How to Prepare Your House for Sale

Selling a home is a marketing game. It is no different from trying to sell a used car or sell that family antique you found in the attic on eBay. Image is everything. If you are preparing your home for sale, you have to make sure it stands out.

In the below paragraphs, we are going to take a look at some of the things you have to consider when preparing your home for sale.

Look at the Exterior

The exterior is the first area any prospective buyer sees when nearing your home. Compare it to the homes around you. If there is rubbish in the garden, or the flowerbeds pale in comparison to those of your neighbours, you have work to do.

On the other hand, you do not want your home to be the only one in the neighbourhood that has received heavy renovations. This will make it stand out in a way that is flashy, and not all buyers want something that is going to stand out so much. It should blend into the neighbourhood in a good way.

Depersonalise Everything

The chances are you have photos of your family and friends within your home. They may well make the home a warm and happy place for you, but this is actually a bad thing for potential buyers. These photos show the happy life you have made for yourself in the property.

Prospective buyers want to see the happy life THEY can make for themselves here.

Take them all down and file them away. Show them the template for what they can create. Do not show them your interpretation of the finished product.

Why You Need to Clear Clutter

People think that you have to clear up the clutter because it’s unsightly. Yes, it never looks good to have lots of children’s toys littering the floor, but there is another reason. It is about focal points. You want to draw the eyes of potential buyers to the right areas.

If you have an enormous bay window, you want them to look at it when they enter the room. But clutter can draw their eyes elsewhere. It can be as minor as having huge racks of DVDs sitting in a corner.

We are not saying that you have to empty the rooms of everything, but limit the number of items you have that are visibly on display. You want to give off the impression that there is a nearly unlimited amount of space. Full rooms take away from this illusion.

Control Your Pets

Pets have no place in a home that is up for sale. They shouldn’t be anywhere in sight when a buyer comes to visit. You don’t know if the potential buyer is allergic to animal hair, or whether they even like pets. Do not take this chance; remove the pets from the premises.

The same goes for any pet paraphernalia. Clean up any pet hair long before buyers arrive and remove those squeaky toys.

Some sellers prefer to leave their pets with a family member or friend during the selling process.

Go Away

Speaking of clutter, you are a type of clutter. Whenever someone comes to view your home, they will usually have an estate agent with them. The estate agent will be able to guide someone around the house without your input. In fact, your input is unwanted and only serves to get in the way.

It sounds harsh, but the customer only cares about the house. They are not interested in you or your life. Let the estate agent use his or her professional touch to market your home in the best possible way.

Make arrangements for the estate agent to contact you on an emergency number and give them a spare key. Try to be as flexible as possible.

The Number One Reason Homes Do Not Sell

Every house has an ideal buyer. The reality is so many homes do not sell because of the sellers. Whether it’s because they’re getting in the way or they are not preparing their home to go on the open market, it’s their fault. An estate agent can only do so much.

If you prepare properly, though, there is no reason you cannot get the best possible price.

Author bio: Kingfisher, in UK, is a professional manufacturer and Suppliers of Building Products like Block paving sealer, Wall sealant, Patio sealer and Roof coatings at very reasonable rates.

The Different Types of Damp in a House

Damp is a major threat to all homes. Having any kind of damp issues in a home can cause many health problems, particularly for those with asthma and other breathing conditions. It is also unsightly and generally unpleasant to have around the house. Thankfully, there are experts available who can eliminate all types of damp.

And that’s what you need to know about. There are so many different types of damp, and each type is slightly different from the other, requiring an alternate course of treatment.

In this article, we are going to discuss the various kinds of damp.

Rising Damp

Rising damp is quite rare. If it does appear, you will only see it in the basement or ground floor rooms. This reason is that rising damp occurs when moisture comes up from the ground. Some ofthe signs you will notice are:

• Rotting skirting boards
• White crystals on solid floors
• Plaster beginning to bubble horizontally.

This is mostly found in homes that have had floors converted to concrete.

Penetrating Damp

Penetrating damp comes from the rain or moist ground touching the exterior of a home. It is caused because moisture entering the home has no means of escape. Sometimes it can occur just by moisture levels that are too high within the home.

It is most often characterised by:

• A powdery surface on plaster walls
• Patches of mould have a brown stain around them
• Can be found as often on the ceiling as it can on floors.

What is most interesting is that in olden times, penetrating damp was purposely encouraged. By creating penetrating damp in cellars, it offered a cold store to stop rising damp coming up to the main house.

Black Mould

While the above types of damp are not too harmful to human health, black mould is different. Black mould releases spores that can be breathed in by humans. This can create a burning in the back of the throat while long-term exposure can cause neurological problems. In short, black mould is an issue you cannot afford to ignore.

How can you find black mould?

• Follow your senses. If you can smell something musty, like the wet ground of a forest floor, this is black mould.
• Dark rings on the walls.
• Black mould is greenish-black, but it can also be grey and resembling soot.

You have to be careful when trying to diagnose black mouldas many professionals use the terms interchangeably. Just because something is toxic does not make it black mould. Likewise, just because something is black does not make it toxic.

If you have black mould growing in your home, you need to have it removed as soon as possible.

How are these Types of Mould Caused?

All types of mould need three things to survive. These are:

1. Food. Mould feeds on material such as cotton, lumber, and cardboard asthese contain high levels of cellulose.
2. Water. Areas with substantial amounts of moisture are candidates for mould growth – bathrooms, kitchens, etc.
3. Temperature range of between 5oC and 38oC.

Each type of mould requires slightly different conditions. Generally, those households in humid environments are most at risk. If you have recently been impacted by flooding or heavy weather, you will have a bigger risk as well.

Should You Call in an Expert?

There is always the option of taking care of the problem yourself. Go online and you will find any number of guides for dealing with mould. We wouldn’t recommend attempting it, though. Unless you are an expert, the chances are you’re only going to make the problem worse.

Contrary to popular belief, throwing gypsum over the walls is not going to solve your mould problem. It will always address the symptoms, but it doesn’t take into account the cause. You need an expert to diagnose the type of mould and then to address it.

Conclusion

Mould can cause a real problem for any homeowner. But if you call in an expert as soon as you notice signs of mould, you can stop it in its tracks. Some homes are more susceptible than others are. If you live in an area that is more susceptible to mould, be vigilant and know when to request the help of a professional.

Author bio: Kingfisher, in UK, is a professional manufacturer and Suppliers of Building Products like anti mould, anti mould paint, roof coatings and textured masonry paint at very reasonable rates.

How Weather Can Damage Your Property

Weather damage is a real threat to property, regardless of where you live in the world. You might not have to worry about things like tornadoes and tsunamis in this country, but even the changing seasons can present a problem for householders.

To effectively deal with the potential for weather damage, you have to know about the types of damage that can occur.

Flooding

Floods are common in many areas of the UK. The UK Environment Agency setup the ‘Floodline’ to help people in threatened areas know when to be prepared and build up their flood defences and when to evacuate.

Flooding can happen in a number of ways. Obviously, during torrential rain water can build up and leak into your home. But it can also occur as a result of melting snow. Once snow melts, water pools and, depending on how much snow there is and the rate of thawing, can cause flooding.

How to Protect Against Flooding

• Maintain a store of sandbags if you live in a threatened area. Sand absorbs the water and stops it from flowing freely.
• Avoid creating areas near your home where water can pool. Water should flow away from the structure.
• Keep gutters clear and shovel any snow away from the side of your home. It should never touch the building.

Storm Damage

Storms occur with reasonable regularity in the UK. It’s not unheard of for hurricanes to rip through certain areas of the country and play havoc with people’s homes. Storm damage can come in the form of flooding, heavy wind, or simply foreign objects colliding with your home.

How to Protect Against Storm Damage

• Make sure your roof is in good condition. Minor damage can quickly turn into major damage.
• Prune nearby trees to prevent loose branches from falling.
• Storms tend to come and go in heavy weather. Use lulls in bad weather to sweep water away and remove obstacles as best you can.

Winter Weather

Winter (cold weather) damage is more prevalent because we generally experience it every year. Many householders underestimate the threat of winter weather and the problems it can bring. From frozen pipes to cracked brickwork, winter weather can slowly eat away at your home’s structure over the years.

How to Protect Against Winter Weather
• Repair cracks in brickwork. If water freezes inside, it can force the bricksto eventually crack open.
• Isolate the domestic water supply if leaving your home for a holiday. Water can freeze in pipes.
• Clear the gutters. Melting ice and snow should be able to flow away from your home.

Employing a Maintenance Specialist

Thankfully, we do not have to worry about many other threats. However, if you’ve seen a pattern emerging from the above paragraphs, you’d be right. Protecting your home relies on keeping on top of maintenance. If you allow a roof to leak or leaves to pile up in the gutters, you are going to experience problems during and after bad weather.

We recommend calling in the services of a good maintenance specialist. A maintenance specialist will be able to examine your home and make recommendations.

Do not allow problems to happen before you turn to a professional. Follow these top tips for employing the right maintenance specialist.

1. Go with recommendations. Ask your family and friends for recommendations.
2. What products do they use? They should only be using high-quality brand names with good reputations.
3. Make sure they are certified. If they specialise in roofs, make sure they have a roofing qualification. If they specialise in landscaping, make sure they have a landscaping qualification.

Conclusion

Storms, cold weather, and flooding are the three primary threats you will encounter in the UK. Through constant vigilance and regular maintenance, you can ensure that minor damage does not become significant damage. Use the help of a professional to maintain your home.

Author bio: Kingfisher, in UK, is a professional manufacturer and Suppliers of Building Products like chemical damp proofing, chemical damp proof course, brick sealant, damp proof paint and damp proofing paint at very reasonable rates.

5 Ways to Add Value to Your House

Adding value to your home is not as difficult as might first appear. If you are determined to add value, this article will hopefully show you the way.

Let’s take a look at the five best ways, in our opinion, to add value to your home.

1. An Extension

This is the ultimate way to boost value because, in some cases, you can substantially increase the living space of your home. Although it is one of the most expensive ways to improve the value of your home, it also gives you the most back; so it’s a trade-off of sorts.

The difficulty with extensions is financing the project. It may be a case of sourcing some outside funding to get this project off the ground.

Take note that extensions that drastically reduce garden space have to be carefully considered. A large house with no garden is not always better than a modest house with a modest garden.

You also need to consider the fact that some extensions may require planning permission. Check with the local authorities to ensure you are not falling foul of any regulations. If you go ahead without checking, you could be forced to pull the whole structure down if found to be in breach of the rules.

2. A Conservatory

Conservatories are always popular because these add a room to the home that any owner can enjoy for years to come. As detailed above, the major downside is that it takes up garden space. Homes with already-small gardens may decide against this option.

3. Add a Bathroom

Bathrooms are immensely popular right now due to the demand for en-suites. A new bathroom can cost anywhere from £2,000 to £6,000, depending on the various fittings and tiles you decide on. An en-suite bathroom, even if it reduces the size of a bedroom, can add up to 6% to the total value of a home.

4. Central Heating

Central heating is something many of us take for granted today. However, there are still homes with no, or antiquated, central heating systems. Today’s systems are cost-effective in terms of fuel efficiency and environmental impact.

In terms of a housing improvement, it will cost about £3,000-£4,000 to install a new system, but it can add a massive 5% to the value of a home. It practically guarantees a return on investment.


5. Sprucing Up

While the above suggestions are quite significant and require a tremendous amount of input in terms of time and finance, for those with perhaps no access to funding, a simple facelift could add thousands to the value of a home.

Here are some of our recommendations:

• Masonry paint. The outside of your home is that which catches the eye immediately. Make it look fabulous and you are more likely to get the price you want.
• Replace kitchen countertops.
• Buy new soft furnishings.
• Redecorate the walls.
• Clean up the garden.

In terms of tangible benefit, the above do not really change much of anything. They simply go toward making it more likely that you’re asking price will be accepted.

Bear in mind that selling your home and getting a good price is about appealing to the emotions of the potential buyer.

Working out Financing

Any home improvement relies on getting your finances in order first. For larger projects, you may have to approach a bank and obtain a home improvement loan. If you have a good credit record, this should be relatively easy.

We recommend using your own money when possible. This way you can avoid interest charges, and you will not need to wait for approval, etc. Also, you do not have to worry about making any repayments.

Conclusion

Adding value to your home isn’t rocket science. It is about working out what people are looking for at that particular time and then implementing it. If there’s a trend where people want big gardens, for example, you wouldn’t add an outward extension.

At the end of the day, as long as you do your due diligence before getting started, you will always find a good way to add value to your home.


Author bio: Kingfisher, in UK, is a professional manufacturer and Suppliers of Building Products like anti mould paint, block paving sealant, roof coatings, roofing paint, paving sealer and sealing block paving at very reasonable rates.

Exposed Brick Walls and Ceilings

Go into a modern home and you will find something curious. Exposed brick walls and ceilings are in fashion and becoming more common around the country. It may take a while to warm up to the idea of exposed bricks, but this is not a trend that’s going to go away anytime soon, in our opinion.

You may wonder what they add to a home. Read on to find out not only what they can add to any home but also how you can go about incorporating them.

Why This Trend Has Taken Off

Exposed brick work harkens back to by gone days when plaster and wallpaper were not always available to the lower classes. Anyone living in a brick house had to make do with exposed brickwork.

The ‘trend’ has returned for a variety of reasons, mostly aesthetic. When paired with the right furnishings and colour scheme, it:

1. Adds warmth to a room

2. Provides a household with a rustic feel

3. Inserts a unique texture to a room.

There’s no doubt it adds character to a room, but you have to consider how you are going to incorporate it into your home. Below are a few clever ideas for doing just that.

Update a Design

Older homes might need a facelift to keep them in line with modern trends. Exposed brickwork is an ideal way of keeping up without compromising the original character.

Try using whitewashed walls on the exterior. From a distance, you will have a pristine white house, but as one gets closer, the remarkable texture and pattern become apparent.

A Welcoming Residence Hallway

Exposed brick work and a wooden ceiling in the entrance hallway is a charming way to greet guests. It works so well because it offers both a rustic and inviting look. The warm colours have plenty of character that can be amplified with the right type of lighting.

A Painted Hallway

Sometimes a more traditional hallway is not what you’re looking for. What is so fantastic about exposed brickwork is the fact that it can be incorporated into modern designs as well. It’s as simple as painting the brickwork in any colour you please.

The texture will still show through, but you can use practically any colour and it will still work in the way intended. With long and narrow hallways, stay away from darker colours, though. Lighter colours are more welcoming and make the space appear larger than it is.

Columns

Columns are primarily considered an obstruction because they reduce the amount of available space in a room. Sometimes they are unavoidable as they have an important structural role to play. Exposed brickwork can make any columns more aesthetically pleasing.

Now you’ve transformed a troublesome column into an important accent feature that becomes a vital part of the décor, not just something you have to put up with.

Brick Ceilings in the Dining Room

A dining room is a place where you want everyone to feel cosy and close together. A brick ceiling can do just that. It makes it appear as if the room is smaller than it actually is. This is a benefit in rooms where you regularly socialise with family members and friends.

Conclusion

Utilising exposed brickwork does not have to be expensive as, ultimately, it is what most homes are made out of anyway. You already have the materials at your disposal. The cost does go up when you start to use exposed brickwork on the ceiling, but, if you choose the right contractor, you can get exposed brickwork in your home at an affordable price.

Author bio: Kingfisheruk.com, in UK, is a professional manufacturer and Suppliers of masonry protection like brick sealant and wall sealant and sells them at very reasonable rates.