Who wouldn’t prefer to move into a property with the right coloured carpets, clean paintwork, well appointed kitchen and a garden that looks like something from the Ideal Home Show? OK some properties are purchased by DIY enthusiasts or property developers. The latter will be happy to give the place a lick of paint and install a new bathroom suite before optimizing the rental or re-sale price. Very few people want to move in and do everything from scratch – calling up the double glazing companies and landscape gardeners …
So, when you’re buying a property, rule one is to look in an area that’s suitable for you. View a potential home at different times of the day so as to get a feel of the area when schools (or pubs) are coming out. Ask what is included in the sale; decide if the rooms are the right size and if anything needs updating. Nowadays in the UK you will be presented with an EPC – a certificate showing attesting the energy efficiency of the property. If insulation, energy efficiency or noise from outside traffic might be a problem, you should soon sort that by dialling up at least three to four double glazing companies for free quotes.
It might seem that double glazing’s not a high priority, but it has been proven that if you replaced all the single glazed windows in a three bedroom home, a saving of anything up to £15 per year could be achieved on energy bills. In addition you’ll save up to 720 kg of carbon dioxide emissions. Not bad.
