DIY and Home Improvements
DIY Tool Kit
Home Improvements and major works
Finding a reliable tradesman or builder
Do it Yourself
Once you have moved in to your new home, you may want to make some DIY new home improvements or additions. Home remodelling may not be required but after the home has fully dried out you may wish or need to re decorate in your own colour scheme.
There is a huge DIY market and the options are endless. Whether you are a beginner or confident at DIY there is plenty of good advice out there. One DIY website we have come across is Ultimate Handyman. The website offers free help, hints, DIY tips and advice on all aspects of DIY and most areas and jobs are covered. There are handy instructional videos and even a forum where you can ask questions.
DIY can be very satisfying as well as cost effective way of improving a new home. Just because you live in a brand new home it doesn’t mean that essential maintenance and repairs will not be necessary from time to time.
DIY Tool kit
To carry out DIY you will need a few basic tools that every home should own.
175mm linesman pliers
200mm long nose pliers.
150mm diagonal pliers.
175mm locking pliers (aka Mole grips)
300mm hand saw.
400mm hand saw.
200mm file.
140 x 40mm combination plane-rasp.
25mm and 13mm wood chisels
150mm utility knife. Retractable!
150mm junior hacksaw
Metal hacksaw.
2 pairs of pipe grips.
You should always buy the best quality of tools you can afford. High quality tools are never a waste of money. If you find you need a particular tool for a specific job buy it. You will have it for life and will be sure to need it again. Over the years you will gradually accumulate most tools needed for most DIY tasks and emergency repairs.
Home improvements, remodelling and major works
There are some improvements or home remodelling that will make little or no difference to the value of a home. Re decoration of a property will make no difference to the selling price but may make the property easier to sell, especially if it replaces outdated or unfashionable colours.
The main motivation should not be to primarily to add to the property value. There are improvements that do add value as shown below. However, you should not fit a new kitchen if you are thinking of selling in the hope of getting a better price as your taste may be entirely different to the end buyer.
With location being the driving force in most buying decisions, it is always better to own the worst home in a good area, rather than the best home in a bad area.
However, if you are planning to stay in the property then any improvements that improve your enjoyment of the home will be worth doing. Especially when you consider the costs of moving. See also Finding a reliable tradesmen or good builder
The best home improvements that add value:
500-watt impact AC power drill.
18 volt cordless drill/screwdriver
Set of Phillips screwdrivers.
Set of flat screwdrivers.
Electrical test screwdriver.
5m tape measure.
450mm long aluminium level.
8 masonry drill bits set (3 to 10mm).
8 wood working drill bit set (3 to 12mm)
5 metal drill bit set (3 to 10mm)
16oz claw hammer.
8oz rubber mallet
250mm, 200mm and 150mm adjustable spanners
Home improvement
Loft conversion
Room Extension
Conservatory
New Kitchen
Replacement windows
New Bathroom
Redecoration
Resurface drive
New carpets
Average increase in value
£20,880
£16,070
£8,240
£5,620
£5,270
£3,350
£3,230
£2,880
£2,150
Source: HSBC survey panel of home valuers