Don't move... improve

It's never been easier to get stuck into a bit of DIY – our televisions offer regular advice in the shape of do-up-your-house TV shows and there's a DIY shop on almost every corner. Whether it's slapping up a bit of new wallpaper or converting the garage, we're a nation of DIY-ers and can't help getting stuck in. And if you thought the current downturn in the housing market would diminish our appetite for home improvement you'd be wrong. According to research published by Uswitch.com earlier this year, personal loan applications for home improvements continue to rise. It looks as if increasingly people are putting off moving house and opting to make their current home more comfortable instead.

Of course if you're planning home improvements, a bit of financial help with all those tins of magnolia can be very useful. Perhaps you want to get the garden sorted, or tidy up your drive? A Bank of Scotland loan, starting from as little as £1,000, may help with the extra expense. The most basic of repairs and smartening up of the paint work could also make all the difference to the value of your home. Bank of Scotland research shows that even in the current market over a quarter of homeowners (28%) plan to undertake home improvements in the next few years to add value to their property. A modern fitted kitchen and bathroom are the things most likely to increase the sale price of a home when it comes to improvements.

So take a long hard look at your place and picture your home with that statement wallpaper you've always wanted, the storage space your clutter longs for and the shocking pink woodwork that Lawrence Lewellyn-Bowen would just die for.

Home improvements don't have to be just about changing the look and feel of your home. These days we're all focussing more on economising a little and some smart expenditure on simple alterations to your home could mean savings for many years to come. With the recent introduction of Energy Performance Certificates for all houses being sold it makes sense to make your home more energy efficient if you're planning to sell too.

A relatively easy first fix is loft insulation. If you have no loft insulation 15%* of your heat could be disappearing up through the roof Installing the recommended 270mm* thickness of insulating foam is a pretty straight forward DIY job and could save you around £205 a year*.

Many older homes have external walls that consist of two layers with a gap between them. Cavity wall insulation - filling the gap - will substantially decrease the amount of lost heat and could save you around £160* a year.

If you've got draughty windows you might want to consider replacing them or having double glazing fitted. Typically this reduces heat lost through windows by half. And finally, think about your boiler. New condenser boilers are far more energy efficient than older models. Fitting a new one could save you several hundred pounds a year. Both of these options are more expensive investments, so a Bank of Scotland personal loan could be just the ticket for getting together the extra funds to install them. Over the long term you should see the rewards in substantially lower fuel bills and a far warmer house!

No matter what level of love and attention your beloved home needs, with Bank of Scotland, you can borrow up to £25,000, with a range of Personal loan rates and terms depending on your circumstances.

*Statistic quoted from the Energy Saving Trust, correct at November 2008.

As security for your loan, we have a right of set-off. Bank of Scotland plc. Registered in Scotland No. SC327000. Registered office: The Mound, Edinburgh, EH1 1YZ