Don’t move – improve

YOU love your home it is in a great place, with a good primary school nearby and you have all made some valued friends in the area, so you want stay put and renovate. It might be that essential structural work needs to be done or a complete re-wire; that major fixtures like the heating, bathroom or kitchen are so tired they have to be changed. A central heating system is a major investment and not something you make very often so you will be amazed at how more efficient and well-designed your new investment is. This work is going to cause some upheaval, so while you are at it why not do it all in one go and remodel to include a utility room, a new bigger porch or knock the dining room and kitchen into a big, bright and modern family living space. Think of your house as a blank canvas, and paint a new masterpiece for your family. A brand new home would have an en-suite bathroom, or an extra shower room and additional lavatory downstairs, so why not add these to yours? Not only will they make your home more enjoyable but also these kind of improvements will put your house back at the top of the list of attractive properties if you should ever change your mind and sell. Suddenly your older house would be well able to compete with far newer properties with more extras. If it makes emotional sense to stay put and renovate, it also makes sound economical sense as well if you sit down and really plan out what you needs to be done and what you would like to do as well. Consulting an architect and a financial advisor might give you a pleasant surprise and you can afford to do more than you think because of the value the work will add to your property, a real win-win situation.