Home Kitchen

Home Kitchen
Home Depot do-over
When Hector Padilla started at Home Depot as a sales associate in the Hialeah store in 1994, he had just arrived in Miami from the Dominican Republic. Padilla spoke no English and had no retail experience.

TV's Phil Spencer has recently been urging homeowners to "do everything they can" to improve the saleability of their properties saying that improvements to kitchens and bathrooms are among the best ways of selling houses. A recent Lloyds TSB Tickbox.net and Opinion Matters survey found that 73% of people in Greater London claim that installing a new kitchen is the best way of adding value to a property. The Lloyds TSB poll showed that a high percentage of people thought that an energy efficient boiler was the environmentally friendly home improvement that added most value to a property.

In a Telegraph feature earlier in 2008, '50 ways to improve your home', upgrading your existing kitchen was at number 19 whilst 'banishing broken bathrooms' came in at number 20.

There are many things that can be done to improve the saleability of your home and increase its value where kitchens and bathrooms are concerned. Here are just a few ideas:

1. Fit a spacious walk in shower - far more convenient and practical than an over-bath shower.
2. Install under floor heating in a bathroom - this will remove the need for unsightly radiators thus saving space and creating a far more seamless design. What's more, under floor heating is far healthier as the heat is more evenly distributed throughout the room rather than staying at head height, and it also keeps nasty things like mould and damp at bay.
3. Update your kitchen so that it includes built in modern conveniences - this will really make an impact on potential buyers because it's a job they won't have to do themselves.
4. A modern eco-friendly condensing boiler will help tip the scales in your favour when selling a property because potential buyers will be able to enjoy the benefits of reduced fuel bills and increased energy efficiency.
5. Consider the installation of a solar hot water heating system which will offer considerable savings on fuel bills for your potential buyers.
6. If space allows, add a downstairs cloakroom. Modern WCs and basins come in the most compact of sizes and it is relatively straightforward to liberate some space and transform it into a very convenient feature.
7. If your bathroom does not need a complete overhaul but could do with a little 'something' then go for some new taps. Choosing attractive taps from a high quality range will miraculously transform the look of any bathroom, and it should be a relatively low cost exercise in terms of your potential return.

If you are looking to improve the saleability of your property then a good place to start is by talking to your plumber who will be able to give you sound advice on your heating system options and energy efficiency for starters. A good plumber will work with reputable kitchen fitters and other professional craftsmen to provide a complete service and overall they will be able to provide you with space-saving and energy efficient solutions.

Ivor Bates is the director of Bates Heating and Plumbing Limited, a plumbing and heating company established in 2001 and covering all areas of London, Docklands and Essex. Bates Heating is CORGI registered. They can install, replace or refurbish bathrooms, kitchens and various types of heating system including energy efficient condensing boilers, under floor and solar heating. For more information visit http://www.batesheating.co.uk

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