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We’d all be forgiven for trying to save a penny or two by carrying out home improvements ourselves, especially if you’re looking to sell your home. While you can’t really go wrong by adding a link of paint, or upcycling a cabinet or two, when you’re wanting to add value, there are just some jobs that are better left to the professionals. We collaborated with DIY expert, Jo Behari, to give you her top tips when it comes to getting your house sale-ready.
Quick and easy ways to add value to your home
Enhance your kerb appeal
First impressions count for a lot when people come to view your home. You’re selling a dream, a new beginning to prospective buyers, and what adds value to a house, is a buyer believing it’s worth their investment because they can see themselves living there. Making simple home improvements like painting your front door, adding pretty plants to your front garden or repainting your staircase to give your hallway the wow factor can all help with first impressions, without breaking the bank. Improving the first impressions of your house can also help speed up finding a buyer and reduce the time it takes to sell.
"Hallways should be bright, airy and clear of clutter. Adding plants, even if they’re artificial, can help freshen up the area. It’s worth painting the front door a bright neutral colour too, or even investing in new door furniture."
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Jo Behari
February 21st 2023
Improve your garden
Together with any spaces at the front of your home, a charmingly landscaped back garden could add as much as 10% to the value of your home. Mow the lawn, make sure your flower beds are blooming, rake up the leaves, put down decking and add in some garden furniture. All of these small changes will help spark your potential buyer’s imagination of them entertaining guests and relaxing in the space on a pleasant summers day.
"Clear any garden clutter, paint unkempt fences and, if you have evening viewings, ensure you have enough light in your outdoor areas – even if that means putting some cost-effective solar lights around your garden in the interim. It’s a good idea to show an outdoor eating space too, in the form of a bistro or patio set."
Jo Behari
February 21st 2023
Increase storage space
Most of us have busy lives that are filled with lots of necessities and possessions, be it pushchairs, clothes, sports equipment, musical instruments or boxes of childhood keepsakes you can’t bear to throw away. Storage space is one of the things that home buyers really look out for, so take advantage of any wasted space, add boards to your loft and add more kitchen cupboards if you have unused space on the wall.
"Leaving lots of stuff lying around can lead people to think you have no storage. Clear away any clutter and use a storage unit, even if just for a short space of time, if you need to. Another great tip is to hide bits and pieces in the back of your car during a viewing, as buyers love to investigate every nook and cranny."
Jo Behari
February 21st 2023
Spruce up indoors
It’s tough to put an exact number on how to improve the value of your home with little touches and easy fixes, but it could be anything between 5% to 10%. Whether you’re redecorating with neutral paint throughout your home, decluttering, fixing dripping taps, upgrading your lighting, carrying out minor repairs, or re-grouting bathroom tiles, every little change could make a big difference to a buyer. You could even reopen original fireplaces or sand your floorboards to go that step further.
To delve deeper, consider this: investing around £1,000 in professional decoration services could potentially add £5,000 to your property’s value. This is more than just an aesthetic upgrade—it's a financial strategy that pays dividends. The importance of kerb appeal cannot be overstated, as first impressions are crucial when attracting potential buyers. By presenting a fresh, well-maintained exterior, you enhance your home's marketability and perceived value.
Ultimately, these improvements not only increase buyer interest but also position your property competitively in the market. Think of each enhancement as a strategic move towards a more attractive, valuable home.
"If you have lots of bold colours around your home, consider switching it up to a more neutral scheme that offers buyers a blank canvas."
Jo Behari
February 21st 2023
Bigger and bolder home improvements
Install a new kitchen
Approximately 65% of UK homeowners renovate their kitchen before selling, and while this can involve a simple makeover, going all-out if you have the funds could prove to be very profitable. Side-return kitchen extensions are very popular in terraced and semi-detached houses, with the average cost coming in at around £1,500 per square metre. As it could add 15% to the value of your home, it could be a sound investment, while you may even decide to go for a two-storey extension, adding around 50% more to your single-storey cost.
Build a conservatory
The cost of a conservatory varies significantly depending on how big your plans are, but it could add as much as 10% to your home’s value either way. You may be able to get a relatively simple option for less than £6,000, while a stylish orangery can be upwards of £20,000. This could still prove to be great value though, and adding a greater synergy between your garden and indoor living space is a wonderful way to help with selling your house.
Convert your cellar
Adding more living or useable space by converting a cellar is often much cheaper than doing up your attic, with the average UK cost at only around £1,200. You may choose to splash out a lot more than that, in which case you may find you’re able to add as much as 30% to your house value, making it one of the best ways to improve the value of your home.
Convert your garage
Possible without the need for planning permission under permitted development rules, converting your garage into living space can be a great idea, especially if you have extra parking space on your drive. With the potential to add up to 15% to your home’s value, the cost of a garage conversion varies depending on whether you have an integral, attached, or detached garage. An integral conversion could cost as little as £650 per square metre, while a detached conversion is likely to be in the region of £1,300 to £1,500 per square metre.
House renovations to add the most value to your home
Add a loft conversion
Loft conversions are a hugely popular way to add an extra bedroom to a house and could boost your home’s value by 15%. You can typically expect to pay £500 to £600 per square metre for a conversion, with an average spend of £20,000 to £25,000. An additional bedroom can open up your home as an option to larger families and many more prospective buyers, while conversions with an en suite are only going to see your house value climb even higher.
Maximise Value with an Ensuite Addition
Adding an ensuite bathroom is a smart strategy to further enhance your home's appeal and value. By carving out some space in your master bedroom, you can create an ensuite that not only elevates your living experience but also significantly boosts your property's market value.
Cost and Value: Typically, an ensuite addition might cost around £5,000. However, this investment can yield a substantial return, potentially adding up to £14,525 to the average London home's value.
Timeframe: Such a project is relatively quick, often completed in about 11 days, allowing for a swift transformation and minimal disruption.
By incorporating both a loft conversion and an ensuite, homeowners can capitalize on these upgrades to attract a broader range of buyers and maximise their return on investment.
Splitting your house into flats
If you want to know how to increase the value on your home to really maximise your profits, splitting it into flats could be the best way to go. This is a popular thing to do in London where there’s a huge demand for flats to rent, and could add 30% or more to the value of your house. The average cost to do this is between £15,000 to £25,000, although this figure can vary hugely depending on your property, including its location. Even if you’re spending tens of thousands though, this could prove to be an extremely lucrative way of adding value to your home.
Are you ready to make home improvements?
All these things will improve your potential buyers’ first impression of each room and make them more likely to increase their bid to see off the competition. Whether you’re adding little touches or going for a big extension or conversion, work out how much you need to spend, allowing you to see whether it’s worth your while in terms of adding value to your home.
"There are some things that are better left to the professionals. Damp patches, replastering, electrics, gas and plumbing, for example, can all go horribly wrong if not handled by an expert. It’s worth spending some money getting these elements up to scratch, as it’ll maximise the value of your home and avoid putting buyers off."
Jo Behari
February 21st 2023
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