door and any pathways or garden areas should look better than those of your neighbours — this will make your home seem like it’s worth more than the other houses on the street, which can help push up the asking price.

You don’t need to spend a fortune to make this happen, either. If you can’t afford to fully replace the door, then simply adding a lick of new paint and a new handle and knocker can make a big difference. Then, you should clear any weeds, disguise cracked paving with some gravel or slate chips, and add a few potted plants — before you know it, your home will be the pride of the street. These changes are very cost-effective to implement, but they can really create the impression that your home is one of the best in the neighbourhood.

Extend your home to add an extra room

Homes in the UK are getting smaller. Modern new builds are now almost 10 square metres smaller than those built in the 1950s, meaning that space is becoming a real luxury for today’s homebuyers (LABC). So, if you want to increase the value of your home, one thing which could make it much more desirable to potential buyers is adding an extra room.

Remember, the increase in value should outweigh the costs of the project, so you’ll need to budget carefully. Do some research on similar homes then crunch the numbers to see if an extra bedroom or reception room is profitable.

If homes in your area with an extra bedroom are selling for more, then the most cost-effective option is likely to be converting the loft space. When designing your loft conversion, be sure to prioritise adding lots of natural light using roof windows or a dormer, as this will appeal to buyers. Or, if you think that a reception room will add the most value to your home, you could convert a garage into a cosy living space. If neither is an option, you could also consider merging two existing rooms — like a kitchen and dining room — to create a spacious, airy living area.

Give a dated kitchen a facelift

A dated kitchen can be very off-putting to buyers, and this can seriously affect your potential asking price. But, fitting an entirely new kitchen often isn’t the most cost-effective solution, because the price of a complete refurbishment can be more than you’ll gain in terms of real value. So, how can you improve the look of the space without spending a fortune?

The answer is to find clever shortcuts that look expensive but aren’t, so you don’t need to get entirely new units and white goods. For example, tired old cabinets can be updated with a fresh coat of paint and some modern knobs or handles, while installing a shiny new tap can transform an old sink. Re-tiling splashbacks — or even using inexpensive tile stickers — can change the look of your kitchen, but they don’t cost too much to install. You can also add new countertop appliances, like kettles and toasters, to give the space a more “premium” feel (plus, you can take them with you when you move). All of these little changes are fairly inexpensive compared to getting a new kitchen, but they can make it seem much more expensive that it actually is!

Make your home more energy efficient and eco-friendly

Today’s homebuyers are increasingly eco-savvy, so they’re more likely to notice if your home isn’t energy efficient. So, if your home is a few years old and the EPC rating isn’t great, it’s well worth finding ways to improve it. Adding insulation, draught-proofing, an energy efficient boiler, and a smart meter can all help to increase the value.

You could even consider installing an electric vehicle charging point—while the upfront cost can be pricy, they could add as much as 2% to your asking price, according to GoCompare. Given that there are plans to phase out the sale of new traditional fuel vehicles by 2035, this could become a massive selling point in years to come.

Plus, there are various grants and allowances you can take advantage of that will make these changes all the more cost-effective. The recently announced COVID-19 recovery package will see up to £5,000 in vouchers made available to homeowners that can be used to cover the cost of various energy efficient updates.

With the forecast for house prices looking bleak, it’s well worth finding ways to shore up the value of your home. Consider implementing some of the changes I’ve outlined here, and you could be able to make up some of the expected shortfall.