General tips and advice for homeowners covering maintenance, seasonal tips and everyday property care.
A clean dishwasher filter is one of the simplest ways to keep your appliance running at its best - yet it's one of the most overlooked maintenance tasks in the kitchen. If your dishes are coming out cloudy, smelly, or still dirty, the filter is almost always the first thing to check.
As the clock ticks towards midnight and we welcome a brand-new year, many of us start thinking about fresh starts and future goals. While personal resolutions often top the list, the New Year is also the perfect time to think about your home: the place where those plans unfold.
Winter is a time for cosy evenings, festive celebrations and welcoming friends and family into your home. However, colder weather, increased energy use and extra decorations can also create risks if your home isn’t properly prepared. From heating systems working overtime to darker nights and icy conditions, winter places additional pressure on your property. Taking a few simple precautions now can help you enjoy the festive season without unexpected disruptions or costly repairs.
Homes don’t look after themselves and anyone who owns one knows how quickly that “small job” list can grow. From leaky taps and flickering lights to garden care and general repairs, property maintenance is what keeps your home safe and looking its best.
Losing your keys, moving into a new home, or wanting to boost your home security can be stressful. In these situations, having a dependable locksmith is essential.
Last week, we discussed maintenance jobs that can help to remove some festive stress. This week, we check off those final things on your festive to-do list.
Taking a few simple steps before Christmas can prevent disasters and give you peace of mind. Here are some essential tasks to prepare your home for the season.
Recent storms may have had an impact on your property. We discuss the implications related to insurance, your garden, and how to reduce future damage.
Whether you are thinking of selling your property or you just want to make your home look more welcoming, kerb appeal is an all-important factor that can help improve the look (and value!) of your home.
Check out our top tips for sprucing up your home and garden ready for the colder months.
Practical tips to reduce Christmas stress, like planning ahead, delegating tasks, wrapping early, preparing for home emergencies and keeping an emergency contacts list.
From repairing paintwork or old plaster to cleaning the exterior of your home, we look at whether you should undertake work related to your listed buidling
Our trusted handyman can help, whatever the task at hand, offering reliable support and professional expertise.
Common homeowner questions about property maintenance and home improvements.
Gas work - full stop. Any work on gas appliances must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer by law. Structural changes like removing walls, altering roof timbers, or touching anything load-bearing need professional assessment and often Building Regulations sign-off. Electrical work involving the consumer unit or new circuits must meet Part P. And if your property was built before 2000, be aware asbestos may be present - it can only be handled by a licensed specialist.
Improvements that add usable space or modernise the rooms buyers scrutinise most tend to deliver the strongest returns. Loft conversions consistently top the list - adding a bedroom and bathroom can add more value than the work costs in many areas. Kitchen and bathroom updates are next. Open-plan ground-floor extensions connecting to a kitchen-diner have become one of the most sought-after layouts in UK family homes. And energy improvements - insulation, a new boiler, solar panels - are increasingly influencing buyer decisions as running costs become a bigger part of the conversation.
There's no universal right answer - it depends on your situation. Moving gets you what you want without living through a building site, but stamp duty, estate agent fees, and moving costs can easily add up to tens of thousands of pounds. Renovating lets you stay put and invest in your own property, but comes with disruption and unexpected costs. The most useful comparison: get a clear view of what your home could realistically be worth after the work, and what a move would actually cost end to end. A local estate agent and a builder's quote can give you those two numbers.
A survey is an independent assessment of a property's condition carried out by a qualified surveyor - separate from the mortgage valuation, which only tells the lender what the property is worth, not what's wrong with it. A HomeBuyer Report flags visible defects and anything that needs further investigation. A Full Building Survey goes deeper and is worth the extra cost on older, larger, or unusual properties. Given that a house is likely the biggest purchase you'll ever make, skipping the survey to save a few hundred pounds is a false economy - a single missed issue can cost far more to put right.
Get your paperwork in order before anyone picks up a tool. Check whether you need planning permission or Building Regulations approval. Find out whether a Party Wall Agreement applies. Confirm your home insurance covers you during the works. Get at least three written quotes and make sure the scope of work is clearly agreed in writing with whoever you hire. And have a contingency budget - on almost any renovation, something unexpected comes up. The projects that go smoothly are usually the ones that were properly planned before they started.
If you own the freehold, you own the property and the land it sits on outright - you can generally do what you like subject to planning rules. If you own a leasehold property (common with flats), you own the right to live there for the remaining lease term, but the freeholder owns the building. This matters for home improvements because many leases require you to get the freeholder's written permission before making alterations - sometimes even internal ones. Always check your lease before starting any work, as doing alterations without the required consent can cause problems when you come to sell.
If you have a question in relation to TrustATrader specifically, please check out the TrustATrader FAQs, with separate lists tailored to consumers and tradespeople. Alternatively, get in touch with our team. We're happy to help!