March 6, 2025 • 16 mins
With endless inspiration online, home improvements have never been more tempting - but is reality living up to the "property porn" hype?
In this episode, our host Iona Bain is joined by Paula Higgins from the HomeOwners Alliance to explore the smartest ways to transform your home without breaking the bank.
From deciding between a doer-upper and a move-in-ready home to prioritising renovations that actually add value, Paula shares expert advice on budgeting, managing tradespeople and making the most of your space.
Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, there are plenty of ways to refresh your home - sometimes all it takes is a fresh coat of paint and a little creativity!
For more on the Homeowners Alliance visit hoa.org.uk
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Iona and her guests share their own personal thoughts and opinions in this podcast. These might be different from Legal & General’s take on things. They give information for a UK audience that’s relevant at the time of recording.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Iona Bain (00:03):
Hi, I am Iona Bain and welcome to A Little
Bit Richer, brought to you by Legal & General. Now, with
the endless advice and inspiration available online, home renovations have
never been easier, but with the rise in so- called
property porn and cost of labor, there can be, shall we
say, expectations on home makeovers. However, there are still plenty
(00:26):
of ways you can make the most of your home
on a budget. So here with lots of helpful advice
is Paula Higgins from the HomeOwners Alliance. This is an
organization that champions the interests of Britain's current and aspiring
homeowners. They provide unbiased and practical advice whether you're buying,
selling, or owning your home. So without further ado, welcome, Paula.
Paula Higgins (00:47):
Thank you. Lovely to be here.
Iona Bain (00:49):
Lovely to have you here. So let's ask the big
question. When buying a place, what's better, a doer- upper
or somewhere that's already been renovated, you don't have to
do that much to it?
Paula Higgins (01:01):
Well, to be honest, I think, for many listeners here,
they might not have a choice. Because with house prices
the way they are, if they need a mortgage that's
affordable, it might be a do-it- upper and a renovation project,
which can be brilliant. It's a place you can put
your stamp on your own property. You can probably maybe
add value to the property, and it's exciting. But saying
that, if you're time poor and you're not willing to
(01:23):
put that investment in and to really get involved in
the building work, whether you do it yourself or somebody
else, then perhaps maybe something that you can move in
right away, that might be best for you.
Iona Bain (01:32):
So a doer- upper is a really great way to
get a discount?
Paula Higgins (01:36):
It can be, but also, you've got to really go
in with your eyes open. Because you might think about
a discount, but if you find out that the roof
is failing, there's structural problems, there's damp, that can cost
tens of thousands of pounds. So you really need to
understand what you're getting yourself in for. But saying that, if it's
just more cosmetic changes, it could be a really good
way of getting good value out of your home.
Iona Bain (01:56):
You see, it's about trying to identify that potential in
a property, isn't it? And it's something that I found
really hard in the past, because you look at the
Artex ceilings or the avocado bathroom suite, these things can
initially put you off, but I've realized you need to
try and develop x- ray vision when you are looking at a
property and yet it's so hard. What are your tips
(02:16):
for trying to spot those things that make a house
have great potential?
Paula Higgins (02:19):
Well, exactly that. You need to have vision. You need
to understand the local market, and you need to understand
the costs involved. Because you might go in, and actually
changing a bathroom suite might not be that expensive, but
rewiring, re- plumbing, that's where the expense is. So the
one thing, if you're trying to find that gem there
is location, location, location. That's what we always say. You
(02:40):
cannot change that. So if it's a place that's up
and coming, new businesses are moving in, lovely schools, good
transport links, other people want to live there, then it
probably will hold its value. Other things that you can
think about is buying a cheap property on an expensive
street is a good way, because actually, it's one that
maybe hasn't been done up, but the other ones have,
other people want to live on that street. Maybe once
(03:00):
you get over that hurdle and renovate, you might do
very good value out of that. And the other thing
we'd say is to buy your own front door. When
you have your own home, you can do pretty much
whatever you want with it. If you're buying a leasehold
property or flat, and I know, for many people, there
won't be an option, that they have to do that,
but there's a lot more restrictions in place. You can't
really put a stamp, and the value doesn't really hold.
(03:21):
There's not really much places where you can add value
to the leasehold property.
Iona Bain (03:25):
So it's really worth being aware of those differences between
leasehold and freehold properties, because that will affect what you
can do with it?
Paula Higgins (03:32):
Most definitely. So even though you own your flat, as
opposed to renting your flat, you'll still have to ask
permission from your freeholder, from your other neighbors to do
work. And also, you've got things like service charges, all
these sorts of things.
Iona Bain (03:44):
So what are the best home renovation ideas for homeowners on
a budget? What are the things that will actually add
value to a property? And what are the things that are a bit
more debatable?
Paula Higgins (03:55):
So there's always easy things you can do, like a
lick of paint, changing light fixtures, whatever, can really change
the feel of the home. So that's a bit of
a no- brainer. But if you're looking at bigger projects,
I would think things like an open plan kitchen. If
you talk to estate agents, they could add tens of
thousands, and it's actually not that expensive to tear down
an internal wall.
Iona Bain (04:13):
Wow, tens of thousands of pounds just for tearing down a wall.
Paula Higgins (04:15):
Yeah, so we did research a few years ago, and
it can cost between four or 5, 000 pounds. This
is all very ballpark figures. You'd need to look into
it yourself. And you definitely need to get it done
properly, because you don't want to be tearing down a
structural wall.
Iona Bain (04:27):
True.
Paula Higgins (04:28):
But it can really, really add value, because think about
it, if you're building, developing that home, that, for the
next person, who just wants to move in, they will
pay for that. Other things is getting an en suite
or downstairs loo is another one that actually doesn't cost
a huge amount, but it can really add value when
you come to sell. Also things that you've got space,
a garden room, people are working from home now, so
(04:49):
people really find that as an attractive thing when you
might become to sell. So really, what this thing to
add value, it's the potential to grow. So think of
your future self, and even though if you think that
the property you're buying is maybe too big for you,
but think about whether, can you sublet a room, get
a lodger in if you need it, can you go
into the loft and actually quite reasonably priced. Digging out
(05:10):
basements, definitely don't go there.
Iona Bain (05:12):
Oh, really? So it's better to go up rather than down?
Paula Higgins (05:15):
Oh yeah, definitely, way more affordable. And also things like
doing a side return or an extension. There's lots of
options there.
Iona Bain (05:22):
And what about things like energy efficiency? That's not necessarily
the kind of thing that gives the property the wow
factor, but could that be a good investment over time?
Paula Higgins (05:30):
Very much so. You should be looking, when you're buying
a property or when you're looking at properties, there's the
energy performance certificates. So that will give you not only
just an indication of much you might be paying in
bills, but also an indication what you could do to
improve the energy efficiency of your property.
Iona Bain (05:45):
And they're graded by letters, aren't they?
Paula Higgins (05:46):
They are. And it's actually becoming more and more important,
because the government in the future will probably be saying
you might not be able to sell your house or
rent your property out without a certain level of energy
performance. So you would think that future buyers might be
looking at this. So there are some great things you
can do to improve the energy efficiency of your home,
but take a look at the suite of options. So
there can be some things like better lighting, changing the
(06:08):
boiler radiator controls, but something like double glazed windows, which
we all love, they can be incredibly expensive. The payback
is not brilliant. And actually, the future buyer might not
really say, " Oh, I'm going to pay that extra, because
the double glaze." So let them find out what the
price is, but saying that, they are beautiful and it's
a great investment. If that makes you happy, your home
(06:29):
is where your happy place, and then, by all means,
go for it.
Iona Bain (06:32):
But if a property already comes with double glazed window,
that's a big tick?
Paula Higgins (06:36):
That is, and that's probably also something that I don't
think others will probably value as much. So do take
a look at the energy performance certificates because the cost
of heating and energy at the moment is so high,
it is definitely worthwhile. So another thing is you can
even have two properties on the same terrace street, but
somebody who's invested in the insulation can really make it, not
even just cheaper to run, but actually a nice place
(06:59):
to live. And you're not freezing in the winter or
super hot in the summer.
Iona Bain (07:02):
That's why you want to get up in the loft,
because if you keep that well insulated, that will help
the whole house stay warm as well, I imagine?
Paula Higgins (07:08):
That's right.
Iona Bain (07:09):
Yeah. And in terms of the energy performance certificates, what's
considered a good EPC rating then?
Paula Higgins (07:15):
It can vary. So I think that the government is
trying to get to C, but to be honest, it
depends on the local housing stock. So you can easily check
out the EPC ratings of the property you're in and
the property you're looking to buy and the neighbor's property.
But typical terraced houses, you probably look at C, D,
E. A, Bs are pretty much unattainable. Those would be
new built homes.
Iona Bain (07:34):
Right, that's good to know.
Paula Higgins (07:35):
But don't go for F or G.
Iona Bain (07:37):
Okay, F or G, try to steer clear?
Paula Higgins (07:38):
Yes.
Iona Bain (07:39):
So there'll be people listening to this who aren't in
a position to buy yet, and maybe they don't want
to buy, they want to keep renting, but their options are
more limited, aren't they, in terms of how they can
make their space feel a little bit more like a
home? Have you got any tips for them?
Paula Higgins (07:56):
Yes, there's still lots of things you can do. Painting
is actually quite inexpensive. Of course, ask your landlord. But
also, there's things like peelable wallpapers, so you can put
the wallpaper up and then, take it down when you
leave. Other things you can do is that you invest in
furniture and storage, pieces that make you happy, that you'll
bring with you. Lighting is another easy way. It can make a
big difference to have maybe softer lighting. And that is
(08:18):
something that you can then take with you as well.
And we'd also say something we call curb appeal. So
the garden, the front step, it can make you feel happy
when you're coming into your home, having plants around your
home. Again, very cheap, very easy to take care of,
and it puts your stamp on it.
Iona Bain (08:32):
That's such a good shout. Okay, soft furnishings and plants.
That's what you can do to make your rental home
feel a little bit more cozy and like it's yours.
Paula Higgins (08:41):
And what I would say also is that something that I think
renters don't do so much is that there's such a
wealth of places you can go locally, join your local
Facebook groups, your WhatsApp groups, your Nextdoor. Because you might
have somebody down the street moving out, has a lot
of furniture they need to give away, and you'll be
able to pick up.
Iona Bain (08:58):
That's a great tip if you're looking to buy a
home as well, because you're on a budget and you
need to get furniture however you can.
Paula Higgins (09:05):
Yes. And you can mix old with new. You don't
need all the designer. There's some brilliant affordable brands out there.
Iona Bain (09:10):
Totally.
Paula Higgins (09:11):
So buy well. Better to buy maybe one piece that
makes you really happy that you'll keep forever.
Iona Bain (09:16):
Oh, absolutely. Yeah. And hooray for the return of vintage
interiors as well, because it means that you can borrow
things from your mum and dad, as I sometimes do,
or go to a charity shop or go to a
secondhand store and get stuff on a budget. So if
you have got your place and you're wanting to put
your stamp on it, you'll probably have so many things
that you want to do, and yet, you're on a
(09:37):
budget. So how do you prioritize?
Paula Higgins (09:40):
So the first thing we'd say is don't rush into
anything. So go in, live in the space, see where
the light comes from, see the rooms that you're using.
You might want to think about doing one room at
a time. It might be a way to sort of
budget and learn what you like and what you don't
like, but you also need to make sure you've got
to stick to plan and a budget. Because you might
end up with half- finished rooms. And one thing we'd
(10:00):
say is also that you might have to look at
the fundamentals. So what you don't want to do is
to redo a room and then, find out you've got
to rewire and you've got to tear it all out
again. And that's a waste of money really.
Iona Bain (10:10):
So you've got to start with the basics, how the
house is wired, whether there's any structural issues. Is there
something that you can do to really uncover those problems
in advance?
Paula Higgins (10:20):
So what we would suggest is that, when you're looking
to buy the property, that you've done a building survey.
If you haven't, you could probably do one afterwards. It's
a really good manual for maintenance. And sometimes, if you get
the right building survey, it'll even give you an estimate
of cost, so you can plan out what you're going
to do in the future. And then, other things you can
do, kitchens are a really good way. We know it
adds value, but don't go for the designer. Affordable brands,
(10:44):
really easy to do. Sometimes, you can just repaint cabinets,
add a bit more storage, redo the taps, some easy
quick wins there, and you can really make a stamp
and add a value to your home.
Iona Bain (10:54):
Yeah, when I moved into my place, I kept the
frame of the cupboards in my kitchens, but I just
replaced the doors and I replaced the kitchen top. And
it made it look like a new kitchen without having
to rip it all out and start all over again.
Paula Higgins (11:06):
And another tip is also what a lot of people
do, they can get IKEA cabinets, so IKEA cabinets are
quite cheap, and get your own doors on there. But
the more bespoke a kitchen it is, the more likely
the next person might not like it.
Iona Bain (11:18):
That's a very good point. So spend a bit of
money on the kitchen, but maybe don't be too design-
led with it, try to be a bit realistic about
what future people would want.
Paula Higgins (11:28):
Yes, exactly. And you might want maybe plainer colors, but
then, go wild with the wallpaper, go wild with the
backsplash, put your own mark on it, but something that
somebody else can think, " Okay, I can redo it or
do something different."
Iona Bain (11:38):
Yeah, that's a great tip. And also, if you're moving
into a place, is there a case for roughing it
for a while, if you haven't moved all your furniture
in there, so long as you've got a running tap,
a kettle to make some tea, and you can keep
the place warm? Is there something to be said for
just setting up a camp bed in the house and
then, doing the works as you go?
Paula Higgins (11:56):
Yes. And also, if you are planning to do a
whole house renovation, to be able to live in the
house while the builders are there, it can be a
bit of a pain. You might have a lot of
takeaway pizzas, but it's actually quite good to keep an
eye on the builders and you save money then having
to decamp somewhere else. And so, we always suggest that,
if you can, rough it a bit.
Iona Bain (12:15):
Rough it, put up with the takeaway pizzas, it's worth
it in the long run. So are there some common
pitfalls of home renovations that we need to watch out for?
Paula Higgins (12:24):
Well, the big thing is budgeting. So it's expensive. Construction
costs are very high. And then, the one thing to
make clear to people is that the fact that tradesmen
or builders, they're not regulated. So find the right tradesmen
to do the job. We've got great platforms out there
on websites to find a builder, but they're not regulated.
(12:45):
So a good builder is one that has got good
reviews, you've got local recommendations, and you might have to
wait six months to get them around to you. And
that's a good sign. So unfortunately, anyone could be a
builder, and if you don't know what you're doing, they
can take advantage of you.
Iona Bain (13:00):
It's really surprising to learn that builders are not regulated
in that way, when they could potentially do a lot
of things to your home and take a lot of
value off the home, and there wouldn't really be that
much comeback.
Paula Higgins (13:11):
Yes, and it's really, really hard to get to redress
for that. So what we'd always say is that, if
you do find a builder that you want to use
or a tradesman, is make sure you have a contract
in place, make sure you don't hand over all the
money in cash, because that won't protect you. Really get
involved in the building work. So don't just rely on, "
Oh, I think this will be fine." You really want
(13:32):
to become an expert on that. And the thing is that that
will really help you for the future, because you'll always
have to do some sort of project in the future.
So you've got to get yourself involved in it.
Iona Bain (13:40):
And do you have to get used to potentially budgets
overrunning as well?
Paula Higgins (13:45):
Of course, if you get three quotes and not going
for the cheapest quote, making sure you get everything done
in writing. Sometimes it's surprising that you might say, " Well,
it'll cost X amount to do a bathroom." But they say, "
Oh, well, by the way, but you have to pay
for all the grouting, and of course, you've got to pay for
the tiles." You can cut costs, but if you can
source some of the tiles, the furniture, the sanitary ware,
that could be a brilliant way to save money.
Iona Bain (14:05):
And it may be that you can put up the
tiles yourself. There is always YouTube to help. Yeah, so
keep an eye on the builder, make sure they're doing
what you want them to do, and possibly build in
a bit of a buffer in terms of your budget
as well.
Paula Higgins (14:19):
Yes, we always say 10%, and this 10% is always for stuff
that is not expected, especially if it's an old house.
Iona Bain (14:25):
No, you very quickly learn what is doable when you
move into a place and all these dreams that you
have in your head.
Paula Higgins (14:30):
But what you really don't want to do is to
put yourself in a position where you're vulnerable to a
builder that just walks away, takes your money, or holds
you to ransom, pulls out your kitchen, says, " I want
more money before I carry on." And unfortunately, this stuff does happen.
Iona Bain (14:45):
That's the worst.
Paula Higgins (14:45):
My philosophy has always been almost do it first yourself,
and then, even if you make a mess of it,
then you understand, when you get somebody professional in to
do it, you can then make sure they do a
professional job.
Iona Bain (14:55):
Those issues around making sure that you're getting good word
of mouth, et cetera, they don't just apply to builders,
do they?
Paula Higgins (15:02):
Not at all, really. For smaller jobs, like if you
need a handyman or a decorator, you can go to
these find- a- builder platforms, but also, go local. The
decorators locally, they're relying on their local reputation. But I
would still suggest that you still try to get stuff
in writing or really hone down exactly what they're going
to do. Are they going to do one coat of
paint? Are they going to be plastering? So you really
(15:24):
want to understand, so you're both on the same page
and you're not disappointed if they're not doing as much as
you thought they would do.
Iona Bain (15:30):
So this is going to be really tough, Paula, because
you've just given me so many great hacks here. But
if we had to whittle this down, what would be
your three top tips for doing up your home on
a budget?
Paula Higgins (15:40):
So I would say get your sequencing right. You do
not want to do something and then, have to pull
it out again. So look at the fundamentals, look at
the wiring, the plumbing. You need to get that stuff
done right. Make a plan, cost it, and stick to
it. Be patient. As we said, the best tradesmen are
booked out for months in advance, so don't feel you
need to get done by Christmas. Because then, you'll be
(16:00):
vulnerable to get things done.
Iona Bain (16:02):
Fantastic, Paula, you've given me so much inspiration there. When
it comes to doing up my next place, I'm going
to take all those hacks with me. Thank you very
much for joining us.
Paula Higgins (16:10):
You're welcome.
Iona Bain (16:11):
Paula, that's been so helpful and inspiring. I can't wait
to do a bit of DIY after that conversation. Next time,
I'll be joined by Joe Ryle from the 4 Day
Week Foundation to talk all about flexible work and getting
that crucial work- life balance. I'd love it if you
could follow the podcast, leave us a review, and help
(16:32):
others get a little bit richer too. You can keep
up with the show on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram at
Legal & General. Thank you so much for listening. Until next
time, see you soon.
Hi, I am Iona Bain and welcome to A Little
Bit Richer, brought to you by Legal & General. Now, with
the endless advice and inspiration available online, home renovations have
never been easier, but with the rise in so- called
property porn and cost of labor, there can be, shall we
say, expectations on home makeovers. However, there are still plenty
(00:26):
of ways you can make the most of your home
on a budget. So here with lots of helpful advice
is Paula Higgins from the HomeOwners Alliance. This is an
organization that champions the interests of Britain's current and aspiring
homeowners. They provide unbiased and practical advice whether you're buying,
selling, or owning your home. So without further ado, welcome, Paula.
Paula Higgins (00:47):
Thank you. Lovely to be here.
Iona Bain (00:49):
Lovely to have you here. So let's ask the big
question. When buying a place, what's better, a doer- upper
or somewhere that's already been renovated, you don't have to
do that much to it?
Paula Higgins (01:01):
Well, to be honest, I think, for many listeners here,
they might not have a choice. Because with house prices
the way they are, if they need a mortgage that's
affordable, it might be a do-it- upper and a renovation project,
which can be brilliant. It's a place you can put
your stamp on your own property. You can probably maybe
add value to the property, and it's exciting. But saying
that, if you're time poor and you're not willing to
(01:23):
put that investment in and to really get involved in
the building work, whether you do it yourself or somebody
else, then perhaps maybe something that you can move in
right away, that might be best for you.
Iona Bain (01:32):
So a doer- upper is a really great way to
get a discount?
Paula Higgins (01:36):
It can be, but also, you've got to really go
in with your eyes open. Because you might think about
a discount, but if you find out that the roof
is failing, there's structural problems, there's damp, that can cost
tens of thousands of pounds. So you really need to
understand what you're getting yourself in for. But saying that, if it's
just more cosmetic changes, it could be a really good
way of getting good value out of your home.
Iona Bain (01:56):
You see, it's about trying to identify that potential in
a property, isn't it? And it's something that I found
really hard in the past, because you look at the
Artex ceilings or the avocado bathroom suite, these things can
initially put you off, but I've realized you need to
try and develop x- ray vision when you are looking at a
property and yet it's so hard. What are your tips
(02:16):
for trying to spot those things that make a house
have great potential?
Paula Higgins (02:19):
Well, exactly that. You need to have vision. You need
to understand the local market, and you need to understand
the costs involved. Because you might go in, and actually
changing a bathroom suite might not be that expensive, but
rewiring, re- plumbing, that's where the expense is. So the
one thing, if you're trying to find that gem there
is location, location, location. That's what we always say. You
(02:40):
cannot change that. So if it's a place that's up
and coming, new businesses are moving in, lovely schools, good
transport links, other people want to live there, then it
probably will hold its value. Other things that you can
think about is buying a cheap property on an expensive
street is a good way, because actually, it's one that
maybe hasn't been done up, but the other ones have,
other people want to live on that street. Maybe once
(03:00):
you get over that hurdle and renovate, you might do
very good value out of that. And the other thing
we'd say is to buy your own front door. When
you have your own home, you can do pretty much
whatever you want with it. If you're buying a leasehold
property or flat, and I know, for many people, there
won't be an option, that they have to do that,
but there's a lot more restrictions in place. You can't
really put a stamp, and the value doesn't really hold.
(03:21):
There's not really much places where you can add value
to the leasehold property.
Iona Bain (03:25):
So it's really worth being aware of those differences between
leasehold and freehold properties, because that will affect what you
can do with it?
Paula Higgins (03:32):
Most definitely. So even though you own your flat, as
opposed to renting your flat, you'll still have to ask
permission from your freeholder, from your other neighbors to do
work. And also, you've got things like service charges, all
these sorts of things.
Iona Bain (03:44):
So what are the best home renovation ideas for homeowners on
a budget? What are the things that will actually add
value to a property? And what are the things that are a bit
more debatable?
Paula Higgins (03:55):
So there's always easy things you can do, like a
lick of paint, changing light fixtures, whatever, can really change
the feel of the home. So that's a bit of
a no- brainer. But if you're looking at bigger projects,
I would think things like an open plan kitchen. If
you talk to estate agents, they could add tens of
thousands, and it's actually not that expensive to tear down
an internal wall.
Iona Bain (04:13):
Wow, tens of thousands of pounds just for tearing down a wall.
Paula Higgins (04:15):
Yeah, so we did research a few years ago, and
it can cost between four or 5, 000 pounds. This
is all very ballpark figures. You'd need to look into
it yourself. And you definitely need to get it done
properly, because you don't want to be tearing down a
structural wall.
Iona Bain (04:27):
True.
Paula Higgins (04:28):
But it can really, really add value, because think about
it, if you're building, developing that home, that, for the
next person, who just wants to move in, they will
pay for that. Other things is getting an en suite
or downstairs loo is another one that actually doesn't cost
a huge amount, but it can really add value when
you come to sell. Also things that you've got space,
a garden room, people are working from home now, so
(04:49):
people really find that as an attractive thing when you
might become to sell. So really, what this thing to
add value, it's the potential to grow. So think of
your future self, and even though if you think that
the property you're buying is maybe too big for you,
but think about whether, can you sublet a room, get
a lodger in if you need it, can you go
into the loft and actually quite reasonably priced. Digging out
(05:10):
basements, definitely don't go there.
Iona Bain (05:12):
Oh, really? So it's better to go up rather than down?
Paula Higgins (05:15):
Oh yeah, definitely, way more affordable. And also things like
doing a side return or an extension. There's lots of
options there.
Iona Bain (05:22):
And what about things like energy efficiency? That's not necessarily
the kind of thing that gives the property the wow
factor, but could that be a good investment over time?
Paula Higgins (05:30):
Very much so. You should be looking, when you're buying
a property or when you're looking at properties, there's the
energy performance certificates. So that will give you not only
just an indication of much you might be paying in
bills, but also an indication what you could do to
improve the energy efficiency of your property.
Iona Bain (05:45):
And they're graded by letters, aren't they?
Paula Higgins (05:46):
They are. And it's actually becoming more and more important,
because the government in the future will probably be saying
you might not be able to sell your house or
rent your property out without a certain level of energy
performance. So you would think that future buyers might be
looking at this. So there are some great things you
can do to improve the energy efficiency of your home,
but take a look at the suite of options. So
there can be some things like better lighting, changing the
(06:08):
boiler radiator controls, but something like double glazed windows, which
we all love, they can be incredibly expensive. The payback
is not brilliant. And actually, the future buyer might not
really say, " Oh, I'm going to pay that extra, because
the double glaze." So let them find out what the
price is, but saying that, they are beautiful and it's
a great investment. If that makes you happy, your home
(06:29):
is where your happy place, and then, by all means,
go for it.
Iona Bain (06:32):
But if a property already comes with double glazed window,
that's a big tick?
Paula Higgins (06:36):
That is, and that's probably also something that I don't
think others will probably value as much. So do take
a look at the energy performance certificates because the cost
of heating and energy at the moment is so high,
it is definitely worthwhile. So another thing is you can
even have two properties on the same terrace street, but
somebody who's invested in the insulation can really make it, not
even just cheaper to run, but actually a nice place
(06:59):
to live. And you're not freezing in the winter or
super hot in the summer.
Iona Bain (07:02):
That's why you want to get up in the loft,
because if you keep that well insulated, that will help
the whole house stay warm as well, I imagine?
Paula Higgins (07:08):
That's right.
Iona Bain (07:09):
Yeah. And in terms of the energy performance certificates, what's
considered a good EPC rating then?
Paula Higgins (07:15):
It can vary. So I think that the government is
trying to get to C, but to be honest, it
depends on the local housing stock. So you can easily check
out the EPC ratings of the property you're in and
the property you're looking to buy and the neighbor's property.
But typical terraced houses, you probably look at C, D,
E. A, Bs are pretty much unattainable. Those would be
new built homes.
Iona Bain (07:34):
Right, that's good to know.
Paula Higgins (07:35):
But don't go for F or G.
Iona Bain (07:37):
Okay, F or G, try to steer clear?
Paula Higgins (07:38):
Yes.
Iona Bain (07:39):
So there'll be people listening to this who aren't in
a position to buy yet, and maybe they don't want
to buy, they want to keep renting, but their options are
more limited, aren't they, in terms of how they can
make their space feel a little bit more like a
home? Have you got any tips for them?
Paula Higgins (07:56):
Yes, there's still lots of things you can do. Painting
is actually quite inexpensive. Of course, ask your landlord. But
also, there's things like peelable wallpapers, so you can put
the wallpaper up and then, take it down when you
leave. Other things you can do is that you invest in
furniture and storage, pieces that make you happy, that you'll
bring with you. Lighting is another easy way. It can make a
big difference to have maybe softer lighting. And that is
(08:18):
something that you can then take with you as well.
And we'd also say something we call curb appeal. So
the garden, the front step, it can make you feel happy
when you're coming into your home, having plants around your
home. Again, very cheap, very easy to take care of,
and it puts your stamp on it.
Iona Bain (08:32):
That's such a good shout. Okay, soft furnishings and plants.
That's what you can do to make your rental home
feel a little bit more cozy and like it's yours.
Paula Higgins (08:41):
And what I would say also is that something that I think
renters don't do so much is that there's such a
wealth of places you can go locally, join your local
Facebook groups, your WhatsApp groups, your Nextdoor. Because you might
have somebody down the street moving out, has a lot
of furniture they need to give away, and you'll be
able to pick up.
Iona Bain (08:58):
That's a great tip if you're looking to buy a
home as well, because you're on a budget and you
need to get furniture however you can.
Paula Higgins (09:05):
Yes. And you can mix old with new. You don't
need all the designer. There's some brilliant affordable brands out there.
Iona Bain (09:10):
Totally.
Paula Higgins (09:11):
So buy well. Better to buy maybe one piece that
makes you really happy that you'll keep forever.
Iona Bain (09:16):
Oh, absolutely. Yeah. And hooray for the return of vintage
interiors as well, because it means that you can borrow
things from your mum and dad, as I sometimes do,
or go to a charity shop or go to a
secondhand store and get stuff on a budget. So if
you have got your place and you're wanting to put
your stamp on it, you'll probably have so many things
that you want to do, and yet, you're on a
(09:37):
budget. So how do you prioritize?
Paula Higgins (09:40):
So the first thing we'd say is don't rush into
anything. So go in, live in the space, see where
the light comes from, see the rooms that you're using.
You might want to think about doing one room at
a time. It might be a way to sort of
budget and learn what you like and what you don't
like, but you also need to make sure you've got
to stick to plan and a budget. Because you might
end up with half- finished rooms. And one thing we'd
(10:00):
say is also that you might have to look at
the fundamentals. So what you don't want to do is
to redo a room and then, find out you've got
to rewire and you've got to tear it all out
again. And that's a waste of money really.
Iona Bain (10:10):
So you've got to start with the basics, how the
house is wired, whether there's any structural issues. Is there
something that you can do to really uncover those problems
in advance?
Paula Higgins (10:20):
So what we would suggest is that, when you're looking
to buy the property, that you've done a building survey.
If you haven't, you could probably do one afterwards. It's
a really good manual for maintenance. And sometimes, if you get
the right building survey, it'll even give you an estimate
of cost, so you can plan out what you're going
to do in the future. And then, other things you can
do, kitchens are a really good way. We know it
adds value, but don't go for the designer. Affordable brands,
(10:44):
really easy to do. Sometimes, you can just repaint cabinets,
add a bit more storage, redo the taps, some easy
quick wins there, and you can really make a stamp
and add a value to your home.
Iona Bain (10:54):
Yeah, when I moved into my place, I kept the
frame of the cupboards in my kitchens, but I just
replaced the doors and I replaced the kitchen top. And
it made it look like a new kitchen without having
to rip it all out and start all over again.
Paula Higgins (11:06):
And another tip is also what a lot of people
do, they can get IKEA cabinets, so IKEA cabinets are
quite cheap, and get your own doors on there. But
the more bespoke a kitchen it is, the more likely
the next person might not like it.
Iona Bain (11:18):
That's a very good point. So spend a bit of
money on the kitchen, but maybe don't be too design-
led with it, try to be a bit realistic about
what future people would want.
Paula Higgins (11:28):
Yes, exactly. And you might want maybe plainer colors, but
then, go wild with the wallpaper, go wild with the
backsplash, put your own mark on it, but something that
somebody else can think, " Okay, I can redo it or
do something different."
Iona Bain (11:38):
Yeah, that's a great tip. And also, if you're moving
into a place, is there a case for roughing it
for a while, if you haven't moved all your furniture
in there, so long as you've got a running tap,
a kettle to make some tea, and you can keep
the place warm? Is there something to be said for
just setting up a camp bed in the house and
then, doing the works as you go?
Paula Higgins (11:56):
Yes. And also, if you are planning to do a
whole house renovation, to be able to live in the
house while the builders are there, it can be a
bit of a pain. You might have a lot of
takeaway pizzas, but it's actually quite good to keep an
eye on the builders and you save money then having
to decamp somewhere else. And so, we always suggest that,
if you can, rough it a bit.
Iona Bain (12:15):
Rough it, put up with the takeaway pizzas, it's worth
it in the long run. So are there some common
pitfalls of home renovations that we need to watch out for?
Paula Higgins (12:24):
Well, the big thing is budgeting. So it's expensive. Construction
costs are very high. And then, the one thing to
make clear to people is that the fact that tradesmen
or builders, they're not regulated. So find the right tradesmen
to do the job. We've got great platforms out there
on websites to find a builder, but they're not regulated.
(12:45):
So a good builder is one that has got good
reviews, you've got local recommendations, and you might have to
wait six months to get them around to you. And
that's a good sign. So unfortunately, anyone could be a
builder, and if you don't know what you're doing, they
can take advantage of you.
Iona Bain (13:00):
It's really surprising to learn that builders are not regulated
in that way, when they could potentially do a lot
of things to your home and take a lot of
value off the home, and there wouldn't really be that
much comeback.
Paula Higgins (13:11):
Yes, and it's really, really hard to get to redress
for that. So what we'd always say is that, if
you do find a builder that you want to use
or a tradesman, is make sure you have a contract
in place, make sure you don't hand over all the
money in cash, because that won't protect you. Really get
involved in the building work. So don't just rely on, "
Oh, I think this will be fine." You really want
(13:32):
to become an expert on that. And the thing is that that
will really help you for the future, because you'll always
have to do some sort of project in the future.
So you've got to get yourself involved in it.
Iona Bain (13:40):
And do you have to get used to potentially budgets
overrunning as well?
Paula Higgins (13:45):
Of course, if you get three quotes and not going
for the cheapest quote, making sure you get everything done
in writing. Sometimes it's surprising that you might say, " Well,
it'll cost X amount to do a bathroom." But they say, "
Oh, well, by the way, but you have to pay
for all the grouting, and of course, you've got to pay for
the tiles." You can cut costs, but if you can
source some of the tiles, the furniture, the sanitary ware,
that could be a brilliant way to save money.
Iona Bain (14:05):
And it may be that you can put up the
tiles yourself. There is always YouTube to help. Yeah, so
keep an eye on the builder, make sure they're doing
what you want them to do, and possibly build in
a bit of a buffer in terms of your budget
as well.
Paula Higgins (14:19):
Yes, we always say 10%, and this 10% is always for stuff
that is not expected, especially if it's an old house.
Iona Bain (14:25):
No, you very quickly learn what is doable when you
move into a place and all these dreams that you
have in your head.
Paula Higgins (14:30):
But what you really don't want to do is to
put yourself in a position where you're vulnerable to a
builder that just walks away, takes your money, or holds
you to ransom, pulls out your kitchen, says, " I want
more money before I carry on." And unfortunately, this stuff does happen.
Iona Bain (14:45):
That's the worst.
Paula Higgins (14:45):
My philosophy has always been almost do it first yourself,
and then, even if you make a mess of it,
then you understand, when you get somebody professional in to
do it, you can then make sure they do a
professional job.
Iona Bain (14:55):
Those issues around making sure that you're getting good word
of mouth, et cetera, they don't just apply to builders,
do they?
Paula Higgins (15:02):
Not at all, really. For smaller jobs, like if you
need a handyman or a decorator, you can go to
these find- a- builder platforms, but also, go local. The
decorators locally, they're relying on their local reputation. But I
would still suggest that you still try to get stuff
in writing or really hone down exactly what they're going
to do. Are they going to do one coat of
paint? Are they going to be plastering? So you really
(15:24):
want to understand, so you're both on the same page
and you're not disappointed if they're not doing as much as
you thought they would do.
Iona Bain (15:30):
So this is going to be really tough, Paula, because
you've just given me so many great hacks here. But
if we had to whittle this down, what would be
your three top tips for doing up your home on
a budget?
Paula Higgins (15:40):
So I would say get your sequencing right. You do
not want to do something and then, have to pull
it out again. So look at the fundamentals, look at
the wiring, the plumbing. You need to get that stuff
done right. Make a plan, cost it, and stick to
it. Be patient. As we said, the best tradesmen are
booked out for months in advance, so don't feel you
need to get done by Christmas. Because then, you'll be
(16:00):
vulnerable to get things done.
Iona Bain (16:02):
Fantastic, Paula, you've given me so much inspiration there. When
it comes to doing up my next place, I'm going
to take all those hacks with me. Thank you very
much for joining us.
Paula Higgins (16:10):
You're welcome.
Iona Bain (16:11):
Paula, that's been so helpful and inspiring. I can't wait
to do a bit of DIY after that conversation. Next time,
I'll be joined by Joe Ryle from the 4 Day
Week Foundation to talk all about flexible work and getting
that crucial work- life balance. I'd love it if you
could follow the podcast, leave us a review, and help
(16:32):
others get a little bit richer too. You can keep
up with the show on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram at
Legal & General. Thank you so much for listening. Until next
time, see you soon.
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