You need to be careful if you own a property from the past. Whether you want to update the decor or do some renovations to increase the value of your home, you must tread carefully. You could ruin the value of your home by doing the wrong work or choosing the wrong materials. Here are some tips for updating an older property in a sensitive and economical way.
Bathrooms that are better
A bathroom that is outdated can have a major impact on the resale price of a house. In a period home, a modern bathroom that is clean and stylish can be a major selling point. But you don’t need to ignore the history of your home. Reclaimed items can be renovated to look as good as new, preserving the charm and character of a home. When you need a Kitchen Refurb, consider /www.thekitchenrefurbishmentcompany.co.uk/
Restorative
What makes period homes so special are their unique, original features. These elements give your home its character. Consider restoring original features such as fireplaces, windows and doors. You should use items that are appropriate to the age of your house. These historical features are unique and add value to the property. Buyers will pay more for a renovated older home with a sense of history.
Kitchens
Kitchens are often the heart of the home and the hub of family activity. Consider upgrading the worktops and the oven, as well as the sink and taps. These items can also be found at salvage yards and repaired or upcycled in order to maintain their vintage quality. You don’t have to replace your old furniture with new. This will ruin the unique period feel that makes your home so special. To retain the unique character of your home, you can use vintage or upcycled pieces.
Mistakes that damage a period home
Many period homes have already lost original features such as sash windows, cornicing, tiling, cast iron baths and floorboards, often stripped out in the 1960s and 1970s. RICS has published guidance on the most common harms done to period properties, and poor maintenance and shoddy repairs rank alongside missing features. Using concrete instead of lime mortar on brickwork or cornicing, letting windows and doors rot, and removing fireplaces and chimneys without proper structural support can all damage the building.
Choose a builder with real period experience. Some techniques, such as re-thatching a roof, are highly specialist and beyond most general builders. Avoid unsuitable additions too: cheap window frames and imitation period doors detract from the house rather than adding to it.
Modern conveniences need not be sacrificed, but think about where satellite dishes, drainpipes, cables, switches, smoke detectors and alarms will go, and keep their impact small. Architectural salvage yards are a rich source of genuine floorboards, bricks, doors and baths that add character and value.