How to add value to your house

If you watch any of the home improvement shows on the TV, you’ll be familiar with the concept of adding value to your home by refreshing or upgrading various aspects of the property.

But while this is a great way to keep your investment working hard for you, make sure you create a house you love while you still live there too.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of ideas, from large scale renovations to smaller scale tweaks to give you some value-add ideas for now and in the future.

Larger home improvements

Build an extension

Need extra living space? An extension could be the answer. Whether you simply add an additional room downstairs or you double the footprint of your home by building out two storeys, extensions come in all shapes and sizes, and done well, can significantly increase the value of your home.

Convert your loft space

Loft conversions are a popular way of creating additional space within your home, whether you use it for guest space, a child’s bedroom or even a home gym. Look around your street to get ideas from what the neighbours have done or speak to an architect to find out what’s possible.

Update your kitchen

It may be one of the most logistically difficult rooms to refurbish, but there’s no getting away from the fact that when a house is valued the condition of the kitchen is taken into account. And not only that a swish new kitchen adds ‘wow’ factor to a property and makes it a lot more appealing to potential buyers, not least because they won’t have to face the hassle of replacing it themselves.

Replace the bathroom suite

Just as with a newly refurbished kitchen, a nice clean bathroom, preferably with a fresh white suite, will make people more likely to snap up your home when you come to sell it. Again, it’s a tricky room to manage without during the refurbishment, but it’ll be worth it while you still live there and will almost certainly add value to the property too.

Add a conservatory

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to add additional living space to your home is through the addition of a conservatory. There are plenty of styles, catering for all tastes and budgets, and increasing the footprint will almost certainly increase the value of your home too.

Add an ensuite

En-suites are great for convenience, not to mention privacy for parents. Not only do they reduce the morning shower queues, they allow you to create your own haven while the kids trash the main bathroom! If you have a large master bedroom, have you ever thought about trimming a bit of space off the side to make room for a small shower room?  

Focus on kerb appeal

First impressions count for a lot when it comes to selling a house, so why not focus your energies (and budget) on the outside.

New windows and front door

New windows and doors can give a property an instant facelift, changing the appearance dramatically and really tidying things up. As a bonus, they’ll likely improve energy-efficiency and security too – all of which could add value and appeal to your property.

Tidy up the driveway

Block paved? Tarmacked? Gravel? There’s nothing like pulling up onto a neat and tidy driveway. It suggests a home that’s well looked after and loved.  And to potential buyers it suggests a house that its crying out to be lived in.

Add storage via a porch

While not the most exciting of rooms, a new porch could add more to your property than you might think. Not only will it provide shelter while you’re looking to your keys in the rain and much needed storage for kids’ boots and wet rain jackets, done right, it really can lift the look of your property. And think of all the stuff that will no longer be cluttering up your hallway.

Smaller home improvements

But what if you can’t or don’t want to spend time and money on larger renovations or home improvements? Don’t worry! There are plenty of ways you can improve the look and feel of your home and make it more appealing to potential buyers without breaking the bank.

Add mirrors and light fittings

Give the illusion of light and space to help average-sized rooms appear bigger. Statement light fittings and large modern mirrors are bang on trend right now and really can bring the ‘wow’ factor for anyone viewing your property.

Declutter

The interior designers might call it ‘staging’, but we simply call it clearing away the clutter and making things look tidier. Either way, having less ‘stuff’ around your home can make it appear bigger. And starting to clear out things you haven’t used for a while will definitely come in handy when it comes to packing and moving down the line.

Freshen things up a bit

It’s amazing how much difference a lick of fresh paint can make. If you hope to put your property on the market in the near future, it’s advisable stick to neutral colours and add accessories and soft furnishings to inject some pops of colour instead. That way potential buyers will be able to picture themselves moving straight in,  hassle-free.

Tackle the garden

Finish your home off nicely and make it far more attractive to prospective buyers by creating focused, multi-use spaces and low maintenance flower bed. Speak with a landscape gardener for value-adding ideas.

It’s important to note that if you choose to do work on your house in the hopes of adding value, it’s vital you carry everything out well and within regulation. Shoddy workmanship or rushed DIY can actually devalue your home<link to 5 home improvements that could actually devalue your home>.

Are you considering remortgaging to raise capital to fund your home improvements? Why not speak to one of our expert adviser to find out what your options are?