7 Signs Your Home Needs An Upgrade

Your home provides a personal space to spend quality time with loved ones and make memories. It’s also the place where you can unwind after a busy day. However, you’ll sometimes need to make modifications to ensure your home is always in good shape and as enjoyable as possible. According to research, about 76% of homeowners in the UK spent on renovations in 2021. Some signs can serve as indicators if you’re wondering when it is best to upgrade your home. Ignoring these signs can prove costly in the long run. Here are some signs to look out for to prompt you that it’s time to upgrade your home.  

1. A dripping roof

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Most households ignore roof leaks because they believe it’s a minor issue. However, when left unchecked, a leaking roof can cause significant damage to other parts of your home. It’s best to hire a professional to do a good job, so you don’t worry about having to replace it again anytime soon. Depending on the style and nature of your home, you can consider various options for your new roof, such as gable or flat roofs. Remember to consider functionality when settling on the type of roof you want to upgrade your home.

2. Persistent drainage problems

If you have constant drainage issues, especially in your bathroom and kitchen, it’s best to check your plumbing system and make the necessary changes. This way, you prevent water from seeping into your walls and floors, preventing long-term damage. Although you may be tempted to handle such plumbing issues using the DIY route, hiring a professional plumber to ensure a quality job is advisable. 

3. You want a modern style

Home trends occasionally change, so you may want to upgrade your home to stay modern. However, consider a design that combines style with functionality so that it will be useful for a long time. Spending a lot of money to fully redecorate your home only to keep up with trends may seem impossible, but you can identify simple ways to make it happen. You don’t have to do everything at once. You can start room by room. For instance, you’ll be surprised at how easily you can transform your kitchen by altering something as basic as the cabinet knobs and faucets. You can also consider changing some of your furniture to add a contemporary touch to your home.

4. Damaged flooring

Whether your floors are tiled, hardwood, or carpeted, spending time and money on them may significantly increase the value of your home. Good flooring can also make your home appear more beautiful and welcoming. Additionally, it will help prevent issues like tripping or falling. If you have damaged tiles in areas such as your kitchen and bathroom, you can use durable grout from Fosroc conbextra gp to fix them. If you’re considering getting carpets for your flooring in areas such as your living room and bedrooms, you’ll need to consider aspects such as whether you have pets, to make the right choice of flooring material. 

5. Dull or faded paint

Paint has a way of bringing your home to life, both outdoors and indoors. Therefore, it’s a great way to keep your home looking fresh without breaking the bank. If your paint is chipping off, it’s time to get a fresh coat. You can explore various colours depending on your personality and the rooms you’re upgrading. You can easily paint on your own or make it a fun family activity by doing it with your loved ones. 

6. Pests and insects

Pest infestations can be very unpleasant for you and yours and can quickly damage vital parts of your home. If you notice any pests or insects around your home or in areas such as your window frames, corners, and so on, it’s best to immediately deal with them. Occasionally fumigate your home to reduce the incidence of any pest infestation. You should also clean your home thoroughly so it won’t provide a breeding ground for pests and insects. 

7.  You intend to sell

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A well-planned makeover might significantly raise the value of your home. If you plan to sell your home anytime soon, it may be time for an upgrade. However, you should avoid making drastic changes that could deter your target market. Select neutral elements that have a broad appeal to increase the likelihood of you selling your property in no time.

Financial constraints may occasionally force you to put off home improvements, but the indicators listed above call for immediate reaction. It’s crucial to examine them as soon as you come across any of them. This way, you’ll reduce the likelihood of problems in the future that would cost more time and money to fix.

Everybody thinks that spring cleans have to take up loads of time and effort; however that is just isn’t the case! Instead, there are strategies you can use to get amazing results without much hard work at all. Just keep reading to find out what they are. 

Deal with dust by investing in an air purifier /HEPA filter

Now, you may expect a lecture on how you have to thoroughly dust all of your surfaces and move items of furniture to get your home clean. Of course there is nothing wrong with doing this at all as it will help to make your home cleaner and a more pleasant place to live. 

However you can help lighten the load of dusting and minimise the need for deep cleans by investing in two items. The first is an air purifier. This is a device that sucks in air and filters it so all the tiny particles of dust get caught in the filter and so are no longer circulating your home. 

Working on a similar principle a vacuum with a HEPA filter will also capture dust and allergen particles instead of just moving them around in your home, something that means you will need to dust less over time. 

Hire a carpet cleaner 

If the thought of getting down on your knees to scrub your carpets doesn’t appeal then hiring a machine that can do this for you is a great way to save time and effort. 

Carpet cleaners can often be rented from DIY stores, and you can purchase the right kind of shampoo solution. They work by pushing water and cleaning products into the fibres of your carpet at high pressure which helps to free up any dirt particles stuck in the fibres. 

Get your windows cleaned 

Another very effective way of using cleaning to brighten up your home is to attend to your windows, both inside and out. Unfortunately this is a task that many people dread and so put off as much as possible. After all, getting that perfect streak-free finish can be a real challenge. 

The good news is that you can reap all the benefits of clean windows, without ever having to break a sweat! All you need to do is find a provider like Labor Panes that offer window cleaning services. They’ll even do your gutters and pressure wash the outside of your house too, to make sure every aspect of it shines! 

Steam your kitchen 

Lastly, if you want your home to truly sparkle you won’t want to forget your kitchen! Happily, you can get your kitchen clean with the minimum of effort, not by scrubbing down kitchen surfaces, but by using steam power to get your kitchen floors, surfaces, and even appliances as clean and hygienic as possible instead. 

There are many steam appliances that you can use for this purpose, including handheld steamers, and even things like the kitchen Mama which combines the power of steam and white cleaning vinegar to make wiping off all the baked-on food inside your microwave as easy as possible. 

Looking for a new home can be an exciting time. You get to start off with a clean slate and design your new home in a way that makes you smile every time you walk through the door.

However, when it comes to buying a house you need to know what you are looking for to make sure the property you purchase is the best for you, meets your needs and, of course, is in good condition. You can click here to read more about new homes on the market right now to help your search.

Structural Issues

Although you look for large cracks, you should also expect more minor hairline cracks. Pay close attention to the areas where extensions meet, end-of-terrace walls and bay windows as all of these can begin to fall or bow away from the rest of the house if not maintained properly. 

You’re looking for issues right now that you can bring to the attention of the homeowner or estate agent and then you can ask your surveyor to look into them late, however you can only look for what you are familiar with; a chartered surveyor with years of experience is trained to identify risks and recognise when something needs to be addressed.

Windows

When purchasing a home one of the most important things to look for is the condition of the external window frames. These are excellent indicators of the overall state of a residence: If people have invested in and cared for these they are likely to have done the same with the remaining components. 

The window is likely rotting if you can easily insert your finger into a wooden window frame. If there is condensation between the panes of a double-glazed window this indicates that the window is faulty- inquire as to whether this is the case. A registered approved inspector must install new windows and you should obtain a FENSA or equivalent certificate, which is frequently accompanied by a guarantee.

Electrical Sockets

Having enough plug sockets around the house is essential. Look for new sockets that can indicate electrical work has been done. Check the condition of the fuse board too. Rewiring a home can be expensive, and the last thing you want is to move in to find you have to rewire everywhere.

Plumbing

You don’t need to be told of the damage poorly maintained pipework can cause. But while indoor-plumbing problems can be a nightmare, so too can externally blocked drains pipes too both on your property and neighbouring houses. Plumbing issues can occur in any homes but if you are buying a newly built home these issues haven’t been identified yet and can cause problems in the future.

Look for signs of damp both inside and outside the home around sinks, showers and baths. Fresh paint can indicate a cover-up if done in certain places; leaks can leave a mark on walls and ceilings which people might look to cover up. Also, pay attention to any strong odours outside of the property too which can alert you to any problems with blocked drains or even blocked gutters if water is stagnating in gutters.