All Your Windows Needs!

When it comes to your windows, you might be wondering just how to go about getting your windows replaced and who to contact. Or maybe you want your windows double glazed and you feel less than inclined to use the pushy salesmen that call round and phone you trying to get a sale. Cold calling puts me straight off that company and i would always look for other options.

There are many companies offering their services for windows, such as Safestyle, Anglian Home Improvements and Everest. Using a well-known company will mean there are more customers that have used them and can give you their verdict. Chances are, someone on your street has used a well known windows company, so go round and see what kind of job they have done.

I recommend Franklin Windows for their efficiency when my parents had a conservatory built. I would like to think their superb service extends to all your windows needs, so be sure to give them a call and see what they can do for you.

If you just want window cleaning services, well this is a less costly option! There will no doubt be a regular window cleaning company that does your street and you can pop over when they next turn up and ask if they will do your windows there and then. There is bound to be someone with a good recommendation.

Cheap Kitchens - Think About It

You might be thinking about redesigning your home and focusing on the kitchen this time. Cheap kitchens may be the cost effective solution, but they will not necessarily be the best structurally.

If you are going to look at cheap kitchens, take into account just what you will get for your money. It may be that by paying just that little bit more you can get a really stunning kitchen. My friend had her kitchen re-done and managed to make it cost £500. Admittedly, it was a small space that was being redesigned, but she literally just had the unit doors and worktop surface replaced and this made her kitchen look brand new. In a larger space, however, you are going to need to splash the cash a little bit because there are likely to be more things that need changing / rectifying.

I recommend going to look at friends' kitchens and seeing what they have done with the space that they have. You will get ideas and then you can go to your kitchen design company and tell them how you would like it and what exactly you want changing, rather than have them persuade you that you need a full re-design, which could cost around £10,000 for a really good kitchen.

Cheap kitchens might sound appealing but they are not always the best option.

Bathroom Improvements...Tips

If you are considering any sort of bathroom improvements, you are probably wondering how exactly to go about it. If ripping out your bathroom and starting again fills you with dread, panic not - there is definitely an easier option.

Bathroom improvements can range from the simple and effective to the well-thought out and stunning, but it all depends on how much you want to spend. Set yourself a budget to start with. Take into consideration the size of the bathroom and outline exactly what it is that needs sorting out. Is it the toilet handle that is playing up? Or the sink not draining water properly? Perhaps its the aesthetic things that really need improving, like the carpet or tiles. Make a list and stick to it.

If it is just general decor that needs sorting, you can head down to your local DIY store and pick up the relevant bits and pieces. If it is something that requires a bit more expertise, get your local plumber in to sort things out.

Bathroom improvements are quite important. From watching countless home improvement programmes i can always see that any bathrooms not up to scratch really do let the rest of the house down. It can feel like too much hassle to redesign the whole bathroom sometimes, so some simple home improvements should help.

Home Improvement Stores: Advice

If you are wanting to do a spot of 'home improvement' in your residence, then why not check out some really good home improvement stores that will help make the process so much easier. We've all got a hammer, a screwdriver etc, but there are other items that we just need to visit the home improvement stores for.

So which stores are there?

Well, there's the obvious ones such as B&Q, Homebase and Wickes. These stores are large enough to hold pretty much everything you could need. Personally, i have had the best experience with Homebase. They have a great selection for any home improvements you might want to be doing. If DIY stores don't sound like your idea of fun, then there's always the handy plumber, electrician or 'handyman'. Check your local newspaper for some adverts from local tradesmen who can help you out. Handymen are still big business since most people wont trust themselves to do home improvements and get the job done right!

The elderly will often require the services of a tradesman, but if you are a relative of theirs, always try and help them out instead with any work they may need doing so they don't get overcharged by bad tradesmen.

There are other home improvement stores that you may be able to pick up some bits from, so always check out your local hardware store if you don't want to travel to the larger stores. There are home improvement stores online too, and then you can order from the comfort of your home, saving on petrol costs! Obviously you will need to take into account the delivery costs but some stores deliver for FREE if you spend over a certain amount.

Perform Regular Home Maintenance

To really make your home sparkle, make sure you do regular home maintenance. Then - when the time comes to sell - your home is looking really great and buyers will see that you have really invested time and attention into your home.
Many people neglect any sort of home maintenance. They just think it is 'pointless'. Trust me, any work you do will help in the saleability of your home.

My ex partner's parents lived in a large house in a sought after location. They had lived there for about 15 years and had done very little - if any - work to the house. The kitchen was small and had 1970s appliances. The living room was dated and the carpets were old. When they decided to sell their house, the estate agent actually told them that if they had done some regular maintenance to the house, the valuation would have been much higher. It seems crazy, but even things like one of the bedroom doors not having a door handle and just a 'hole' to open and close it with really did decrease the valuation of the house, which is a shame. So why didn't they go round and attend to these things before selling? Well, the point was that they simply couldn't be bothered. I think it had got to the stage where they thought that any sort of home maintenance didn't really matter and they were quite happy selling the house with the state it was in, despite getting a lower price than they could have had.

I think it is more important than ever to keep on top of your home and do regular maintenance checks. You need to appeal to as many buyers as possible and you cant expect a decent price for the house and yet leave it in disarray.

It is more important than ever to get the best price for your home, so make sure you do regular home maintenance.

Home Extensions - The Conservatory

Home extensions can take on many different forms. I think the best extension you can have is a conservatory.

These days, i know a lot of people that look for a conservatory on the house that they intend to buy. My parents wanted one on they house they bought a while ago so they decided to invest in one.

But does it add value?

Well, people on the Channel 4 forums seem to think you only really get a return of what you paid for it. So if you have a £10,000 conservatory built, you are likely to only see a £10,000 increase in the value of your home. I think it really boils down to if you really want a home extension. Its not worth it if it is going to be too much hassle and if the rewards at the end aren't likely to fill you with any kind of satisfaction.

Plus, some houses just don't look right with conservatories. Draw up a sketch of your home and think about the best place to put your extension. You don't want it to look like an eyesore. It has to be a certain size, in relation to the house, and will usually be erected at the rear of the house. This is mainly for privacy reasons, i think, but if you have a large enough garden you could put it the extension at the side and make your house look larger.

Plus, remember that conservatories are expensive. If you want a good one, anyway. My parents chose Franklin Windows and they can't recommend them highly enough. Very efficient and the quality is excellent. Always choose a reputable company and ask around for recommendations.

Home extensions are usually valuable assets, but think carefully about how you go about it.

For more information about extensions, see My View of Construction Companies

Make Your Home Look Fabulous...

It is important to remember that as soon as you own a home it becomes your responsibility to maintain and look after it, almost 'nurture' it, because it when it comes to the time to sell, you want to get the best price for it. Don't let it fall be the wayside, with peeling wallpaper and shabby exterior. You want to make it look appealing to the buyers and make it easy for them to picture themselves living there. De-clutter! Aim to have a regular spring clean every couple of months and throw away any "dust collectors" that you have accumulated. Not only will this be a great home improvement but it will inevitably make you feel better about yourself once you've binned the unnecessary clutter. It will give you a sense of 'release'!

When it comes to the exterior of the house, make sure you give it a lick of paint every once in a while to keep it looking fab. Painting timber windows and doors will help protect them from the rotting effects of rainwater. Equally, the sun can also dry up the wood and cause cracking. But remember, home improvements can even extend to just getting the window cleaners round to make them look sparkling.

Once you've got the exterior sorted, you can concentrate on the interior home improvements.