Nearly two thirds of Britain's homeowners are planning home improvements this year.

Amongst those planning to improve, 63% are perusing paint charts, whilst a third are planning something a little more involved with a new bathroom or kitchen top of the list.

Nearly a fifth are planning even bigger projects like loft conversions and extensions.

As we revealed some months ago, when money gets short, there's a temptation to attempt more home improvements yourself, however, the figures are not in your favour with over 24% of those surveyed revealing a DIY disaster in the last 12 months, which on average cost £145 to put right. Leaking plumbing, ill-fitted kitchen units and dangerous electrics to name but a few.

No wonder 58% of women wouldn't trust their partner to tackle anything more complicated than hanging a picture.

Sorry guys - but at least you should be able to impress your partner by having a rough idea of the costs involved, simply by using the 'Quoter family of websites'. Instant online quotes for everything from Bathrooms and Kitchens to Conversions and Extensions, Double glazing to Solar Panels.

Warning to put energy efficiency first

The UK's got to start putting energy efficiency at the top of it's home improvements list if it's to meet its target of having 80% of housing stock ready by 2050.

The comments made by the Director of the National Home Improvement Council - Andrew Leech - were made as he asked home improvement retailers and installers to encourage the public to have energy saving and efficiency in mind when they planned home improvements.

In particular, he singled out new kitchens and bathrooms as areas where more could be done. Energy efficiency measures would "pay dividends in the long run".

In addition to opting for energy efficient appliances, he also recommended that more homeowners should be looking at solar and other renewable energy sources.

His comments came after it was revealed that the UK had failed to meet its 2010 renewables target - a story we reported on last week.

Energy (and fuel bill) savings can be made all around the home but the chief energy user - heating - can be reduced with a mixture of insulation incorporating the latest double glazing advances and for older properties without a cavity wall, homeowners should consider interior or exterior wall insulation.

Even owners of newer homes should be checking their loft space for the current correct level of insulation.

Extra lagging of hot water apparatus and lowering thermostats by even 1 degree can still make enormous savings without affecting your families comfort. If you're replacing your heating boiler, it's the ideal time to use the most fuel efficient model you can afford or even opt for changing to a combo boiler which only heats the water as you use it.

The next time you're getting a quote for any home improvement, don't forget to discuss energy saving and energy efficiency with your installer.

photo credit: timothy vollmer

This article first appeared in our weekly homeowner newsletter dated 10th May 2011 - click here to read the full newsletter.

Ever suffered a DIY Disaster? You're not alone.

If you've ever attempted a spot of DIY only to discover you didn't have the right tools or the knowledge to complete what you started, then you're not alone.

From the simplest tasks like putting a shelf up to a full remodelling of the kitchen or bathroom, the injury figures are of an epic nature.

When you consider that around 200,000 people are injured a year in DIY accidents with around half of them needing hospital treatment. Another 50,000 people were able to treat themselves at home.

Power tools and working at heights are responsible for a large number of the accidents but it seems that even wallpaper and glue (which caused 4,500 injuries) can be an accident waiting to happen.

And if the instinct of self-preservation doesn't kick-in, then perhaps your wallet will.

One in ten homeowners spent an average £500 each paying professionals to rectify their DIY attempts. From flooded floors to supporting walls, wiring and even planning violations. And beware as self inflicted property damage may not be covered by your home insurance. Especially with plumbing and electrical work often requiring specially accredited tradesmen.

In total, nearly 5 million people ended up having to pay for repairs to their home caused by their own DIY attempts. And we haven't even included any figures regarding the negative effect on your homes value caused by a botched installation.

What may surprise you even more is that most DIY injuries are preventable - simply by correct use of tools or recognising important safety warnings like wearing the correct protective clothing (including goggles). 55% of homeowners admitted starting a project without the proper tools. What's even more worrying than that figure is the 50% who confessed to starting a DIY project without knowing exactly how to do it.

All in all, it really does pay to leave any improvement job you lack the tools or the knowledge to complete yourself, not to mention major home improvements like glazing, kitchens, bathrooms, paving and loft / garage conversions etc to the professionals. When you consider the cost of the raw materials - a new kitchen, a set of paving blocks etc, mess it up and your money's gone straight down the drain.

Perhaps the biggest enemy of the home DIY'er is time. Relatively simple jobs can take an untrained person with so-so tools hours longer than a professional.

Remember a professional does that task every day - not once in a blue moon. They'll know all the time-saving tips gained over a lifetime, and more importantly, have the right tools for the job.

Larger projects you've allowed weeks for can rapidly turn into months or even years as time, weather and family / work commitments conspire against you. Getting the professionals in means the job gets done quickly and efficiently which may also save your sanity.

We've all seen the TV programmes where families have taken years to complete a room makeover before the TV crew arrive and transform it in a matter of days. Don't let it happen to you.

photo credit: martin kingsley

Resale values of Home Improvements

You're probably aware that some home improvements more than others can have a greater or lesser effect on the value of your property, should you decide to sell it at a later date.

Some improvements will take longer to 'make their money' than others, whilst some are considered no-no's by estate agents.

But, and it's a big but - you either approach home improvements purely from the point of view of improving your home's worth or from the point of view of improving your family's quality of life.

It''s rare that you'll see an instant return on any major home improvement - the best advice if you're after a quick sale is to get out the paint brushes, mend broken cupboard doors and trim the garden. Replacing a stained washbowl on its own might improve your chances of selling quickly at the right price, but that's about it.

No, we're looking at long term investment in your home as a home first and a property second.

Central Heating.

If your home hasn't got central heating then this is a good 'safe bet'. Not only will it improve your quality of life, you'll also save energy, lowering your fuel bills and you'll instantly make your home more attractive to a potential buyer.

Double Glazing.

Always a popular choice - replacing old windows with energy efficient glazing means lower running costs and a cosier, more secure home. If you can't get permission on a period property (and there are some very good imitation UPVc sash windows to be had these days), then consider secondary glazing.

More expensive is wooden replacement windows but any new glazing means one less 'big' maintenance job for potential buyers.

Adding a Bathroom.

There's a general rule of thumb that you shouldn't loose a bedroom in favour of a second bathroom. Bedrooms are more important to home buyers than bathrooms, although for your comfort and families needs, a second bathroom may be very desirable. If your home has 5 bedrooms, then giving one up as a bathroom isn't considered so severe.

Choose quality fittings and you should find a second bathroom an asset.

New Kitchen.

Another popular one with both owners and buyers, however, remember not everyone tastes are the same and if you're planning a quick return, then think again. Most fitted kitchens will not cover their installation costs in terms of the value they add to your property.

That said, your quality of life and enjoyment of a new kitchen shouldn't put you off having one and making everyday chores a lot more bearable in the process. Whether that's adding storage or updating the look and the appliances.

Loft and Garage conversions.

Both big projects but whilst they make life much easier for the occupier, don't expect to see a return on your investment for a considerable time (if at all). Of course, such conversions do make your home more attractive - another job less for the new owners. If you're going to convert the garage, don't turn it into a home gym as you'll probably see very little return (if any) on your investment at all. Of course, if you're planning on staying put and like the idea of saving on gym memberships and being able to exercise whenever you like, then a garage conversion is ideal for a gym room that connected to the rest of the house properly can easily be turned into a pleasant 'nook' or sitting room.

Flooring: Wooden flooring is very much a personal taste thing - just look at the multitude of surface effects there are to choose from. Fitting wooden flooring is definitely one of this home improvements you do for your own benefit rather than add re-sale value, as in terms of the Buyer - it's usually not considered worth anymore in monetary value.

Off-road parking and driveways: Creating off-road parking on a property can add thousands to it's worth. Parking is one of the most sought after features in a house, especially if you live in an area where parking can be difficult. Choose a style / pattern and surface type with a universal appeal so as not to put any finicky purchasers off and have the kerb stone dropped for access in accordance with the local authority planning rules.

Another one of those rules - be mindful that you don't affect the 'asking price' of your home in relation to your neighbours by more than 20%.

Biggest yes's: Creating off-road parking, central heating and double glazing.

Biggest no's: Swimming pools and reducing bedrooms to less than 3.

Period properties.

I know we've already mentioned them with regards replacing windows, but there are one or two other things to bear in mind.

Don't tamper with or remove period features like fireplaces or mouldings. For many, the appeal of a period property is exactly those kinds of features that are often removed or painted over in home makeovers.

Sympathetic renovations are advised but if you're minds set on uber-cool, remember not only might it affect it's value later, but it might also make it more difficult to sell.

photo credit: diana parkhouse

Is the Credit Crisis Coming to a Close? Find Out For Yourself!

Is the Credit Crisis Coming to a Close? Find Out For Yourself!

Last week, the Institute of Chartered Accountants released a report suggested that business confidence was beginning to rise again, and that this could spell the end for Britain’s recession.

They said that the confidence levels of business people had risen drastically, and were positive for the first time since the credit crunch hit in autumn 2007.

However, an online poll by The Guardian newspaper found that 76% of respondents felt the recession was not ‘at an end’, and that “there’s still a long way to go”.

One of the difficulties in measuring recessions, and indeed recoveries, is that the financial markets operate on a different time scale to the ‘real economy’ – that of homes and families and shops and gas bills. Just as the full scale recession started in the finance sector long before it hit the shopping centres and service jobs, recovery is likely to begin in the city well in advance of the high streets.

So what can you do to find out if the recession is still in full swing in your area?

There are actually a surprising number of interesting ways to get an idea of the strength of the economy, just by looking around you. Economists call them ‘weak economic indicators’, back-of-the-napkin measurements can be surprisingly good at measuring the current standing of an economy. Here’s a few to mull over:

Litter at the Cinema: loosely speaking, the more popcorn being sold, the more affluent society is becoming, as cinema-goers become more stretch beyond the admission price. TIP: You can gauge the amount of popcorn being sold yourself by having a look round the cinema once the movie has finished – the more litter, the more popcorn, the better the economic signs.

Bulding Works: A large number of cranes on a city’s skyline can indicate a growing economy – more building happens when there’s more money about, after all. Empty building sites, however, can indicate precisely the opposite as projects are abandoned due to lack of resources to continue projects.

Loose change and cigarette ends: loose change lying on the ground can be a good indicator – when times are lean, you’ll not spot so much laying around. Similarly, smokers tend to get every last puff out of cigarettes when they are feeling the pinch, so long ends on discarded cigarette ends can show a booming economy.

Taxis: When the belt tightens its time to start walking or getting the bus. Lots of empty taxis can be a pretty good indicator that things are on the decline; not being able to get one because they’re all in use is quite the opposite.

The Lipstick Effect: When times are tough, many people tend to buy fewer expensive luxuries and instead get items which will not affect their budget so drastically. This is often called ‘The Lipstick Effect’, as women tend to spend more on luxury cosmetics and less on clothing during a recession – in fact, the first major boom in the cosmetics industry is said to have coincided with the Great Depression.

It’s surprisingly easy to get a feel for how the economy is doing simply by knowing what to look for and now is a great time to consider a major home improvement like having double glazing fitted or perhaps converting a garage or loft.

photo credit: stevebott

Protect yourself from pushy door-to-door home improvement salesmen

Door-to-door home improvement salesmen have a bad reputation. In terms of popularity with the general public, they must rank somewhere between estate agents and politicians.

Here at Home Improvement Quotes, we’ve been working for over a decade to help homeowners like you get the best of the dreaded cold-callers.

We do this in two ways – firstly, we supply you with free guide prices before you ever talk to a salesman, so you can be confident that you’re getting a good deal. Secondly, after you get a quote we’ll help you get in contact with up to three local or national home improvements companies, so you can compare a range of quotes and services, rather than just plumping for whichever one happens to knock on your door.

When salesmen do call, though, you want to protect yourself as much as possible, and that’s why we’ve put together these tips on getting the most from home improvement salespeople.

1. Take the pressure off

Never be pressured into getting home improvements which you don’t need, just because the salesman is standing there on the doorstep. A salesman putting too much pressure on you to make a decision is a bad sign – the company may only be in the area for a few days touting for business, which could void any guarantees and make it difficult to track them down if things go wrong. A genuine home improvement salesman will give you time to make your decision – by law, if the salesman’s visit is unsolicited (i.e. you did not invite him round for an appointment), you are entitled to seven days’ thinking time. During this seven day period you can consider the offer, get quotes from other builders to compare deals or even change your mind completely.

2. Be patient

Never – never – sign a contract on the initial consultation – even if you are tempted by special offers which have to be signed for that day. Take the seven-day thinking period to read over the contract, even if you do not think you need to – make sure you read all the clauses and the small print. Once you have signed the contract, you have limited cancellation rights – contracts are legally binding and you cannot back out of them just because you have changed your mind. Most importantly, never sign the contract just because you want to get rid of the salesman – it’s far better to listen to half an hour of sales patter than to enter into a contract for thousands of pounds which you can’t get out of later.

3. Your right to cancel

In certain cases, where a salesman has visited your home uninvited and you have signed a contract, you can get out of it if you act fast. However this is a risk – a contract is legally binding and there are criteria in place to stop you breaking your end of the bargain. You are only protected if the salesman called at your house totally unexpectedly and you signed the contract on that first visit in your own home. Secondly, the goods or services which you have bought must amount to over £35. If both of these criteria stand, then you have seven days to back out of the contract under The Consumer Protection Regulations 1987 (commonly known as the Doorstep Selling Regulations).

You must cancel your contract in writing to the trader and the cancellation takes effect at the time of posting. It is a legal requirement for traders to inform customers of their cancellation rights – those who fail to do this cannot enforce the agreement. Note that responding to a telephone call asking you for a consultation, an advert in the local paper or a leaflet through the door for home improvements all count as inviting a salesman into your home, and automatically void the cancellation criteria.

4. Make a short-list

Comparing more than one contractor is perhaps the most important part of home improvements. Even if you still decide to go for the salesman who called at the door, it’s still vital to get quotes from three or four other companies. Get as much literature from the door-to-door salesman as you can and then ask friends or neighbours if they have heard of the company or know any examples of their work. Also ask your friends if they know of any other builders whom you may have missed off your list. Always look for contractors who are members of a local trade association and who have premises in the area, and drive past it if you can – anyone can put an address onto a business card which is not really a builder’s yard at all. Beware of cards which have only a telephone number and no address and of cold callers whose business details you cannot find in the local directories or online.

5. Preference Services

Door-to-door and telephone sales are still viable ways to get good deals on home improvements – most salesman are working for local building firms and offer the same quality services at competitive rates. However if cold calling just gets on your nerves and you know you will never use those sellers, there are preference services in place which, if you enrol, makes it illegal for unsolicited callers to contact you. www.tpsonline.org.uk is the official website of the Telephone Preference Service, where consumers can register online to exempt both landline and mobile numbers from sales calls. Most local councils will provide homes with signs and stickers for the front door which bars sellers from knocking. Preference services make it illegal for any company or sole trader to contact you unsolicited.

How Home Improvement Quotes Can Help

We keep a database of vetted and approved home improvement companies. When you get a quote from us we’ll offer to put you in contact with up to three local companies so you can compare and contrast a range of quotes. Since we’ve already given you a guide price, you’ll know what to expect, too, and can make an informed assessment of the offers you are given

Visit Home Improvement Quotes today, and get started straight away.

Boost Your Energy Efficiency Rating

Since July 2008, to put a house on the market you’ve had to arrange for a Home Information Pack (HIP), containing assorted details about the house, it’s construction, boundary details and planning permission. From April of this year, the HIP must be ready and available by the first day your property goes on the market.

Contained in the HIP is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which potential buyers can use to assess your home’s energy efficiency. Today, we’re giving you some excellent tips on how to give your EPC an adrenalin shot and boost your home’s energy efficiency, and so boost its value.

Even if you aren’t selling your home, improving your home’s energy efficiency makes sense: by combining these tips you could reduce your energy bill by over £300 a year!

Fit or Replace Your Double Glazing.

The Government have downgraded the energy rating of all Pre-2002 double glazing to ‘Average’, whilst the newer units can attain a ‘Good’ or even ‘Excellent’ rating. If your double glazing is starting to get past its best you can increase your home’s overall rating by replacing it with modern energy-efficient units. Making sure your double glazing is up to scratch will also help reduce draughts and noise, making your home a quieter, more peaceful place.

It’s also worth thinking about your window frames, since various window frame makes each carry an energy efficiency rating, and there are a multitude of fittings and finishes available.

The BFRC produce a rating system for windows of A-G, so when shopping for energy-efficient windows, make sure the your provider sells windows with an ‘A’ energy rating, and ask about Low Emission (‘Low-E’) coated panes. Also, look out for the logo of the Energy Saving Trust, who give approval to highly energy-efficient windows

You can find quotes for all kinds of windows and locate window companies using WindowQuoter.co.uk.

Insulate Your Loft and Wall Cavities.

If your walls and loft don’t have appropriate insulation you’ll be losing heat, losing energy, and getting a lower energy performance rating than you should be. Loft and cavity insulation is surprisingly affordable and will save you enough on your fuel bill to make back your costs within 2 years. Thanks to your increased EPC rating you’ll also add value to your home when you sell – probably more than it costs to have the insulation fitted.

A very good time to consider getting your insulation check is when your roof needs repair or replacement, and if yours does, head over to RoofQuoter.co.uk for an instant online quote for roofing work.

Upgrade Your Central Heating System

EPC certificates also look at your boiler and heating control system. If you’ve got an out-of-date combi-boiler you might want to consider replacing that with a more modern and efficient model, but you can also score points for having thermostatic control valves on your radiators, which adjust the temperature of each individual room based on your preferences and allow you greater control over your heating.

Change Your Light Bulbs

Not every energy saving measure needs great expense. Probably the greatest saving you can make on your electricity bill is also the simplest: swap your 100W traditional light bulbs for energy saving alternative bulbs. If your living room has 6 lights which you have filled with 100W bulbs, replacing them all with 20W energy saving bulbs will save you 480W, every hour, without losing any brightness. Even across the life of a standard bulb that’s a huge saving, and coupled with the fact that energy saving bulbs last much longer, it’s an easy decision to make.

Getting Some Excitement Back Into Your Bedroom

Your bedroom can say more about you than you think. To some people, a bedroom is simply a place in which to sleep at night. To others, it is a safe haven from the world, a place they can go to relax, read a good book and get to really enjoying life. If your bedroom isn’t complementing your lifestyle, you need to start making changes.

Once again Home Improvement Quotes are on your side, helping you get quotes and find local companies to provide you with top quality bedrooms through our site BedroomQuoter.co.uk

So, let’s investigate how you can add the personal touch to your bedroom’s furnishings. The place to start is the colour scheme. While it might be tempting to fill the room up with colour, it’s often more effective to concentrate on a single colour – or even a ‘splash’ of a strong colour amid neutral surrounds – to give the room a consistent theme. Light and neutral colours give your room space and air, but darker tones can give a sense of intimacy and warmth. In the end, the decision will be yours to make.

Lighting has a huge effect on the atmosphere of a room. Overly bright, harsh or brash lighting can create unwanted tension, but you don’t want a room that’s so dark that applying makeup or locating a dropped contact lens becomes an issue. Whilst ensuring your bedroom is well-lit, you don’t want to be rendered half blind by a strong direct light source in front of you while you’re reading or enjoying a warming breakfast in bed. It’s worth considering a diffuse light fitting for your main light, complimented by wall lighting behind the bed for those relaxing evenings and lazy mornings. You might also want to consider having a light switch (or pull cord) fitted near the bed, for the sake of convenience!

Decor is where you can add your personal touch to the room. You don’t have to be an expert in feng shui to know that a carefully selected picture and a well placed vase can make the difference between a bedroom feeling lifeless and beginning to feel homely.

You can get help with all these decisions and more from a professional fitted bedroom fitter, and we can help you find one through BedroomQuoter.co.uk. If you’re being kept up all night by your bedroom, it’s time to think about getting a new one.

Keep Good Company: Five tips for finding the best home improvement provider

We often talk here about finding good home improvement providers and getting great building work done, but how can you tell if the company you’re getting a quote from is one of the good guys before you hire them? Here’s the Home Improvement Quotes tips on selecting the best company for your requirements:

Listen to recommendations from others

One very effective way of finding out if the company you’re thinking of hiring is worthwhile is to ask friends and relatives if they’ve used the company in the past. Friends will give you an honest opinion and help you set your expectations at the correct level. Friends are a great source of help and advice, and if one of your friends has had recent experience with a home improvement, you could ask them for help selecting a company

Have a look at the company’s website

Home Improvement companies often have pictures and examples of the work they’ve done in the past on their website. Have a look through the picture gallery, but also look at how the company describes itself and its services. If they’re proud of their products they’ll say so, and they’ll include industry accreditations, awards and other indicators of the quality of their business.

Look for local examples of their work

Ask the salesmen if they’ve done any work locally recently that you can look at. If you see work by the company locally, assess its quality and decide for yourself if they’re worth the price.

Don’t just go with the first people you find

Reputable companies aren’t afraid of competition. Get quotes from several companies who provide the product you need, and make sure they know they aren’t the only company you’re asking. This is where Home Improvement Quotes can really help you – as well as giving you a rough guide price to use in your discussions with salesmen, we’ll help you find three local companies you can talk to. Head over to the Home Improvement Quotes website now to get free quotes on anything from Double Glazing to Garage Conversions to Bathrooms.

‘Good’ is not the same as ‘Cheap’

Some tradesmen are out to fleece you. Some, however, want to help their customers and give them the best product possible. You’ll often get what you pay for, and if you force the salesmen onto a very low price you may find you don’t get such a good deal after all. Companies are less inclined to work well with customers who cause them significant problems over price, and even some good companies will use cheaper, lower quality materials to cut prices for homeowners who kick up a fuss.

Remember, really good companies would rather walk away from a job than compromise on quality for the sake of a providing a dirt cheap job for a difficult customer. You want to get the best deal possible, but still the best work that you can afford.

Put your pets out of the way on home improvement day!

The next time you've got your friendly local home improvement company round doing a spot of double glazing installation or loft converting - not to mention kitchen fitting or converting your garage - it might be a good idea to remove your pets to a safe, quiet out-of-the-way location.

Not that we're suggesting you put your pet in the shower as happened to our furry feline friend in the picture above.

No - despite the best efforts of your home improvement company, the occasional loud noise can be like a firework going off to a pet. Worse still, the inquisitive little animals can easily trip workmen up - not something you want when there's glass or worktops being carried around or even get in half opened spaces during construction.

Have you ever tried to get a pet out of somewhere that you can't physically reach into? They have a nasty habit of pleasing themselves when they come out.

So save yourself some possible time and trouble, your home improvement company some possible hazard and your pet some definate inconvenience by considering shutting them away in a quiet corner of the house or even perhaps consider holiday kennels for those few days.

It will all help make your home improvement as stress free as possible. For more tips on how to prepare for your double glazing installation day - click here to visit our handy guide on Home Improvement Quotes.

Recommend A Tradesman to Home Improvement Quotes

Good tradesmen are worth their weight in gold.

If you can recommend one to us, please click here.

Part of our service to homeowners is the opportunity to get their free online quotes confirmed in writing by up to 3 local companies. We keep a database of good companies, and constantly monitor the feedback we receive on them to keep out the cowboys and those who use unethical sales tactics.

As our range of products continues to expand, we're always on the lookout for new home improvements companies. If you know of (or work for) a really excellent tradesman or home improvement company in your local area, you can recommend them to us online and we’ll get in touch with them and see if they want to start getting jobs through our Quoter sites.

The companies in our network get great benefits from working with us, including an online admin area they can use to manage their accounts 24/7, and a feedback system so they can hear back from their customers – satisfied or otherwise.

So, if you know a tradesman that you would recommend to a friend or neighbour, please take a few moments to recommend them to us. If you send us their name and telephone number, we’ll contact them and invite them to join our network - it’s free for them to join, and you could be doing other home owners in your area a big favour by allowing us to recommend another quality company to them.

Click here to recommend a company today, and help us help others find the best home improvements they can get.

Solar Panels - They Still Work in the Winter

Across the country, more and more people are taking advantage of the energy provided by the sun to provide them with their hot water. By placing just a few square metres of solar collectors on your ceiling, you can save up to £80 a year* on your fuel bills, and help save the planet and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels in the meantime.

Solar hot water systems can provide you family with a large proportion of your hot water – some manufacturers claim up to 70% of your annual needs. What’s more, a modern, properly sized and installed panels will still work in the winter.

Yes, you read that correctly, you don’t need to have a bright, cloudless day to benefit from a solar panel, it’ll still run, at reduced capacity, through even dense cloud cover.

Solar panels will also add value to your house, and lets you leave a legacy of free, clean hot water for future buyers. Once installed, solar panels require little maintenance and don’t cost anything to keep running – and that price, unlike your gas bill, won’t be going up in the future.

If you want your hot water to be free, clean, independent of your gas or electricity supplier, fair trade, ethical and environmentally friendly, head over to solarpanelquoter.co.uk, and we’ll help you find a professional solar heating company near you.

*From Energy Saving Trust, based on a 3 bed semi-detached home with electric hot water system

Double Glazing - What You Need To Know

In readiness for winter you need to think about keeping your house warm, and one of the quickest ways to lose the heat you are paying for is to have large single pane windows letting it out. According to the Energy Saving Trust, double glazing can reduce your heat loss by half, and can save over £100 a year in energy costs.

Pictures Courtesy of Thames Valley Windows

When you add to this the problems of condensation, of rotting window frames and of drafty windows with no locks, double glazing seems an obvious improvement to consider while readying your house for the winter.

Luckily for you, double glazing is very much a buyer’s market, with huge competition between suppliers. This means that searching around and keeping your options open can really save you money on your double glazing. If that sounds too much like hard work you can let us do it for you by heading over to windowquoter.co.uk for a free quote, and we’ll help you get in touch with the best local suppliers in your area.

Before beginning your double glazing project, it’s worth having a look at the Home Improvements Quotes Double Glazing Checklist to see if you’ve thought of everything.

• What frames do you want? Double glazed windows can be fitted with wooden, aluminium or uPVC frames. Try and think about which material will most suit the style of your house, and if your house is listed make sure you find out if you need planning permission from the local council before altering the exterior.

• How many windows do you need? On a shoestring budget it might be worth considering just having your largest windows replaced, or sticking to the rooms that you use the most. The great thing about glazing is that it can be done in stages, so you can tailor the size of your project around the funds you have available now, and sort the rest out when you have some extra cash available.

• Case Study As well as standard casement windows, many companies offer tilt and turn or sash case options which allow you to let air into the house without opening a large window up.

• What About ‘Low-E’ Glass? Low-Emissivity (a.k.a. Low-E) glass is coated with a special substance that allows heat and light to pass into the house, but blocks it from leaving. In most cases this will lead to an increase in the efficiency of the glazing by up to 30%. Many suppliers now provide Low-E Glass as standard in their double glazing installations, so be sure to ask about it.

• Something Extra? Frosted or leaded glazing can make your windows look gorgeous, and if your windows face east or west it might be worth considering having them tinted to keep the sun out of your eyes.

Head over to WindowQuoter.co.uk today and save money on your double glazing with a free, instant online quote.

Gutted By Your Guttering?

It’s no good having a beautiful home spoiled by fascias and soffits that needed their fair share of tender loving care a long time ago. Cracked, worn and peeling fascias are an eyesore – and who wants to have to climb up and down ladders repeatedly for days to strip, prime, coat and re-coat their fascias in the knowledge that they’re just postponing the inevitable and come next year they’ll just have to do it all over again?

Thankfully, Home Improvement Quotes can give you a instant quote on any fascia work you need done, for free! Rather than getting up your ladder again (and hoping the weather holds out while you’re up there) you could get brand new fascias and soffits which won’t need any further maintenance for five years or more. Just head to fasciaquoter.co.uk now to take advantage of this free service.

Even better, you could consider having low-maintenance PVC fascias installed, which look great and can be made in any colour to suit any building. Most houses already have PVC guttering, so why not do away with the hassle of moulding wood and get some fascias that will remain in good condition for upwards of 25 years.

Fitted Bedroom Ideas

Fitted bedrooms are one of the best ways to make the most of available space, whilst still meeting your individual requirements. Whether you want an eye-catching focal point for your bedroom or just some clever storage space, bespoke cupboards and drawers can provide the answer for a range of budgets. This month’s featured company is Spar Kitchens Ltd, a bespoke kitchen and bedroom manufacturer from Harrogate.

Visit www.bedroomquoter.co.uk for more information.

Fitted bedrooms are a great way to put your own mark on a room. Whether you’re into classic and grand or young and fun, bespoke bedrooms are made exactly for you. So don’t be afraid to ask for those bright red units if they’re exactly what you had in mind!

Fitted bedrooms don’t have to consist of row upon row of cupboards. Placing small cupboards and drawers here and there around your room is a fantastic way to create storage without it becoming the focal point of your room.

Consider replacing the cupboard doors with frosted glass as this will reduce the dark, ‘wooden’ look of the room. Plus, if you opt for lighting inside the unit it will not only enhance visibility but will also create a relaxing atmosphere in your bedroom.

Cream units are perfect if you have painted and accessorised your room with dark or vibrant colours. You don’t have to cover up your colourful walls with high shelving or cupboards either, as low storage looks great and can also be utilised as handy window seats.

Visit www.bedroomquoter.co.uk for more information.

Home Improvements on a budget

Feature - How to carry out Home Improvements on a budget
Recent Halifax research has shown that most British DIYers favour simple, low-cost improvements to their homes over complex, lengthy projects. A new coat of paint is Britain’s favourite quick-fix home improvement with over 75 per cent of homeowners saying that this is the first thing they would choose to do in a revamp. Cosmetic improvements like this would satisfy most homeowners in the long term and few now feel the need to make drastic renovations, move house or extend.

This is probably no surprise in the current economic climate – but it is also the safest choice for many UK homeowners! The same Halifax study showed that there were over 200,000 DIY injuries in the UK last year – 2,506 with power drills, 1,920 with circular saws and 622 with chainsaws. So it’s probably safer to stick to smaller – and lower budget – home improvements this year! Here are five top tips to achieving the lowest cost, highest impact home improvements:

1) Redecorating
You could always follow 75 per cent of the nation’s DIYers and redecorate a room. A new coat of paint or some fresh wallpaper can really change a space and needn’t be a big job. If you don’t want to redecorate entirely, just pick one wall to change and make a feature wall. If the room is already painted, pick a flamboyant complementary wallpaper and you will completely change the look! If you need more than one roll, make sure the wallpaper you buy is from the same batch number – different batches often have colour variations which only become apparent once you’ve finished the job.

If the room you want to change is already wallpapered, simply pick a durable ‘one-coat’ paint and paint over it – there are plenty of paints on the market now which will cover even the boldest designs in just one coat, for as little as £10 a tin! There are also different types of paint available for different areas of the house – for busy areas you can buy scuff resistant paint which doesn’t mark if it’s crashed into and can be wiped clean if sticky fingers make a mess on it!

2) Little things make the biggest difference
For a quick-fix at minimal cost, consider replacing door handles on kitchen cupboards. This can instantly lift a room and adding some funky handles can update a dilapidated kitchen in seconds. If you have a bit more money to spend, consider replacing the entire cupboard doors – as long as the cupboard structure itself is sturdy, a new door will really make a difference.

Along similar lines, replacing taps in the bathroom can change the feel of the room. There are many designs to choose from, from modern and stylish chrome to retro brass and copper creations. If you are replacing taps and you’re a bit of a novice, it’s probably best to hire a professional plumber. Amateur DIYers in Britain last year spent an average of more than £5,000 hiring plumbers to sort out botched plumbing jobs.

3) Updating the floor
A down-trodden carpet or outdated lino can really age a room, but updating your flooring can be relatively quick and easy. It will also give instant impact, even if you don’t change anything else! The most important thing when changing your flooring is to plan carefully what you are going to do – is the space you want to change a well-trodden area like the hallway or conservatory, or is it likely to get wet, for example in the bathroom or kitchen?

All of these factors will make a difference to the type of flooring you need – you don’t want to put luxurious soft carpets in an area where it will get worn down very quickly. Similarly you wouldn’t necessarily want wooden floors in a bathroom as it becomes very slippery when wet – also stone or ceramic tiles may look beautiful in a kitchen, but can be very cold and hard when you come down for your tea in the morning!

Whichever type of flooring you choose, it is worth considering hiring a professional flooring specialist to fit it. The last thing you want is your new floor instantly ruined by poor fitting.

4) Sprucing up the exterior
If you are looking for a drastic change without the expense of building an extension or changing the windows, painting the outside of your house can make the most dramatic difference. However, to save potential complaints from the neighbours or even the council, it’s always best to check with them first which colour you are intending to use. Bold colours that are not in keeping with the rest of the street could land you in trouble with the local planning office, not to mention the neighbours who may think your house is an eyesore! The best way to avoid trouble is to look at the other houses around you and pick a muted, non-offensive colour which fits in.

Another way to improve the look of your property is to buy a new front door. With this you can afford to be a bit bolder with your colour choice – a bright front door can be a quirky feature and will instantly brighten up your home’s façade! If you are not looking for such a dramatic change, rearranging the garden or placing some large feature plant pots around can also improve the look of your home. Large exotic trees in decorative pots can add impact and really set your garden apart from the neighbours'!

5) Slightly higher budgets
If you have a slightly larger budget, it is worth considering some high-spec home improvements, which not only improve your home life, but also instantly add value to your property. Most are still relatively small jobs too. The first is to create some off-street parking – building a car-port or garage doesn’t have to cost the earth, but will add more than £10,000 to the value of your home. If you don’t have space to build a garage, ask for permission to lower the kerb outside your home so you can easily park in the driveway.

You can get permission from the local council and lowering the kerb can costs as little as £650.

Inside, it is worth considering something like roof windows, which will instantly add more light and an airy feel to an upstairs space. A single roof window can start at around £155 plus installation costs, and will make a dramatic difference to a room.

There is also an increasing demand for technological improvements to houses. Things like streamed music systems linked to lighting, Internet and TV are becoming more desirable to property buyers. You can buy systems which feed the music you’re playing in one room to every room in the house, and link this to mood lighting which corresponds to the volume of the sound. It’s also possible to stream music from the Internet through the same system and also to make the music videos from your iPod visible on plasma screens anywhere in your house! Systems like this cost anywhere upwards of £3,000.

It’s not always necessary to spend big bucks on home improvements. Low cost developments can make just as much impact and add significant value to your property. The most important thing is to hire professionals and get any work completed to a high standard. A professional is also guaranteed to get the work done, whereas if you’re fitting in DIY around your job and other commitments, chances are you may not get it finished at all! Hiring a professional may be the cheaper option in the long run as half-finished or poorly executed home improvements can knock as much as £10,000 off your home’s value.

This article is taken from our latest monthly email newsletter. To receive your free copy, simply click here and add your email address and join 250,000 other regular readers (and growing!). Remember you can unsubscribe at any time.

Dealing with Tradesmen - Know your rights!

Dealing with Tradesmen - know your rights...
We examine new regulations brought in to protect consumers from unfair, misleading or aggressive sales tactics and look at how you can protect yourself from rogue traders

Last month saw the biggest change to consumer protection law for the past 40 years. The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs) came into effect on 28 May 2008 and are intended to stop traders from using unfair commercial practices towards consumers.

The regulations ban 31 specified unfair trade practices, as well as making it illegal to mislead customers or use aggressive sales tactics that may have a negative effect on a customer's decision.
There are numerous guides available on the internet explaining what the regulations mean for businesses, but here we look at the sort of practices you should be aware of and what you should do if you think you've been treated unfairly.

What do the new regulations cover?
The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPRs) apply to all business-to-consumer transactions, and cover all sectors, from supermarkets and travel agents to plumbers and builders. They also cover business-to-business transactions that are closely linked with consumers, for example, a builders' merchant supplying materials to a builder. The CPRs cover the entire transaction process, including all conduct before, during and after a contract is made.

The CPRs are intended to protect customers as much as possible, so are very comprehensive. Firstly, the regulations start with a general ban on conduct that is below the standard a customer can reasonably expect. Secondly, the regulations ban all misleading practices, like false or deceptive messages, or leaving out important information. Thirdly, businesses are not allowed to use aggressive sales techniques that use harassment, coercion or undue influence.

The regulations outline in detail 31 specific practices that are strictly forbidden and we look at these below to help you, as a buyer, 'beware'.

Check Endorsements
The first section of prohibited practices relates to falsely claiming accreditation. When hiring tradesmen it is always a good idea to ask them whether they abide by a specific code of conduct or hold any accreditations, such as Corgi Registered status. However, in the same way that you could claim on your CV that you speak nine languages and hold a first class honours degree from the University of Cambridge when this isn't in fact the case, it is easy for traders to make grand claims that aren't actually true. The new regulations forbid such behaviour.

Specifically, a trader is prohibited from falsely claiming to abide by a code of conduct, or stating that their code of conduct had been approved by an official body when in fact it has not. Traders would also be breaking the regulations if they claim to be TrustMark registered or say that their product or service has been endorsed or approved by an official body, without having obtained the necessary approval. This means that, for example, if the man you've hired to transform your garden claims to be a Chartered Landscape Architect and it turns out he's not, he would be breaching the regulations and should be reported to an appropriate body, such as the Office of Fair Trading.

Luckily, these days it's easy to check up on a trader's claims. At www.trustmark.org.uk you can not only search for approved traders in your area, but you can also search for a specific trader. Similarly, many professional bodies like the Landscape Institute and the Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineers hold searchable member directories on their websites, making it easy to find an approved trader in your area.

Accuracy of Information
The second section of the CPRs refers to the validity of product information, including the price. Firstly, if there are limitations on a product or service that a trader is offering, such as a specified timeframe or a limited number, this must be stated by the trader upfront. This means that if you spot an ad in the paper for £1,000 off a new conservatory, sign up to have the work done and then the company tells you that the special offer has ended, if the limited time period was not stated in the advert, the company will have broken the CPRs, and you have grounds on which to sue them. On the other hand, traders are banned from stating a product or service is only available for a certain period, but then continuing to offer the product or service after the time period has ended.

Traders are also banned from offering a product at a certain price and then either refusing to show the item to customers, refusing to take orders for the product or showing them a faulty version of the item in order to encourage them to purchase an alternative, more expensive item.

Also within this section of the CPRs, traders are forbidden from using scare tactics to make customers think their personal security will be at risk without purchasing a certain product or service. The regulations also ban traders from making false claims that a product will have health benefits. Finally in this section, businesses must not put customers off claiming on an insurance policy by requiring them to fill in excessive and unnecessary paperwork or by ignoring correspondence from the customer, forcing the customer to expend unnecessary effort.

False Advertising
The new regulations also cover promotional activities. The next time you're flicking through a magazine, watch out for pages bearing the small print “Promotional Material” or “This is an Advertisement”. These adverts are known as advertorials and are designed in such a way that you might mistake them for unbiased, factual articles, when in fact they have been paid for and written by the company that they are about. Although this approach is covered in the CPRs, the regulations do not go so far as to ban this practice, and instead simply state that companies must make it clear that the piece is an advert, so keep an eye out for this.

Another trick to watch out for is when a company launches a product that is similar to a product made by a particular, well-established manufacturer and then promotes it in such a way as to mislead you into thinking it is made by the more popular company. This practice is banned by the CPRs.

In addition, traders are prohibited from deceiving customers by lying about market conditions, giving the impression they have entered into a contract when they haven't, or falsely creating the impression that they are not acting for purposes related to their business, most commonly by pretending to be a consumer. This means that if you are planning on getting your house rewired and you ask your potential electrician for testimonials from previous customers, then someone else in the company pretends to be a past customer, this would break the CPRs. The best way to avoid this is by asking friends and family to recommend reliable traders.

Can't say no? Don't be 'guilt tripped'
The CPRs don't just apply to the way a product or service is marketed; they cover conduct during the sale, as well as any aftersales service. For those of you who struggle to say no to salesmen, the new regulations ban traders from both creating the impression that you cannot leave their premises without making a purchase, and from staying on your property with the intention of forcing a sale. This means that if a double-glazing salesman comes to your door and you tell him you're not interested, but then he knocks on your door again, this would breach the regulations, and should be reported to an appropriate body, such as the Trading Standards Institute. Similarly, traders must not pester a customer by telephone, fax, email, or any form of remote media.

Companies are also forbidden from forcing a sale by 'guilt-tripping' consumers, for example, by insinuating or stating that if the consumer does not buy the service or product on offer, the tradesman could lose his job. They must also not force a sale by giving a customer something they didn't ask for and then demanding payment. For example, if you went to work one day and came home to find someone had re-laid your driveway without you having asked them to do so, the perpetrators would be breaking the new rules, and would have no grounds on which to demand payment from you.

The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations have been introduced to tell businesses how they should be treating their customers but as you can see, it is a good idea to have some understanding of the rules because they are there to protect you too!

*Taken from our last monthly newsletter to over 250,000 home owners. To receive our free newsletter, click here. You can unsubscribe at any time.