My Obsession with Homes Under the Hammer

*Collaborative post.

 

I have an obsession with Homes Under the Hammer. It is one property show I love watching on BBC. I have been a fan of this show for many years now, Been loving it long before we became home owners. My obsession is so serious that I watch this show everyday and play catch up on BBC iPlayer when I miss it. I remember daydreaming about owning homes or at least a home to start with in the UK. It is amazing we now own our home, but building a property portfolio is still a dream. I hope to change that dream to a reality one day, and I know I can with hard work, planning and determination.

 

5 Benefits to staging your home when it is for sale picture

 

Why do I Like Homes Under the Hammer So Much

I think the show is brilliant. I love seeing deadbeat homes transform into luxurious houses. The whole auction and renovation process is very interesting. It is amazing to see how much a deadbeat house is worth and how much money and times goes into renovating it. Seeing the profit margins motivates me even more to get into the property business as soon as we can.

The fact that a house can be easily transformed with some tiles/carpets, blinds, beautiful decor, paint, lean to conservatory, French doors, and more is great. It makes me want to step up my DIY skills. I have seriously improved when it goes to DIY. Some months ago, I couldn’t even use a screwdriver properly when I had to change the batteries in the kiddies’ toys, but now I can. With things like this, it takes determination, and I am determined to be better at doing home improvements around the house.

Our plan is to paint some of the rooms in the next few months, and I am looking forward to getting my hands dirty. Most of the homeowners that appear on Homes Under the Hammer do a good portion of the home improvements themselves to save money, and I don’t blame them. In order to increase the profit margins, you have to be able to do some of the work.

 

home image

 

Do you watch Homes Under the Hammer? What do you think of the show? Do you have the property portfolio dream as well? Please sound off in the comments section below.

Thanks for reading and commenting. If you enjoyed this post, do remember to share it on your social media platforms.

Money Talk – How Would I Spend One Hundred Thousand Pounds?

Money makes the world go round and the truth is money is never really enough for anyone. No matter how much you have, there would always be a need for more. I am all about making money legitimately and making my money work for me. In the last couple of years, I have been thinking long and hard about retirement, pension and investments. Also, I have been busy thinking about what I would do if I came across a large chunk of money. How would I spend one hundred thousand pounds? This million dollar question has popped up in my head many times and I always have an answer for it.

 

Should You Take A Pay Cut To Advance Your Career image

 

Here are 5 ways I would go about spending it.

 

Pay the mortgage

The first thing I would do is to put some money towards the mortgage, in order to reduce the outstanding amount on it as much as possible. Living mortgage free is the end goal and that should hopefully happen in a couple of years. I can’t imagine having to pay accommodation bills in my later years. That thought is quite scary.

 

Go on holiday

I love travelling as many of you would know by now. I love to visit as many countries as possible every year. My current target is to visit at least 2 countries every year. I have smashed that target for three years now, and I am hoping to smash it again this year. So far this year, I have visited Maryland and New York in the US, and I have plans to visit one or two more countries before the end of the year.

If I had one hundred thousand pounds at my disposal, I would be putting some money towards our holidays. There are many other cities and countries we would love to explore, and it would be great to take some other family members with us as a treat.

 

Pay the debt

I would pay off all my debts. So all credit cards would be paid up in full, never to be used again. When it comes to money, I am very sensible. I am more of a saver than a. spender, so I am not as deep into debt like many others I know. But paying the little debt I have would be a smart way to go financially.

 

Save and invest

As the saver that I am, I will be putting a huge chunk of the money into a savings account; most likely an ISA. And invest a huge chunk into stocks and shares for the future.

 

Home improvements

I will definitely use a percentage of the money on home improvements. There are a lot of changes I would make to our home decor if I had the money to splurge. But since I don’t have that yet, it is a waiting game.

 

How would you spend one hundred thousand pounds?

 

 

5 investments to increase the value of your property

Every property investor has the same one goal; to increase the value of the property. So it is worth more than when you first bought it. There are loads of ways to start improving a property and build on its value. These ways can range from low-cost tips and tricks to in-depth renovations. We have looked into 5 investments that are really worth making when trying to increase property value:

 

Change or add doors and windows

Windows and doors are valuable additions to a property. They not only improve the homes aesthetics, but they can also reduce heating bills, increase natural light, and lower noise pollution both inside and outside the building. Add elegance with finishing touches such as French patio doors or brighten dull spaces with skylights which are perfect for homes that are limited with natural light and windows. Think about the positioning of doors and windows and using them to highlight the building’s features. For example if there is a beautiful view then position windows to make the most of it.

 

Home improvement image

 

Overhaul the kitchen

For many people, the kitchen is the heart of the home. And is often one of the most important areas they will look at when buying a property. Renovating the kitchen and fitting new countertops, cabinets, flooring and lighting fixtures will not be a cheap task but will almost always add value to the property. It can also be worth looking at completely redesigning the room to make sure you are maximising the space available.

 

Increase the living space

Increasing the living space available in a property does not always mean building an extension, which would be extremely high cost. Simpler renovations such as converting a loft space or cellar into an additional room or transforming a garage to add to the living space, will add value to any property. If you have space, then a conservatory or orangery can also add value to a building by increasing the living space.

 

Get a new roof

Improving a building often starts from the inside out, and a new roof will improve the overall quality of a property. A new roof will increase the value of a home thanks to new and improved materials, and increased insulation and energy efficiency. Make sure to consult with professional roofers in London and other cities before planning any project. The improved energy efficiency not only adds value to the property on a sale, but also reduces heating costs on a long-term basis. First impressions are key when selling a property and one of the first things a potential buyer will see is the exterior, so make sure it is all up to scratch.

 

Home decor image

 

Improve the garden

Outdoor space is very important for the overall value of a property. Transform a garden with decking or patio to provide an entertaining space, and make sure the general maintenance of the garden is in a good condition. Garden’s that require a lot of time and upkeep can actually decrease a property’s value as people are put off by the prospect of spaces that look tricky to maintain, so be sure to keep it simple.

Finally, make sure you do not over-improve. Remember that any investments you make, you want to see a good return on when the property sells. Before making any big renovating decisions, do some research into the area to find out how much the building will be worth after the renovations, this gives you a good indication on how much you should be spending on the work.

 

Are you a home owner? How have you increased the value of your home?

 

*Collaborative post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

error: Content is protected !!