Whether or not you plan on selling up, there are many benefits to adding value to your home.
Larger projects such as garage and loft conversions may reap high rewards if you have time and money, but small things can make a surprising difference too. Here are our best ways you can add value to your home.
Redecorate and complete easy upgrades
Redecorating is the most popular home improvement. Giving your home a lick of paint and doing some general maintenance can be done at a very low cost. Fresh paint in modern colours can really give your home a new lease of life. It’s also best to fix any defects, which can create an impression of a house being not well cared for. Things to look out for include:
- Peeling paint
- Marked walls
- Dripping taps
- Squeaky doors, floors or stairs
- Mouldy sealant and limescale in bathrooms or the kitchen
Give your kitchen a makeover
Kitchens are often the focus for buyers, so it may be the first thing they look to replace. 65% of homeowners renovate their kitchens before selling up. You may not be able to afford a whole new kitchen, but there are many smaller ways to improve what you already have.
Replacing cupboard handles or doors are things that can be done on a small budget. Also good lighting and clutter-free, clean surfaces will make a big difference to the feel of the room.
Updating the bathroom(s)
In the bathroom, replacing taps, re-grouting and eliminating all limescale is wise. Bathrooms need to be fresh and hygienic, so paint the walls neutral and replace a shower curtain with a new one or a simple glass screen. 29% of homes sold in 2019 had a new bathroom fitted, so a revamp might be key in selling fast and earning more.
Get gardening
A tidy and well-designed garden can add a great deal of value to a property. It’s a minimum to cut back any overgrown trees or bushes, clear pathways and trim borders. The garden should feel like an extra space for relaxing or entertaining. A decking area gives buyers a sense of more usable living space, especially in sunnier weather.
Be energy efficient
Smart home technologies are increasingly important to buyers. Just advertising the presence of fibre optic cables in your area could be an enticing feature of the home. Also smart technology such as Hive is a feature worth considering – it gives mobile control over heating systems. It may move your EPC up a band, which could add thousands to the sale price. Only 2% of homes sold in 2019 had smart technology installed, so get ahead of the game by future-proofing for potential buyers.
Upgrading the insulation in your roof could reduce heating bills by £210-250 per year, according to Nationwide. Great for both you and your potential buyers.
Bigger projects
Larger projects could involve adding a conservatory or porch, converting a loft or garage, or installing a whole new bathroom or kitchen. A recent survey shows that half of estate agents believe adding a bedroom (usually a loft conversion) adds the most value, while a third thought a new kitchen was the best choice.
Even if you can’t afford an extension or conversion, it might be worth obtaining planning permission to do so at a later date. Money would be spent on drawing up designs and getting a survey, but it would remove a big element from a potential buyer’s mind if they know the council has already approved it.
Whatever you choose to do, it’s best to speak to a local estate agent such as ourselves about the sort of features that make the most difference when selling your home. You can also find out the current value of your property with our instant online valuation service.
