HOW WE DU IT : OUR BLOG

Avoid the snakes and find the ladders in the serious game of maximising your home's value.

1. 1. One of the biggest myths in this game is that bathroom improvements will send the value of your home soaring like a Eurofighter Typhoon on full afterburners. Most experts agree three per cent is the maximum likely increase in value from this improvement, so do this to improve quality of life, not your asset value.
2. 2. An easy way to boost your home's value is by sorting out any little gremlins, a bit like giving your car a full service. Simply redecorating could boost the value more than totally redoing your bathroom and at a fraction of the price. Likewise a cold and damp house isn't appealing, so have that heating system sorted.  Just make sure any improvements you make are of a professional standard, otherwise you'll be throwing good money after bad.
3. 3. Money pit or money maker? Tips abound on kitchen makeovers that boost value. Find out the kind of kitchens local houses that sold quickly have; small kitchens in large houses benefit from being enlarged by extension; maximise light and space by fitting bigger windows etc. etc. - the list is long and potentially very expensive. Experts reckon five per cent is a good return on an improved kitchen which is fine. Just ask yourself:  "At what cost?"
4. 4. First impressions count. Does your house's exterior make a good one? A simple lick of paint (windows, front door, and garage door -whatever is appropriate) may be all yours needs, or it might be just the start. Ensure what you do matches the rest of the house; cladding might need to be removed if it's 'unsympathetic' to the period, or put on in the form of timber or render if an extension has caused a clash of styles. Potentially expensive, potentially cheap, done to a high standard returns can often break double figures in percentage terms.
5. 5. Big, bigger… best. The number one best way to improve your home's value is to give it more useable space. This means i) a conservatory (generally the least expensive); ii) a loft conversion, which can vary enormously in cost depending on your loft's construction; and finally iii) an extension. Just remember the golden rule: done well, make money. Done badly and you would be wealthier if you'd done nothing at all.

A Handyman is normally the ideal person to call when you have a lot of small jobs and are not sure who to call.. Handymen do all types of work from putting together flat-pack furniture, fixing leaks, windows or shelves, unblocking sinks and toilets to setting up playground equipment laying decking and external repairs.

Handyman-ready jobs

Handymen are best utilized for small, "Hubby won't do" types of home repair work. The following projects are ideal for most handymen.

Minor plumbing work

DU.IT  handymen are capable of completing minor plumbing work like installing new fixtures or repairing a leaky taps changing a toilet cistern. However if the job is more complex the handyman will let you know and call in one of our specialist plumbers who can even work on your gas central heating.

Caulking

Adding a fresh application of caulk to gaps in the frames of windows and doors is a great way to improve energy efficiency and lower utility costs.

Decks and porches

Over time, weather can take its toll on wooden decks and porches. A handyman can replace broken boards, apply a finish or sealant and make general improvements or repairs to upgrade your deck or porch's safety and appearance.

Gutter cleaning and maintenance

Although it's a simple enough task, cleaning gutters is messy and involves climbing on the roof. Avoid the risk of injury by hiring a professional handyman with the right equipment and experience for the task. A handyman can also install gutter guards to prevent seasonal clogging. All DU.IT Handymen are Health & Safety trained and used to working at heights.

Home exterior repairs

If you have minor damage to your home's exterior, such as a loose brickwork, defective mortar or a missing shingle, hiring a handyman to repair those items may prove to be more cost-effective than hiring a specialist.

Painting and touch-ups

A handyman can be hired to repaint a wall or garage door, touchup trim and scuff marks and repair small holes. If the job is for a large redecoration job, our specialist decorators will be delighted to give you a quote.

Hanging window treatments, pictures and mirrors and installing light fixtures

These small tasks can be easily accomplished by a homeowner, but a hiring a handyman with the right tools and experience can help ensure these wall-mounted items are hung correctly without damage.

Handyman hiring tips

Homeowners should make sure they hire a professional handyman that has the skills and can guaranteed their work. At DU.IT we have customer focused staff to ensure that you are happy from start to finish and as Members of the Federation of Master Builders and The Guild of Master Craftsmen you be be assured of our qualifications.

To get the most from a Handyman:

1. Define the project. Start by compiling a list of the home repairs you would like completed. Remember, a handyman is best utilized for small jobs such as installing light fixtures, patching drywall and interior painting. If you want bigger jobs done, please contact us for a quote for all building, decorating, plumbing, electrical and refurbishment work.

2. Experience Make sure the potential handyman has the skills and experience to complete your project.

3. Watch out for scams. You want to avoid handymen who contact you with unsolicited phone calls or visits to your home. You should also avoid any handyman who refuses to guarantee the price of the job or asks for payment upfront. Reputable handymen don't expect to get paid before the project is completed.

4. Get it in writing. Agree the list of works and price to be charged in writing.

5. Ask for a guarantee. Many handymen will guarantee their work for up to one year. Ask about guarantees before you make a hiring decision, and of course, make sure the guarantee is in writing.

6. Inspect the work. Inspect the completed work before making payment. Make sure that everything has been done to your satisfaction and at the agreed upon price. Our handymen will be happy to explain the finished work because they want you to be satisfied and tell head office how good they are.

7. Refer If you are happy with the job, please tell us so we can praise the handyman. Please also refer us to people you know that need good quality help. We are happy to pay you a £10 referral fee if we get work from your recommendations.

Want to do some home improvements outside but are fed up with gardening? Our guide to face -lifting brickwork will have you dumping the secateurs and grabbing a trowel before your best pal can say: "Footie's on down the pub - you coming?"

• Easy Tiger! Don't start slapping in the mortar before checking the brickwork.

1. 1. Common problem: frost damaged bricks

Solution: take a power drill on hammer action and drill all around the brick. Chip away mortar and pull out brick. Replace with new one or just turn the old one around!

1. 2. Common problem: efflorescence on new brick walls

Solution: white powdery stuff, common on new bricks, can be brushed off with dry bristle brush. DO NOT WASH OFF as this makes problem worse.

1. 3. Common problem: dirty bricks

Solution: A stiff brush, running hose and bucket loads elbow grease is all you need. Sandblasting and acid chemicals are alternatives but can rob brickwork of its character.

Let's start repointing!

• Remove the old mortar with a chisel to about 12mm depth. Use a hammer drill for large areas.
• Get mortar - either pre-mixed or your own - on your trowel and place on mortar board (again either bought or one you made). Wet joints and push mortar into vertical ones first then the horizontal.
• Take your pointing trowel or special tool (no laughing at the back) and finish joints.
• Meld old pointing with new, before it dries, with sponge. Clean brickwork carefully with soft dry brush. Job done!

Our literary chums in the home improvement magazine world have literally gone colour crazy in their June editions, picking their favourite hues of paint and room accessories for the summer season. So which ones would cheer any chamber and which aren't even pretty enough to be sensibly disposed of at the council dump? You decide!

Ideal Home have gone straight for pastels but its selection of 'bubblegum pink' and 'sherbet yellow' have us suspecting its scribes have spent too much time in the sweet shop. Sorry Ideal Home but too much candy leave us feeling slightly ill. Fruit Pastel anybody? No, we thought not.

Living etc's choices will have conspiracy theorists wagging their tongues that some journoes have been moonlighting for the other side, as it's plumped for pastel shades as well. 'Delicious ice-cream hues are back with a new flavour' says its contents page trendily. Pastels are an 80s shade and that decade is trendy now, but somehow one can't imagine DCI Gene Hunt saying: "Fire up the Quattro I'm going shopping for some pastel throws."

Your Home have even got in on the act advising one to 'combine pale shades', although it gets some points for putting fabrics and other accessories in the pastel frame, leaving messy paint for others.

Home & Gardens is not a name you would associate with coming in from left field, but when it names its colour of the summer for your room's accessories it comes up with (wait for it) 'zesty orange'!

So well done Home & Gardens! Now take your complimentary fruit basket and leave me to lie down in a quiet room - preferably magnolia coloured.

It's warp factor 9 time for your garden's plants, so if you're as lazy as some of us in your free time, or just have other things you would rather do, now is the time to hire a gardener. For the rest of us however, whatever else you do in your garden, do these!

1. Keep on deadheading: This is simply the removal of blooms that have passed their sell by date. Deadheading will not only keep you plants looking good, it'll get the most out the healthy blooms and those yet to blossom!

2. Smart watering: While giving your plants the optimum amount of water, especially those newly bedded in, it's crucial in hot weather not to water them at night as wet foliage is more susceptible to fungal problems.

3. Mulch to the max: Thorough mulching will stop your soil from drying out and so can cut the watering needed by half or more. It'll also reduce the amount weeds that not only look nasty but will also nick some of the nutrients needed by your plants. A depth of 8-12cm should do the trick.

4. Mow less often: Less often? Yep, you read right. The extra shade helps reduce weeds - honest!

5. Plan ahead: If you want some colour in the garden in autumn/winter, time is running out for autumn/winter flowering varieties. Plant these now before kicking back with the Pimms and cucumber sandwiches!

6. Get DU.IT: Call us in to clean up your decking, fix your shed and preserve your fence.