Shropshire Builder’s 7 Top Tips For Property Renovations

Renovating your property will likely enhance the building, adding extra living space along with value – which can be ideal whether you plan to sell the house soon or at a later date.

So if you’re planning to have renovation work, here are 7 top tips from our Shropshire builder to help make the experience a stress-free success.

1. Find a recommend builder Shropshire and carpenter Shropshire before you do anything. Ask friends, family, work colleagues, or search online for a reputable builder in the local Shropshire area. Before you commit, make sure you see a work portfolio to be sure the company works to the highest standard and is able to provide the type of building service you need.

2. Ask your Shropshire builder and Shropshire carpenter to visit to discuss your renovation ideas. Professional tradesmen will advise you on what will work, the best way to proceed and cover anything else you need to know such as whether a structural survey is needed before you start. A good builder Shropshire will also work to your budget, making sure your money works hard.

3. Check the particulars of your property. For example, if it’s listed or in a conservation area you may need to get planning permission for the renovation work. Speak to your planning officer and builder Shropshire to establish the way forward. And you may want to ask a local estate agent to visit the house and give an idea of how much the house would be worth once the renovation is completed – this should also help you budget effectively for the project.

4. Project manage yourself if possible, or use a building firm that is able to offer this service in addition, to help you keep track of the project and the costs.

5. Have a contingency budget of around 20% extra to cover any unexpected costs along the way. It’s a good idea to be prepared for a similar extra amount of time for the project completion to allow for unseen delays.

6. Get creative, and think how exactly you want your renovated home to look. This includes the materials used, which you may want to source from unusual places including timber yards and architectural reclamation yards.

7. Enjoy the process. Depending on the scale of the renovation work to be undertaken by your builder Shropshire, divide it into sections – by concentrating on one room at a time, you’ll make the experience more enjoyable as well as contain the mess more easily.

Employ A Bishops Castle Builder To Give Your Bathroom A Facelift

Your home’s bathroom is one of the most important spaces, and yet it’s easy to overlook. So if your bathroom is beginning to look dated or needs a complete overhaul, the good news is you can transform the room within your budget using a professional builder Bishops Castle.

Choose between replacing the entire bathroom with a newly fitted suite, installed by a Bishops Castle builder, and simply updating the current fixtures and fittings to improve the overall look and feel of the bathroom.

The best place to start is with your budget – you need to decide how much you want to spend on your bathroom before you contact a local builder Bishops Castle or Shropshire builder. Once you’ve set the budget, it’s a good idea to ask one or more Bishops Castle builders to visit your home to discuss the possible options.

There are a number of factors that will determine your choices, in addition to budget. These include the current condition of your bathroom, space, and size of bathroom. Your builder Shropshire will help you create a design plan that maximises the use of space and light, including the right bathroom tiles, bath, shower, toilet and sink options.

The last thing you want to do is make the new bathroom look crowded or small because of the numerous fittings. So it’s best to strike a happy medium and install the type of bath – traditional, whirlpool, spa, etc – shower, loo and sink you want and that are realistic for your property.

If you do decide to install a fitted bathroom, a professional builder Bishops Castle should also be able to project manage the process so you know when you can expect the work to be completed and monitor progress to ensure the work stays within budget. However, if it’s too expensive to replace the entire suite, it’s amazing what some new bathroom tiles and flooring can do to a room – and by hiring a reliable Bishops Castle builder, the work will be completed to the highest standard, for the greatest impact.

It’s Time To Hire A Shropshire Builder As UK Property Rental Market Soars

Landlords in the local area should contact a Shropshire builder for any renovation works before renting out their property, as the UK rental market shows signs of improvement.

With the rental market so buoyant, it is a good idea for landlords to discuss their properties with a builder Shropshire to help ensure they receive the best possible return on their investment.

The latest research has revealed thousands more properties were marketed to rent in 2011, compared to 2010. So anyone considering buying property to let or on the verge of marketing their portfolio, should get in touch with a professional builder Shropshire to discuss any possible building works to maximise the rental income.

It makes sense to carry out any general building works, extensions or even carpentry works – which could be carried out by a Shropshire carpenter – before renting out a property. A tenant will likely pay more for a house that is in good condition, and where the fixtures and fittings are of the highest specification. For example, getting a builder Shropshire to install a new kitchen could widen the rental appeal significantly.

Research by Experian shows an additional 58,000 properties were marketed to rent during last year, compared to the same time in 2010. Numbers increased each quarter in 2011 compared to the year earlier, with the third quarter seeing the biggest rise (14.46%).

Although London was shown to be at the forefront of the rental market, accounting for 20% of all UK rentals, Wales and the West Midlands experienced the largest rise in houses to let, up 20% on 2010.

Jonathan Westley, managing director of consumer Information services at Experian UK and Ireland said: “This insight shows that home owners may be using renting as a back up plan if they are unable to sell or alternatively some may still consider property a long term investment.”

The trend looks set to continue for 2012, which means landlords and landlords-to-be should speak to a Shropshire builder or carpenter Shropshire to establish the best ways to maximise on the rental capacity of their properties.

[Via: PropertyWire]

Shrewsbury Carpenter’s Top Kitchen Ideas

When it comes to creating your perfect kitchen, it’s vital to invest the time and thought at the planning stage to achieve success, says JFP Carpentry & Developments’ Shrewsbury carpenter.

It’s easy to get swept away by romantic ideas for your new kitchen, but by staying grounded you’ll ensure the end result is what you want as well as add value to your property.

Any builder Shrewsbury will tell you that installing a new kitchen comes at the end of a long planning process – not to mention many discussions with your carpenter Shrewsbury.

The first thing to sort out is the budget. There is only so much a Shrewsbury carpenter or builder can do without a proper brief, and that includes budget. Plan in advance how much you want to spend on the new kitchen, including materials and installation so that your carpenter can complete within budget. It’s also a good idea to keep track of costs throughout the project to make sure prices don’t escalate.

Next, you need to consider the shape and size of your kitchen. To maximise the space when it comes to cupboards and storage, a Shrewsbury carpenter will help you design the layout of the kitchen you want. Decide whether you want a contemporary or traditional feel to the room, for example, and the carpenter Shrewsbury can build the kitchen accordingly.

Then, think about a kitchen extension. It might be you can convert your current room into an open plan kitchen or install a new window on the side of your small kitchen to make it feel lighter and bigger. Even makeover tricks like painting the kitchen a pale but vibrant colour can enhance the feel of the space, so be sure to discuss exactly what you’re looking for with your Shrewsbury carpenter before work gets underway.

Finally, good luck! If you hire a professional carpenter and builder Shrewsbury you can simply enjoy the creative process, knowing that your kitchen ideas are in safe hands and will be turned into reality in a short space of time.