HOMES AND GARDENS
®
sound advice on home
improvements, whether it
be in the form of building,
converting,
or
simply
decorating.
Before the winter cold really
sets in, Autumn is an excellent
time
to
consider
home
improvements and completing
indoor projects ready to spend
evenings cosied up inside.
Home improvements can
range from upgrading existing
fixtures and finishes to
knocking down walls and
adding on square footage.
Whichever improvements you
have in mind, here are a few tips
to guide you throughout the
process.
Firstly, assess your home to
determine the current state of
things and look at what ideas
you want to implement. Walk
through your rooms and decide
what jobs feature on the wish
list and which need doing out of
necessity.
Also ask yourself how long
you plan to be in your home. If
you are planning on selling your
house,
budget
for
improvements may be different
than if you plan to stay put for a
while. If you want to get your
return on investment, ensure
you upgrade the parts of your
home that home buyers are
interested in.
Seek out inspiration by
flicking through home and
garden magazines, picking up
colour swatches from the local
DIY shops and seek out some
innovative ideas.
It is important to know your
budget. With Christmas only
just around the corner money
can often be tight for many
home owners at this time of
year. Instead of getting
discouraged, use this time to
plan your project and budget
without stress.
If major improvements are
on the cards, make sure you
seek out the proper permits
from the local planning
authority.
And remember to be
flexible. Even though you would
like your new kitchen remodel
done in eight weeks, the reality
is it may take 12. The same is
true for budget, and resources.
Try and become more flexible
with your planning and factor in
extra buffer time and money for
your own sanity.
Even though there is a
serious
side
to
home
improvement, it should also be
fun and rewarding. If you aren’t
going to enjoy your hard work
and effort, hire a professional
and leave the hard work to
them.
Home improvement projects
can be a great way to get your
home in order for the upcoming
festive months. Follow these
tips to help you plan your
project and gain inspiration.
Believe it or not, home
improvement can be easier than
you think with patience and the
right fact finding before you get
into your project.
Scoop Purchase
Warwick
Double Size Bedstead
£149.95
Choice of brass or nickel finish
Mattress extra
Only whilst stocks last
Unit 1 Westmill Street, Hanley,
Stoke on Trent ST1 3EL
Telephone Sales Hotline 01782 287813
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Leek Life November/December 2013 43