As house prices in Oxford stall, should you move or improve?

According to Zoopla, the average house price in Oxford is £412,200. Year on year, from October 2018 – 2019 there has been a zero percent increase in Oxford property prices. If your home is losing its appeal should you sell up and move, or would it be better to improve? Read on for our helpful advice.

Moving on

Moving home is never cheap because you have to pay fees to estate agents, solicitors, removal companies and the government! As a very rough guide expect to pay £10k on buying and selling a £300k property. This is without considering any home improvements you might need to make to get your property in a saleable condition. Likewise, your new property might need a considerable investment of money to get it looking just how you want it.

Staying put

If the cost of moving has put you off, what improvements could you do to your home, that will give you the best rewards? The UK’s leading professional body for estate agents, NAEA cites the following home improvements as adding the most value to your property

 Decorate and rejuvenate

If your rooms are starting to look tired and dated, a few rolls of statement wallpaper and coats of fresh new paint could be all your room needs to spring back to life in 2020. Top statement colour choices for 2020 are burnished red with navy, or mustard with mauve.

Give your kitchen a quick and inexpensive new lease of life, by painting existing units or replacing cupboard handles. Put the sparkle back into your bathroom, by re-grouting your tiles, blitzing the limescale and replacing your shower curtain!

Don’t forget your outside space too, tackle any weeds, manicure your lawn and fix any tired fencing. Transforming your front or back garden area is a relatively inexpensive way to give your home an instant facelift.

Double Glazing

Has the cold air, found its way into your home this winter through gaps in ill-fitting windows or doors? Or maybe your home no longer has the kerb appeal it once had? The benefits of replacing your existing windows or doors are many. In addition to your house being warmer, it will also be far more energy-efficient, as the warm air will stay in your house, rather than escaping outside. Replacing outdated double glazing also helps to block out unwanted noise, allowing you to enjoy the peace and quiet once more!

Modern replacement windows and replacement doors are available in a variety of styles and materials, uPVC, uPVC wood effect, timber or aluminum. Importantly, each type is easily customisable with colour for that modern, bespoke look, without compromising on safety, energy efficiency, thermal insulation or ease-of-use maintenance.

Create space

If your home is bursting at the seams, consider adding a conservatory. Conservatories come in a variety of styles, from Victorian or Edwardian, to Lean-To, T-shape, P-shape, Gable and Large span. And each style is available in a range of high-performance materials. Not only do conservatories give you extra space that you can use 365 days a year, but they also add value to your property. On average a conservatory will give you a 108% return on investment.

Windows and doors in Swindon and across Wiltshire

Emerald Windows is a family-run and owned company and a leading installer of home improvement solutions throughout Wiltshire and beyond. We offer an impressive selection of windows, doors, and conservatories and have been improving homes in the area for more than 15 years. If you would like more information on how our products and services could help transform your home, please call us on 0800 612 4154 or contact us online.