5 small jobs to improve your home life AND increase property value
While stuck indoors, you may be noticing all the small things that have gone ignored for years. From squeaky doors to new paint, these little jobs to complete in lockdown may not only make life more bearable but ensure your home sells for more money later! Check them out below…
1. Fixing a leaking tap
Most taps drip because a rubber washer needs replacing. A new washer will only set you back around 20p and it’s pretty easy to fit, if you have the right tools and remember a few simple rules. A screwdriver and an adjustable spanner should be all you need, and make sure you turn your water supply off at the stop cock before you get started.
2. Painting a wall
A fresh coat of paint can give a room a whole new lease of life. Enough paint to decorate an average-sized living room, including the ceiling, shouldn’t cost much more than £40, and you can get a good set of paint brushes for £10-15 online. Prepare your surfaces well and use good quality brushes for an expert finish.
3. Dealing with squeaky floorboards
A squeaky floorboard is annoying, but can be easy to fix. The squeak is generally caused by loose floorboards rubbing against each other. Sometimes just shaking some talcum powder through the cracks can solve the problem, but the boards may need screwing down more securely.
4. Resealing a bath
Over time, the seal around your bath can go mouldy and even start to leak. Scraping out the old seal and replacing it can be straightforward and cheap. A tube of bathroom sealant usually costs less than £10 - add a £4 cartridge gun, a £2 utility knife, and you’re ready to go. Not only will your bath look much more appealing, a proper seal means no danger of damaging leaks.
Be confident with the tools you’re using - have a bit of a practice before you go live on the job. Poorly applied sealant can look messy, and if you’re in the process of selling your house, it can give the impression that you’ve fitted your bathroom on the cheap, which is really off-putting to house hunters.
You’ll need a steady hand and a bit of patience. Aside from that, a good tip is to rub a bit of shower gel or washing up liquid on your finger before you smooth over the sealant - this stops it from sticking to your finger, and helps to keep everything looking smart.
5. Building a shed
Flat-pack sheds come with easy-to-follow instructions and all the fixings provided, so you should just need some basic tools like a hammer, a selection of screwdrivers and an electric drill - assuming there is a solid flat base to build on. It’s not a one man job, though, so you’ll need some extra muscle to help with the build! There are plenty of online stores which will deliver your flat packed shed for free (while maintaining social distancing rules of course!) and you’ll find your home value increases massively with the added storage and multiple uses a shed brings.
To get more advice on increasing your home value or tips on things you could be doing while under lockdown, or for an accurate home valuation from your phone click this link.
Simply fill in your details, upload photos and videos of your home, and you'll get:
- A BESPOKE plan for increasing your home value
- A detailed, ACCURATE home valuation
- Comparable properties
- An up-to-date description of the local property market
- Marketing plans
Increase your home value today from the safety of your own home. Stay safe - stay home!