Home values news
Latest Home values news
Credit crunch 'traps' almost half of under 25 homeowners
The number of homeowners who feel trapped as a result of financial difficulties has swelled to 3.6 million, according to a new survey. Research by comparison website Gocompare shows that young homeowners have been worst affected by the current economic downturn, with 44 per cent of under 25s feeling stuck in their current home and 32 per cent scrapping plans to move to a ...
3rd Jun 2008
Home improvement costs rocket
Increasing fuel costs, strong global demand for raw materials and fewer eastern European workers have pushed the price of home improvements up by 20 per cent in the last two years, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics). Figures published by the organisation's Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) show that the cost of adding double glazing has ...
3rd Jun 2008
Home values news archive
'Fixer upper' projects appealing to house buyers
The majority of homeowners would be happy to buy an older house and do it up themselves rather than purchasing a ready made property, new research has revealed. According to the latest quarterly survey from Yorkshire Bank, 52 per cent of homebuyers would be prepared to fix up an old home themselves, while 43 per cent would actually be put off a house purchase if it was an ...
28th May 2008
Home sellers 'should spruce up gardens'
Those homeowners looking to sell their property can ensure that it is more attractive to potential buyers by making improvements to their garden. That is according to Lucy Hall, deputy editor of BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, who suggested a number of ways in which people can spruce up their gardens in order to enhance the overall appeal of their property. Amongst other ...
22nd May 2008
Loft conversion 'is most desirable home improvement'
Those homeowners looking to increase the appeal of their property, and hence their chances of attracting a buyer, will find that home improvements are invaluable in today's market. That is according to Alliance & Leicester Personal Loans, which, citing figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), revealed that loft conversions are considered by ...
20th May 2008
Energy-efficient improvements 'increase property's appeal'
Homeowners can increase the appeal of their property to potential buyers by carrying out certain energy-efficient improvements. That is according to Danny Davis, senior technical engineer for the Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE), who asserted that energy-efficient plumbing can make a house more attractive to buyers. He said that, as environmental factors ...
19th May 2008
Plumbing improvements 'should be carried out by a professional'
Homeowners looking to make improvements to their plumbing should get a professional to carry out the work. That is according to Danny Davis, senior technical engineer for the Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE), who urged consumers not to carry out DIY changes to their plumbing as the process is complicated. He asserted that plumbing and heating systems ...
8th May 2008
Gardens 'should be kept quite simple'
Those homeowners with gardens should take good care of their green spaces, as it can significantly add to the value of their property. That is according to Joe Swift, a gardening expert and a presenter of BBC's Gardener's World, who asserted that there was "no doubt" that gardens increase the value of a property. She advised homeowners not to try and accomplish ...
30th Apr 2008
Mirrors 'give the illusion of space' within a property
By employing certain visual tricks within their home, people can make their property more attractive and improve its chances of finding a buyer. That is according to one interior design expert, who explained that the use of mirrors could help to give the illusion of greater space within a property. Hugh Jamieson, member of the British Interior Design Association (BIDA) and ...
25th Apr 2008
Home improvers 'must do their homework'
Homeowners who are intending to have maintenance and improvement work carried out on their property should ensure they are fully prepared. That is according to Michele Shambrook, operations manager for Consumer Direct, who advised property owners to conduct thorough research before embarking on such a project. The government advice service revealed that in the first quarter ...
23rd Apr 2008