Thinking of selling your home? Here are a few expert tips to help you increase the value of your house. You might not have the time or money to completely rehaul your property, but a few simple changes like these will help ensure your house is ready for auction day!
One of the most important parts of selling a house is how you stage it, especially when it comes to photos and open homes. Buyers shop with all their senses, says Anthea from Homebase. Be mindful of who your buyers are, and what you want them to appreciate about your property. For example, if your lounge has a beautiful view from the window, place a mirror in the room that will capture it. On the other hand, if your lounge is on the small side, simple tricks such as raising furniture off the ground or using glass tables will make a room appear more spacious. If the house is looking a little empty or drab, some leafy house plants can make a dull room look lively and fresh in seconds! For photos, opt for lighter coloured furniture to give the illusion of space and spice it up with colourful cushions, artwork and throws which show up great in photos.
One of the simplest ways to make your house look refreshed is to give it a new coat of paint, either on the inside, outside, or both! If you’d rather do it yourself than bring in the experts, Go Day 1 Painting have a few tips for the DIYers. Ensure you spend a good amount of time on sanding and priming so that the final finish will look as good as possible. This will also help reduce the amount of paint needed to cover marks. Don’t skip the test run – once you commit to a colour it’s very expensive and annoying to change, so make sure your trial shades first. When it comes to exterior painting, wet weather can seriously prolong drying time, so try to ensure you’ll be painting in peak weather conditions! If your considering roof painting then the work is best left to proffesional painters.
Regardless of whether you’re selling your house or not, replacing your traditional halogen bulbs with an LED downlight system is a no-brainer, according to Home LED. That’s because LED lights are more energy efficient, safer, and cost-effective than traditional ones. The initial cost of installation pales in comparison to the long term savings – LED bulbs can last up to ten years without needing a replacement. As they emit less heat, they’re much cheaper to run. Not only are they are great way to add value to your home, they also look chic, making your house appear more modern and contemporary.
The way you shade your home is often an afterthought, but in fact blinds and curtains can drastically change the look, temperature, and energy efficiency of a house. Blinds are a great way to make a house appear more spacious, but the amount of choices in style and colour can be overwhelming. Home Vision Blinds Ltd have a few tips for choosing the right ones for your space. Generally, roller blinds are the most popular choice due to their easy of use and range of styles. If you want to reduce sun glare but don’t want to fully shade your windows, transparent blinds are an easy solution. If your house tends to get a bit cold, thermal blinds help insulate rooms, keeping your guests nice and toasty. Venetian blinds are another option for those looking for something a little more traditional, especially for those wanting to retain the character of their older style houses. Another great benefit of these blinds is the option of volume control, that is, the amount of light you’d like to let in the room.
A clean, fresh carpet is a simple way to woo buyers. If your carpet is looking a little dingy, a simple professional clean can make a mammoth difference. You can do it yourself, but it’s highly recommended that you leave this job to the professionals if you can, according to local carpet cleaners Smart Clean. Not only does a fresh carpet look great, it also means less dust and allergens present in your house, which is important for potential buyers with allergies.
If your exterior needs a bit of TLC but you’re worried about the effort and cost, never fear. Kate the Gardener has a few simple remedies to refresh your yard. First and foremost, your lawn is one of the first things buyers see when viewing a property, so if it’s looking a little worse for wear, invest in some spring feeding and weed control to get it looking its best. When it comes to weeding, simply focusing on areas that are clearly visible rather than wasting time trying to weed your entire garden. Clearing walkways and edges can make a huge difference too! Add a few pops of colour with some flowering potted plants to spruce up your doorstep. Edible plants are also useful to make a house seem like a home, so pp some small plants like strawberries around the yard for your open home guests to admire.
By following these tips, there’s no doubt you’ll have your home in prime condition for selling time! Make sure you use high quality materials and if you’re not sure, ask an expert – safety comes first when it comes to renovations. Hopefully with some or all of the experts advice, you’ll have made some awesome improvements to your property.
To find out more about any range of blinds available speak to one of our friendly consultants today! Request specialist advice
We all love roller blinds! It’s simply one of the most versatile window enhancements; flexible, practical and stylish. To help you decide we put together the answers to 9 frequently asked questions.
A: No. To install roller blinds properly, you will need to drill holes in the frame then secure the installation brackets with screws.
A: Yes, they will retain more heat than lighter fabric weights. However, thermal blinds do not generate heat and should be used alongside a heat pump, wood burner, or another heat source.
A: Yes, they can be cleaned using a damp cotton cloth. Avoid using any bleach or cleaning products that contain bleach as this could discolour your blind. A gentle rub on the spot immediately after its been stained is recommended. To find out more about how to clean your blinds follow this manual.
A: Yes, but it will need to be done with proper cutting equipment. Parts of the roller blinds will need to be reassembled after cutting. It’s best to ask for a quote estimate first before altering the size of the blind this way.
A: Roller blinds are very versatile. You can have them in any room of the house. People tend to use block out roller blinds in their bedroom or bathroom, and sunscreen or light filtering roller blinds in their lounge. Dual roller blinds are popular for bedrooms and living rooms because they allow both light control and privacy.
A: They are installed with brackets. The brackets need to be installed inside your window frame with small screws (see question 1).
A: This is up to you. The patterned or textured side will face inside the house unless you request otherwise.
A: If components of your roller blinds need fixing, depending on the age of the blind, we may carry the same component. You can purchase parts in our store or over the phone (if the original blinds were manufactured by us). If the problem can’t be fixed with a new part, we can give you a quote to have it repaired at our factory.
A: Roller blinds come in hundreds of different fabric types. The most basic type is non-thermal blackout fabric. All of our fabric used are tested and proven to be non-toxic under harsh sunlight and we will not use any fabric that has not been tested.
To find out more about any range of blinds available speak to one of our friendly consultants today! Request specialist advice
If you’re considering getting vertical blinds but still have some unanswered questions, have a look at our Vertical Blinds FAQ’s below.
A: Yes. You can wash blockout vertical blinds at home. Simply take out the slats and wipe them with a cloth that’s been dipped in mild soapy water. For other fabric weights, ask a professional blind cleaner to assess your vertical blinds first. Some fabrics (the slightly see-through ones) can’t be cleaned at home, and soaking them can actually worsen the dirty spot.
A: Vertical blinds are still in style. Even if they aren’t as popular as they were in the ‘80s and ‘90s, they are still the most affordable choice for large windows and sliding doors.
A: Due to their slat design, vertical blinds block a good amount of natural light while also providing an adequate level of privacy. However, the materials used in vertical blinds are slightly transparent, so some light will still come through at night. For total privacy, you can purchase vertical blinds made with blockout fabrics. That way, even with the light on at night, you will have total privacy.
A: Compared with other blinds, verticals are one of the most cost-effective options. That’s why they’re such a popular choice for commercial properties.
A: We don’t recommend vertical blinds for bathrooms. Due to their structure, vertical blinds are a little more tricky to clean than roller blinds. Furthermore, they don’t cope well in wet environments. Moisture in the bathroom or laundry can cause mould on vertical fabrics, so it’s better to opt for a moisture resistant material.
A: Vertical Blinds can be cut or trimmed down, but there’s a restriction on how much you can reduce the length. Each case is different. However, we don’t service or alter blinds manufactured by other companies.
Still not sure? Send us your question about vertical blinds and speak to one of our friendly consultants today!
