A recent survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)  showed that a growing number of homeowners are opting to stay and make improvements to their existing properties rather than move.

Given the current economic climate, it is not surprising that homeowners feel the need to increase the value and saleability of their homes. Whilst it may be a great time to buy,  (if you have sufficient savings for a deposit) it’s arguably not the best time to be selling property but making a few choice investments on home improvements is proving popular for many and could be a prudent longer term investment.

A change of decor can breathe new life into a property, so if you’re resigned to staying somewhere for a few more years until ‘things pick up’ then a makeover can be a saving grace. Changing colour schemes or adding a feature wallpaper to a room can make a huge difference. Changing your internal doors is another way of instantly transforming a property.

Understandably, homeowners are avoiding (or at least postponing) the likely feelings of dejection and despair that can arise when you put your beloved home up for sale in a slow market. Instead, for many of us the answer is to stick with what we’ve got but apply some TLC. Pick something that you will appreciate and enjoy without going overboard. Remember, what appeals to you may not be the tastes of potential buyers so staying within the theme of the property and not being too ‘off the wall’ is always recommended if the longer term strategy is to sell up once the market recovers.