It is believed by many, that in order to increase profit, you have to spend a little. Fortunately for some, when making home improvements to sell your house, this is not always the case.

Research conducted by TrustMark suggests the mean dissatisfactory repairs to your house can lower its real-estate value up to a shocking 11%. The government endorsed trade scheme concluded more than 50% of investors reject a house entirely and 90% of the people who took the survey concluded they would compromise their offer due to DIY household enhancements.

When looking to put your house on the market, a fresh layer of paint can make a significant difference and potentially slightly increase the percentage of the asking price. More often than not, the owners attempt to take on duties which are outside of their skill set when attempting to improve their house to sell.

It can be beneficial to attempt to make improvements to your house, not only that but avoiding the cost of a tradesman initially seems an intelligent decision. Be that as it may, in the UK, the regular three bedroom house was valued at £218,779 and it is suggested you could take a loss of over 10% excluding the price of resources and time spent attempting to resolve any issues.

By researching online homeowners are offered multiple tips on how to reduce spending when looking to sell your house. The growth in online estate agents is the main provider of a speedier as well as low-cost way to get rid of your property. You also evade costly charges of the old-fashioned estate agents however some technological advances are not as beneficial as they seem.

A recent example is the “I’ll give it a try” homeowners entrusting google to help rewire their property or attempt to fix the boiler with the aid of a Youtube video; this method can be detrimental to the asking price and leave your house in a hazardous state for you and the next owner.

Justifiably a glimpse of poorly attempted improvements can discourage potential investors, the savvier individual when attempting to put your house on the market is to completely avoid making repairs.

Russell Quirk an expert in real-estate, CEO of emoov.co.uk noted “When arranging to sell your house DIY improvements can slightly increase the sale price. Unfortunately, we must note making DIY improvements does not necessarily mean you will receive more money for the property. For instance, some investors would rather purchase a house which they can renovate. Similarly, numerous investors will redo the kitchen and bathroom in their new house without paying more if it was recently installed. It is widely accepted that potential flaws of the house will be used to renegotiate the asking price. It is down to the owner of the house to consider whether the expense of DIY, the manual time required to make the adjustments as well as the price they want to sell their home for.”

Baring this in mind here are a few pointers:-

Do’s

• As previously stated, an uplifting layer of paint can be beneficial in ensuring your house is more highly regarded and thus augmenting its’ value.

• Ensure the grass has been maintained. An orderly garden can be a selling point of your property and possibly add significance to the buyer.

• Tidy and de-trash. A potential investor will have an idea of what they are looking for in a property; ensuring the house is spotless can encourage a deal.

• Express any exclusive attributes. When planning on spending money to improve your house, ensure that it is worth your time and money. If you emphasise potential exclusive features of your house, for example a fire place or traditional wooden beams, it will attract more buyers than a newly fitted bathroom.

DIY Don’ts

• If you are not a certified electrician or gas engineer for your safety stay clear of any alterations. To an untrained eye it can be a potential disaster and can lead to putting yourself and future buyers in danger. The initial thought of saving money may seem appealing, however incorrect wiring is one of the largest causes of a reduced worth of your home.

Avoid fluttering away your spare money on pricey household appliances. More often than not, potential buyers have a personal idea of what they expect from the kitchen and bathroom. Rarely will someone pay over the odds for a house so the supplier is able to regain their investment elsewhere.

Don’t get caught in a sticky situation, if you plan on making improvements ensure that they are adding value to your house. Even if you feel your house needs a little DIY, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t going to sell. It is quite frequent that potential families may wish to add their own touch when making improvements so that it is suited to them. The worst case scenario would be being unable to sell your property and being stuck in the middle of too far passed a project house and unable for somebody to move in immediately.

The worst case would be trying to sell your house and falling in-between being fully furnished and ready to move in and the house needing that much work doing you can’t warrant buying

• Avoid overpricing. If your house requires maintenance it would be wise to reconsider the asking price increasing the likelihood of the sale.

Information by UK’s leading online estate agent Emoov.co.uk

In many homes the kitchen is the most important room. It is the place where meals are prepared and a quick glimpse into someone’s kitchen can reveal a lot about their lifestyle. A location for being creative, socialising and enjoying oneself, it’s vital the room is well maintained and improved when necessary.

Refurbishing your kitchen can be costly. Using savings, credit cards or a personal loan is one option but another option is a Second charge mortgagefor a kitchen from Nemo Loans to cover the expense. A Nemo loan is secured against your home so you must make sure you can afford the repayments or your property could be repossessed. When re-doing the room there are a number of areas that should be focussed on, whether you make changes in one go or bit by bit.

New Paint Job

The kitchen is the first room people walk into in some houses, so whether you want to impress guests or potential house buyers, having a presentable room is important. Painting cabinet doors is a cheap way to instantly create a smart and clean appearance. Re-painting or applying new wallpaper also forms a contemporary atmosphere in the room and shows care and appreciation for a good kitchen.

Hanging Rack

Depending on the size of your kitchen it may be necessary to save as much space as possible. If there’s little room to store all your pots and pans put up a pegboard or magnetic board to hang them on the wall. This provides easy access and adds that traditional charm by having utensils on show.

Fresh Furniture

For larger kitchens, updated furniture instantly provides a fashionable feel to the place. Where there is space to sit and eat at one of the counters, bringing in some high stools or chairs that suit the environment gives a sense of practical purpose as well. Empty space doesn’t necessarily look appealing so consider strategically showcasing it with a table or cabinet.

Improved Lighting

Natural lighting is best in any kitchen but for many flats this isn’t always achievable. For those who regularly eat in the room, add lanterns or lamps to make it more atmospheric so you don’t feel like you’re eating in the work canteen all the time.

Eclectic Shelves

Shelves are useful for storing everything from spices to cookbooks and can be practical yet stylish in your kitchen. Hanging shelves can be moved around if you have a change of layout while a range of quirkily designed ones will add a unique touch to your home. Expensive yet fashionable ones will suit extravagant kitchens, though DIY ones provide their own charm.