With many people feeling the effects of the credit crunch, it seems that a large number of home owners are deciding against selling their properties at the moment.
For some, it seems that a better option is to spend money on their houses, hoping to make them more pleasant places to live, while also increasing their value.
Do this make sense? It certainly seems sensible to expect that any attempt to maximise the value of a property must be a good thing.
By increasing the value compared to other properties of a similar size, this offers to opportunity to benefit once property price reach higher levels.
So is it simply a case of spending money on a property and then waiting for it to increase in value? Sadly, it's not quite this easy.
When it comes to home improvements there's no doubt that some are more desirable than others.
If you're on a limited budget then you'll need to give careful thought to where you will target your spending.
Which rooms will have the greatest impact, both in terms of your own lifestyle and when it comes to selling your home in years to come? Classically, many people look to improve the kitchen and the bathroom.
Kitchens and bathrooms are seen as two rooms of the house where improvements can help to increase the value of a property.
While this is true, it's also the case that you need to avoid making big, expensive mistakes.
You should probably avoid, for example, buying pieces of furniture that are very particular to you if part of your aim is to make the house more desirable to potential buyers in the future.
It's always worth considering whether you are making improvements that will appeal to others, or whether you are concentrating only on your own personal tastes.
Don't forget to take a look at your living room too.
So many people overlook this vital room of the home.
The reason that it's so important is because many families spend a lot of time here, whether it be quality family time or as a location for hosting guests.
Either way, it's a room that tends to have an instant impact.
You need to ask yourself whether your living room is currently having a positive impact.
If not, this could be a chance to add a bit of style to the room.
You might consider, for instance, installing a contemporary electric fireplace.
More and more home owners are looking to have them in their properties and not simply as a means of heating a room.
They can provide excellent focal points, giving visitors to your home something unique that they're likely to remember.
It's worth looking to add a sense of style to your whole home.
You won't just be creating a more pleasant place to live - you may also be increasing the value of your property.