Whether you’re planning to sell your home in the imminent future or whether you’re just taking a long-term view of your property’s value, carrying out some home improvements can help to boost your potential asking price. But how can you increase your property’s value without having to put in too much effort or break the bank? Here are a few top tips. Prepare The Exterior Curb appeal is everything, so making sure your home looks great when potential buyers arrive is essential. Tidy up the front yard, driveway and paths so they look their best and make the right first impression. This can be done easily. If the fence is damaged or the paintwork looks shabby, these can be rectified straight away. Clear any weeds from the yard and replace the hardware on your front door. Fix The Roof If your home has a structural problem, its value will be...

Central heating systems are very complex and this means that faults are not uncommon. If you notice that your radiators are cold in any part of your house, this can indicate a problem with the whole system. If your central heating fails, don’t panic. There are plenty of steps you can take yourself before you call an engineer. If you are concerned about the cost of central heating repairs, you can purchase a central heating cover policy to put your mind at ease. Remember that your central heating is very complex, involving gas, water and electrics. If you are uncomfortable or unsure at any stage of these checks, always call in a professional. Now, let’s explore the most common ways to diagnose a problem with your heating... No heating? Check the thermostat It might sound obvious, but the first step is to check that the system is turned on and...

How To Dramatically Improve Modern External Door Security An important part of keeping any rental, commercial or residential property secure is ensuring your doors are protected with locks that can keep intruders out effectively. However, many properties with modern UPVC or metal doors are fitted with standard cylinder locks that might not be able to keep opportunist burglars out as well as you might think. We’ve looked at the shortcomings of standard cylinder lock types with the experts at Locksmith Derby and the burglary phenomenon known as lock snapping, plus how anti-snap locks could provide the added protection you need. How burglaries occur with standard locks  Normal cylinder locks, often known as euro cylinder locks, definitely provide some protection for your property, surely you need a key to get in? Most people realise there are variety of ways that experienced burglars, or a locksmith can get past them, either picking the...

In periods of economic uncertainly, investors increasingly flock to bricks and mortar as the safest form of investment. In recent times, residential property has offered unprecedented opportunities for capital growth, and BTL landlords have enjoyed rising rental yields in addition. Based on your own experience as a homeowner, the step to becoming a residential property investor may not seem all that daunting. After all, it’s just another flat or house to look after. That said, being a landlord is a competitive business and the bigger your portfolio, the more tenants there are to manage, the more buildings there are to maintain and the more involved the entire process can become. Is it still worth doing? Choosing to invest in a commercial property portfolio may be a smart alternative. Commercial rents can yield attractive returns on your investment, with much less hands-on effort required on your part. Here are some tips on...

If you’re planning on selling your home, it’s important to catch the eye of your buyer in all the right ways. The property market is often a very competitive one, so anything that you can do to get the edge over other sellers is vital. If you need your home to really impress, here are some ideas that you can put into practice so that your property will really wow those coming to view it. Declutter The very first thing you need to do when preparing your house for a sale is to declutter all your rooms. The people coming to view your home want to imagine themselves living there – they can’t do that if your odds and ends are taking up every visible space. Be ruthless. Throw away anything you don’t want, use or need. If you need to, borrow a garage or rent a storage unit for...