Refurbishment Tips

Mind the Gap

Nature abhors a vacuum and so do landlords, as an empty apartment is an unprofitable one, but sometimes there may be an unavoidable gap between lets while the apartment undergoes some necessary refurbishment work. While trying to make this time as short as possible, the landlord may run up against the problem of trying to let a property that smells strongly of paint, thinners and various cleaning solutions.

Refurbishment Tips

Watching Paint Dry

Now whilst walking into a freshly painted room may be a pleasing experience to begin with, it won’t be long before the odour of drying chemicals becomes oppressive and perhaps even a health concern. Who then in the twenty first century, would have thought that the humble onion would be part of the modern landlord’s toolkit? as he or she strives to get the best return out of a property.

Know Your Onions

Ever wonder why onions are used so much in cooking? Well it’s because they use their thin membranes to absorb and hold flavour, which also gives them natural odour busting properties. From a position in the middle of the room, half an onion will absorb paint fumes, animal smells and even smoke. This doesn’t mean that the room will now smell like a hotdog stand because the onion is too busy absorbing smells to give out any of its own.

Copper-Bottomed

Speaking of hotdogs, a portion of tomato ketchup is all you need to bring the shine back into those once bright copper pans that used to be such an eye-catching presence as they hung from your kitchen hooks, but now languish in exile under the sink. Silverware also benefits from their acidic, but relatively odour-free cleaning properties. Use a pastry brush to apply a thin layer on the tarnished item, leave for ten minutes or so and then wipe clean. The shine from your copper/silver ware will only be matched by the glow of pure virtue that comes with the avoidance of those planet-wrecking chemicals that we are constantly urged to buy in order to keep our homes in tip-top condition. Your accountant will also be impressed by this cheap-as-chips (sorry, couldn’t resist!) demonstration of your green credentials.

Refurbishment Help

Refurbishment of a home needn’t cost the earth, although it pays to do some homework first.  See some of our refurbishment projects here

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Refurbishment Specialist

Author: Amar Tufail

As a part of the core team at InStyle Direct since 2008, I have worked on hundreds of property refurbishment and furnishing projects for the company. I've worked with a diverse group of clients, from private landlords and homeowners to leading property developers, such as Berkeley, Barratt London, Mount Anvil and many more. Whether transforming an older property into a modern residence with the latest EPC upgrades, introducing an open-plan layout or optimising floor space by creating a new room, renovations and refurbishments are a great way to enhance a property's appeal and value potential. However, every pound invested in upgrading a home should yield results, and therefore, I advise clients on the most cost-effective solutions to get the job done. Once the client is clear on what is needed and comfortable with the allocated budget, I collaborate and work closely with our in-house team of designers, architects, and suppliers, as well as the plumbers, electricians, and on-ground staff working towards a collective goal. Despite my managerial background in the fashion industry, I enjoy the creative side of my role, which includes reconfiguring and transforming properties into sought-after rentals and showhomes. Helping overseas clients create their dream homes in London brings me great joy. I'm also fluent in Hindi and Urdu, which helps when working with overseas clients. In my 17 years with InStyle Direct, I have witnessed several rental and sale successes achieved with the right refurbishment and furnishing solutions. Since I've been a part of many of them, I would like to share some of my specialist insights with you in this section.

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