ICI Woodcare reports that adding/restoring natural wooden features in your home can increase the value of it. Wooden features include (stripped) wooden doors, door and window frames, wooden banisters on stair and landing, real wooden kitchen cupboards (or only cupboard doors) and of course installing Natural Wooden Flooring in the main areas. As mentioned in last month's newsletter wooden flooring also benefits Asthma, allergy and eczema sufferers, especially when installed in bedrooms.
Talking about Natural Wooden Flooring: the most popular wood-type is still Oak and the grade mostly sold is Rustic. When deciding on Natural Wooden Flooring it's best to keep this in mind, especially when you want to climb the 'property-ladder'. A Rustic Oak floor added to your home sells it better than for instance a tropical wood-type. Even if you would choose a specific coloured Oak floor (like Smoked, White-washed, Antique stained or Castle Grey oiled), the new owner can change this more easily to his/her own liking than trying to change a dark tropical floor into a lighter coloured one.
Most customers (in the U.K. that is) find a premium grade Oak floor looks too 'neat' and resembles a Melamine (Plastic) Laminate floor too much.
Also always make sure you install (have installed) the most suitable floor-types; e.g. we never recommend Solid wooden flooring on Underfloor Heating or in bathrooms and kitchens. Most modern Wood-Engineered flooring are now available in a full-plank and bevelled version; once installed you can't really tell the difference between this type or a solid floor; while Wood-Engineered flooring is much more stable in many circumstances
2) New builds
Buying a home is a milestone for most of us; be it finally getting onto the property ladder, up-grading or down-grading. Nowadays most new builds come with a choice in floorcovering, from 'standard' wall-to-wall carpet to (mostly) Wood-Veneer or if you're lucky even proper Wood-Engineered flooring. Only, most larger developers restrict the actual choice you have: they send you to one flooring supplier where you can decide between Oak, Beech or perhaps Maple 3-strip. If you want something else or a better/higher quality you have to prepare yourself for a 'hard struggle'.
Our own experience has taught us that 'stubborn' new home buyers usual get what they want in the end: i.e. the Natural Wooden Flooring from the company they select themselves and where the difference in price between the 'standard' fixed choice and the final choice isn't (on average) that much. If the developer/builder agrees to it, the alternative choice can be included (and paid for) before the exchange date, resulting in the new home owner not having to pay the VAT on the wooden flooring nor on the installation costs.
A word of advice: when buying a new build home on a large housing estate it's better to wait with installing Natural Wooden Flooring until all building works (including the final road surface) is completely finished. Imagine the 'sanding-effect' on your newly installed floor! In these situations we advice a cheap (and cheerful) carpet, not too light in colour, until all 'dust has settled'. Or, if you insist, on a wooden flooring with an oil finish (instead of a lacquer finish). 3) Creating your dream home
Besides Wooden features, there are (several) other ways to improve and/or increase the value of your home, if you're selling or not. Most obvious is increasing the number of rooms. This can be done by building an extension, installing a conservatory or changing the loft into another bedroom, study or bathroom. Before you start with any of these, make sure if any planning permission is needed.
Not all improvements will be made just in order to increasing the sales amount when selling your home, but more and mostly for creating your own 'dream home', but it is always best to think ahead. Updating a worn-out or 'seventies' kitchen surely will keep its value, so will improving the bathroom to a more modern and practical outlay. But don't forget the benefits (now and later) of replacing rotten windows, changing an old boiler (15 year or older) for an energy efficient one; installing double-glazed windows (and no, they don't have to be imbedded in PVAC) and/or other draught eliminating measures (like insulation the loft). Some energy saving projects even come with financial help from the government.
Talking about dream homes, a recent survey (by Rhodec International on 3000 home-owners) shows that 80% prefers the tranquillity of the countryside to the 'rat-race' hustle and bustle' of the city. And U.K's fine climate makes 50% wishing for homes in sunnier locations. The survey revealed some interesting 'design' wishes: one in five would opt for the cosy cottage look over modern, minimalist or bohemian designs (something to keep in mind when dashing around with paint-brushes, attacking MDF, copying TV DIY-programs or shopping for soft-furnishing).
A personal gym or a swimming pool scores also very high on the 'dream home wish list', and we seem to be willing to spend two thirds of our hard earned savings on creating our dream home. Most would even consider building a house from scratch! (Better involve an architect from day one with this, more change you really realise the dream within time and budget.)
4) House doctoring the correct way
How many television programs do you know that show 'easy' tricks to get your house sold quicker and for more money? And how many do you believe? Neglected maintenance won't disappear overnight or under a thick coat of glossy paint, nor will cheap Melamine Laminate flooring look (or sound for that matter) like the real thing.
We've teamed up with Inspiring Interiors (Folkestone) for advice and tips that really work. The main word is DE: de-personalise, de-clutter and de-stain, de-smell. Most of this can be done on a small budget.
If you want/need to get the paint-brush out, choose a neutral colour for all rooms in order for the potential new owner to 'vision' it in their own design style. Keep an eye on the era of your property; make sure your decoration matches it.
Cut the grass and tidy-up the garden (and garden shed!) and don't forget about 'kerb-appeal': a tidy front-garden with some hanging basket with flowering plants will do wonders. Also, give the front door a fresh lick of paint; potential buyers make up their mind within the first eight seconds of a viewing.
De-clutter all rooms, most removal companies can give you boxes to start 'packing' right away (the big plan is to move out anyway, so take double advantage of this).
De-personalise; potential new owners aren't really that interested in a wall filled with pictures of your (grand)children or sport paraphernalia, they are more interested in what potential your home has for their personality. So the more you can make it a 'blanc canvas', the better it is, but don't go overboard and make your home unwelcome cool and/or cold.
Please don't be offended by the next tip: De-stain and de-smell; make sure your home is/looks clean and smells fresh (ventilate all rooms prior to viewings by potential buyers, no need for aromatic candles or perfumed oils - some people are allergic to this!). If needed, invest in a 'spring-clean team' before the first viewing, then all you have to do later is keep it tidy.
For more tips/advice and help see 'The House Doctor' service.
Feel free to contact us for your own value adding Natural Wooden Flooring
