PLANNING HOME IMPROVEMENTS WHILE IN LOCKDOWN

Building a dream home takes time, so what better time than now to plan improvements and additions for your home? Home improvements can be complicated, so thorough planning can help you plan for the best outcome while limiting problems. So here are just a few ways you can plan home improvements in the future, while in lockdown.

Use Your Imagination

All home improvements start with an idea. There might be an element, or multiple elements of your home that you feel need improving or updating. Spending the time to figure out what you want to change will give you a solid base to build a plan off, allowing you to budget and build. This means you can create a realistic and achievable goal for your house plans, and all you have to do is visualise what you want! There’s plenty of online showrooms which can provide potential inspiration, such as our very own Brackenwood virtual showroom! You can’t get much more socially distanced than that.

Create a Plan

With ideas in your head and plenty of inspiration, it’s now time to create a plan. Figure out which areas of the house need improving the fastest. Got an old door that’s letting in a draft? Is one of your window frames wonky? Identify and prioritise problem areas first, as improving on them will increase quality of life within your home. After you’ve fixed any problems, it’s best to plan any further improvements around your budget. Figuring out your budget is one of the most important aspects of home improvements. When you know how much money you have to work with, you can go about planning the improvements for your home without breaking the bank. Fortunately, Brackenwood provides several finance options, including; Buy Now, Pay Later, Brackenwood Easy Pay, and Five Years Interest-free Credit. Click here to find out about our payment options.

Survey, Survey, Survey!

Before you move forward with home improvement, make sure you get a survey done through the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. A survey will highlight any structural issues your home may have, and while it could increase the cost of improvements, it will safeguard your home in the long-term. Surveys are especially important if you intend to sell your home one day.

Consider Permissions

Most home improvements won’t need local council permission, but if you do plan on building an extension, it’s worth contacting your local council. It’s also worth contacting your neighbours about any planned extensions, as buildings over a certain size can be voted down by neighbours if it is seen to impede their view or home. Fortunately, our friendly and knowledgeable team is happy to talk you through the process of building and adding to your home.

Plan for the Future

Planning on selling up one day? Consider which improvements are likely to increase the value of your home. On the flip side, you don’t want to increase the value too much, as your house value will always be limited by the area you’re within, meaning improvements might lose value. Also consider curbside appeals when planning improvements, as it will significantly influence the perceived value of your home and your chances of selling it. Brackenwood has a varied selection of windows, doors and roofline improvements that can seriously increase the curbside appeal of your home, so why not look at our products? Click here to view our Window Gallery, here to view our excellent selection of doors or here to our roofline products. Whatever you do with your time in lockdown, home improvements are always a great way to improve the value in your home, whilst also making it a more livable and secure space. If you would like to find out more about Brackenwood, please contact our team today on 0800 253545.