Wall insulation... that's hot.

Desperate times calling for desperate measures and all that, there seems to be a whole new stable of home improvement shows on TV vying for our attention all of a sudden. Apparently we need to start adding value to our properties. Apparently our homes aren’t magical box-shaped pots of leprechaun gold, effortlessly twirling, twirling, twirling towards improbable resale profit.

Like apparently every other human being in the UK, I lap these shows up – and I don’t even own a home (yet) to make improvements on. Still I watch faithfully, like a sad little King Charles Spaniel watches girl spaniels on Hampstead Heath, even though deep down in his puppy heart he knows he was actually neutered six months ago. Homes & Property, please show me how to convert my (imaginary) loft into a stylish dining room or home office! Room For Improvement, tell me again how I can turn my (landlord’s) cramped bathroom into a modern European-style wet room!

It’s just so fun. There’s something truly fabulous about taking a dark, tiny, underused space and turning into a… Scandinavian cheese and disco room! (For example.)

Compare, then, phrases like, ‘loft conversion’, ‘wet room’ and ‘brand new walk-in wardrobe’ to the following:

Energy-efficient boiler.

Window glazing.

Internal wall insulation.

(On the other hand... if done right, supposedly a converted loft can add 10% to your home's value.)

Slightly less inspiring? Why, yes. Almost completely unsexy? Oui oui. Quite a big value-add, though, when you really think about it and try to forget that designer wallpaper you had picked out for your new Art Deco spa room? Er, yes, actually.

According to our eco homes expert Sarah Lonsdale, carbon appeal is set to replace kerb appeal when it comes to attracting a buyer. A study by the Energy Savings Trust (EST) found that from a survey of 2,090 homeowners, 53% said they’d be willing to pay up to £3,350 extra for a home with greener features. Even more interestingly, 78% said that a ‘poor’ rating on an Energy Performance Certificate would lead them to haggle down the purchase price. With the incredible rise in gas and electricity costs over the past couple of years, I can’t say I’m surprised.

Homebuyers – is an environmentally-friendly home really more valuable in your eyes, or is a lousy EPC rating just another unchecked tick box you can use in price negotiations?

Homeowners – sexed-up loft conversion or sensible boiler?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 at 5:56 pm and is filed under Environment, Home improvement. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.