7 ways to add value to your home

3 years ago

Whether you’re looking to sell your property or prepare for the future, there are many ways you can add value to your home. Many of us continue to update our homes gradually since buying them. Whether it’s small modernisations, brand new kitchens or a major house extension.

Adding value to your home doesn’t always have to equal a dramatic (and costly!) home improvement. We’ve taken a look into seven ways to add value to your home.

Before getting started with your home improvement

Before you start knocking down walls or bringing in the builders, if your sole aim is to add value, be sure to ensure true value is being added.

You aren’t always guaranteed massive returns, so it’s important to check with local agents as to whether a major home improvement will help you add value to your property.

If you have a budget in mind but you’re feeling unsure of the costs involved, hiring an estimator will help you to keep that budget under control. There may be elements you can do yourself, but otherwise, it’s important to bring in the professionals for a thorough and timely job. Poor workmanship and a dodgy job can devalue your home! When you’re trying to achieve the opposite!

You must also ensure that all works adhere to any planning and building legislation that may apply. For an extra tip, look to friends and family for recommendations for builders and other professionals.

Now, let’s get started with adding value to your home, with our seven tips.

1. Extend your home

We all want extra space, right? Extending your home can bring a whole new space to enjoy, whether it forms an extra bedroom, living space or even a home office. A nationwide study found that ane extension – when adding an extra bedroom and en-suite bathroom – can add up to 23% to the value of your property.

If there’s anything that lockdown proved, for many of us, we need more space.

It’s important to note that all areas have a ceiling price – the maximum price that people will pay for a house in a specific area. If you’re going to fork out for a house extension, it’s gotta be worth it.

Before you get started: Consider the build costs vs value gain, plus the complexity of the build.

2. Convert your loft

Why convert your loft? Well, if you’re looking to get your new building project underway pretty quickly, you’re in luck. Thankfully, not all loft conversions require planning permission, making your decision to gain that extra space a lot quicker. Another great benefit is you still get to keep your garden space! Where extending your home eats into your garden space, building upwards allows you to keep that much appreciated outdoor space.

Another great perk of a loft conversion: Bringing in a team to build an extension can often be a disruptive affair. Thankfully, choosing to convert your loft instead will leave the rest of your home untouched – so you can continue your usual everyday life, uninterrupted.

3. Add a new heating system

If you’re looking to avoid a structural overhaul, adding a new heating system to your home can really rack up the value. Plenty of older properties either have no central heating system at all. Or… Have old fashioned systems that could do with an update.

Alongside modern bathrooms and kitchens, a new boiler and central heating system are some of the most profitable improvements to make to your home.

4. Renovate your fireplace

While central heating and a new boiler can help to keep your house warm throughout, there’s nothing quite like sitting next to a roaring fire. It doesn’t have to be a log fire however, with plenty of new-generation, self-lighting models available for that extra wow factor. Your fireplace can quickly become the focal point of your living room, drawing potential buyers in when you’re looking to sell!

Top tip: When choosing the right fireplace for your home, be sure to pay attention to your property’s character and style for the perfect fit.

5. Update your kitchen

We recently covered how upgrading your kitchen can add value to your home, and we’re about to tell you why! Second in Halifax’s list of home improvements most likely to add value to your property is a modern fitted kitchen. With plenty of opportunities to save money on your new kitchen – there is plenty of profit to be made when you’re looking to sell your home.

The trick is: Ensure the money you spend is in proportion to the value of your home.

6. Give your home’s exterior a once-over

Buyers often decide as to whether they like a home before they’ve stepped inside. Paying attention to the exterior (or ‘kerb appeal’) of your property can reap rewards in terms of saleability.

Pay close attention to the character of your property when choosing a front door. Plus, maintenance is key! Including guttering and drains, rendering or paintwork and any fences or gates.

7. Refresh your flooring

Flooring can make a huge impact to the overall feel and value of your home. Unattractive or dated carpets are an instant sign that your home needs updating.

Refreshing the flooring throughout your home can make a huge difference upon entering too. Work your way around your property, modernising as you do while maintaining your property’s character.

Work that can decrease the value of your home

While we’ve covered plenty of home improvement projects you can do to add value to your home, there are some things we recommend you avoid.

Don’t DIY if you can’t DIY. – If you’re not an experienced DIYer, don’t you dare pick up that hammer! Only undertake home improvements if you know you can do the job well. Otherwise, a dodgy looking finish will decrease your home’s value.
Don’t get rid of a bedroom. – While it may be tempting to merge two bedrooms and replace a bedroom with a bathroom, when you’re looking to sell, bedrooms are sought after.
Don’t forget to maintain your home. – Don’t let your home fall into disrepair, as this can result in damp, mould, leaks and missing/loose tiles etc. Be sure to keep on top of your guttering especially, or it could result in waterlogged foundations.

Are you looking to add value to your home?

If you’re considering a house extension or renovation, we can help you to keep your budget under control. Supplying you with an accurate breakdown of the costs involved, so you know exactly where you’re money is going.

Get in touch for a free estimate. Or speak to our friendly team to find out more on how we can help you add value to your home.

www.nestestimating.co.uk

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I come across many old houses, such as the one you describe, that may seem like lost causes but have huge potential. When building to the back, many home owners think about the additional space they will gain, but don’t consider the impact the extension will have on existing spaces within the house. In the past, when they did think about light, they did such things as leaving the window in the old room to try to deflect some light from the new room. This led to unsightly extensions that looked as though they were lobbed onto the back of a house without becoming part of it. Generally, I would advise locating a new living, dining space and kitchen in the extension to the rear, and opening that room to the back garden through floor-to-ceiling glazing and doors. This will allow the natural daylight to flood the space and, importantly, provide you with a visual connection to the garden. When adding an extension to the back, though, you must remember that it will create a“middle area”, which is generally dark. My suggestion here is to put a lavatory or utility room, or both, into this space—these are two rooms that don’t need lots of light but can be valuable in your home. Another option would be to light the middle area by incorporating a roof window into the new extension, which will help to direct light into the darker spaces. The type of roof window to be installed will depend on the roof it is to be inserted into. For example, is it flat or pitched roof? We tend to use flat roofs as, unlike pitched roofs, they don’t break the eye line from your first-floor rear windows. Before you build an extension, though, you must ask if your house really needs it. Another option is to forgo the extension and any demolition and brighten up the existing rooms. There are clever tricks to transform a dark space. First, the use of lighter paint colours can help to create a brighter feel to the space and would be the least expensive way to approach the problem, although the end result will be limited. Avoid dark bulky furniture. You would be amazed at how much visual weight it adds to your space. For example, if you have a dark dresser, try swapping it with a lighter-toned table that has legs so that you can see the floor. Third,well-placed mirrors can visually expand a room and reflect light, making any space feel bigger and brighter. The dark feel of a house is often intensified by clutter. If you want a bright room, you should consider embracing minimalism. Good luck with your new home, and have fun in whatever you decide to do. Mark Davies is co-director of Arc Design; www.arcdesign.ie
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7 ways to add value to your home

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