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  4. New Year's Resolutions - For Your Home

Homeowner Advice

General tips and advice for homeowners covering maintenance, seasonal tips and everyday property care.

Homeowner Advice

New Year's Resolutions - For Your Home

Wow, what a year it has been! Many of us have spent far more time at home than we expected this year, and it has certainly come with challenges. With high demand home office spaces, garden makeovers and extensions as well as supply issues and rising material costs, this has been a particularly challenging year for our traders, but they have risen to the challenge admirably!

Wow, what a year it has been! Many of us have spent far more time at home than we expected this year, and it has certainly come with challenges. With high demand home office spaces, garden makeovers and extensions as well as supply issues and rising material costs, this has been a particularly challenging year for our traders, but they have risen to the challenge admirably!

As we prepare to enter a new year, give your home a little TLC with these New Year’s resolutions:

  1. Detox – your body doesn’t like junk, and nor does your home. Get ride of any clutter, rubbish, bad presents (yes, really!) that you either have no need for, or which do not bring you joy. This does, of course, mean that the children can’t throw away their school books (top marks for trying though). Be ruthless and recycle, charity shop, sell, or – as a last resort, bin everything that doesn’t bring you pleasure or purpose.
  2. Cleanse – seize the opportunity of a Christmas-decoration-free house by having a deep clean. Tired, grubby floors and upholstery are given a new lease of life and brighten up your home without having to invest in new carpets. A professional cleaner can do the job for you – if you have some budget, it could be money well spent. At the very least, consider hiring a professional carpet cleaner – those stains that you now see as part of the carpet pattern will be gone in no time.
  3. Cut back – if you have a hungry, fuel-guzzling home, your fuel bills could spiral out of control with rising prices. Get some good habits going, such as adding an extra layer before you turn the heating up, or switching off all electronics when you leave a room. If you don’t have great insulation, get a quote from a local insulation specialist. If you are on benefits and own your own home, you could be entitled to a free insulation upgrade under the government’s recently extended ECO3 scheme. Check with your local supplier for more information.
  4. Pamper – your home may look a little tired at the moment, but there are plenty of very simple ways to add a new lease of life. Sand and paint tired furniture, give cushion covers a wash and add pretty throws to tatty sofas to transform a room. If you are lucky enough to have wooden floors but they have seen better days, set aside some time to strip them and revarnish them – you will be astounded by the transformation.

If the 2020s so far have taught us anything, it is to make the most of what we have and to enjoy what we can – while we can. By investing a little time and effort into your home, you can really learn to make the best of your surroundings. And at Trust A Trader, we have the traders to help you do just that. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to find the right trader near you.

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Looking for more homeowner advice advice?

Find clear, practical answers to common homeowner advice questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

  • What home repairs should I never attempt myself?

    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.

  • Which home improvements add the most value to a property?

    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.

  • Should I renovate my home or move house?

    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.

  • What does a home survey actually cover and do I need one when buying?

    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.

  • What should I do before starting any major home improvement project?

    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.

  • What is the difference between freehold and leasehold and why does it matter for home improvements?

    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.

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