Upgrading Your Home is a Viable Option Instead of Moving
It’s often said that moving home is one of the most stressful things you can do – not only do you have to worry about chains, deposits, and logistics, you also have to cope with the strain that it can put on your family. Despite this, it’s still an incredibly popular option for those looking to upscale their property.
According to figures released by the English Housing Survey in 2017, one in ten households (including singletons, couples, and families) move each year.
Objections to Upgrading: Moving is Sometimes Mandatory
Of course, there are a myriad of reasons for households opting to move. One of the main reasons is that rent and lease contracts expire, and it may be in renters’ best interests to find somewhere more suitable for their needs. This would explain why those under the age of 45 are, approximately, five times more likely to move than the over-45s.
Furthermore, families grow, and what may have been bought as a starter home quickly becomes inadequate when children are introduced, meaning that families need to up-size their property.
Another major reason for choosing to move is that people want an ‘upgraded’ property when they are more able to afford it. But is it really more financially savvy to sell and upgrade, rather than maintaining and improving your current property?
According to the NBC foundation, in 2017, an average of £1350 was spent on ‘major’ home improvements – far less than the cost of moving. While it’s unclear whether these changes were wholly cosmetic or functional, it demonstrates that people are willing to invest in their current properties in a bid to improve them. Not only will improvements make a property more personal, it’ll also add value, so if you do decide to sell later down the line, you’ll be able to recoup your investment.
Home Improvement with Wood-Plastic Composite Decking for Outdoor Spaces
A great starting point for home improvement is to add value to your outdoor space – many gardens will be flat and untouched, and it’s a relatively affordable makeover when compared to total-room-improvements such as kitchens or bathrooms.
In fact, in a recent YouGov poll, 20% of respondents stated that they would have a ‘garden makeover’ if they decided to renovate – the second most popular choice.
A simple way to improve your outdoor space is to add wood-plastic composite (WPC) decking. Not only is decking sleek, modern, and incredibly versatile, the unique composition of WPC means that it has a long service life (approximately 25 years) – much longer than traditional timber decking. Furthermore, composite decking is heat-, stain-, rot-, and UV-resistant, making it perfect all-year-round.
While it may be more expensive than timber decking, it is a future-proof solution that doesn’t require maintenance beyond the occasional clean. For homeowners, this is a great way of adding a unique space to their property, without the constant need for investment or repair.
Upgrade Your Property Exterior with Wood-Plastic Composite Cladding
Another area of improvement for homes is the exterior of the property, which, depending on the age of the property, could be a large-scale project or a simple makeover. Most people might opt for a new lick of paint to cover-up the wear-and-tear, but there are affordable alternatives that can not only improve your property but add value to it as well. A very unique addition to your property could be to cover the exterior with WPC cladding.
Like decking, composite cladding boards are made from sustainable wood and recycled plastics, offering a hard-wearing material that will not stain or decay with time. And as WPC looks and feels like real timber, it adds a unique quality to properties that display it. Furthermore, as composite cladding planks from Dura are FSC-certified, they’re beneficial to the environment, as well as your home.
Save Money by Future-Proofing Your Home with Sustainable Building Products
Composite solutions are a great way to future-proof your home, offering durable, stylish alternatives to existing materials. Not only is installation cheaper than searching for a new, upgraded property, but it’ll also add a lot more value to your home should you choose to sell in the future.
So, if you’re considering moving for the sake of an improved property, why not look at the smart solutions that already exist and how they could benefit you – both in the short- and long-term.
