5 proven ways to add value to your home

Part of the joy of owning your own home is that you are free to improve upon it and style it to suit your personality.

Obviously this takes money and if it is your first home you might not have the available funds, but if you are renovating a property with a view to selling it at some point, it is worth considering how any work you do impacts on the resale price.

Some home improvements are more costly than others, but whatever tasks you elect to do, think about whether they will add value, or not.

This isn’t such an issue if you are planning on staying put for twenty years, but if you think you may need to upgrade to a larger house or new area within two or three years, it is prudent to stick to home improvements that actually add value. So what are your options?

New Kitchen or Bathroom

Splashing out on a new kitchen or bathroom is worth doing if the existing ones are old-fashioned or in a terrible state. The great thing is that you don’t need to spend a fortune to make a big difference to your home. DIY stores sell cheap kitchens and if you are skilled at DIY, you will be able to do most of the work yourself. The only thing to remember here is that you shouldn’t spend more than the house is worth. Or in other words, don’t bother installing a top-of-the-range designer kitchen in a tiny terrace because you will never get your money back when you come to sell.

Loft Conversion

Loft conversions are a relatively cheap way of adding extra living space to a smaller property. As long as your loft is suitable for conversion, it won’t cost too much to have it turned into a bedroom, playroom, office or living area. Velux windows are perfect for attic conversions, but if the roof is very high, look at electric window openers from Teal Products.

Cellar Conversion

Cellar conversions are more difficult from a technical perspective, but in inner city areas where there isn’t the space to extend outwards, a cellar conversion will give you scope for a large and very spacious extension.

Ground Floor Extension

Bog-standard ground floor extensions will add value only if you don’t sacrifice your garden for the sake of an extra living room. If you lose more than one third of the available garden space for the sake of an extra room, the house will be less attractive to future buyers, so tread carefully.

Conservatory

Conservatories are always popular, but they can be restrictive in terms of how much you can use the extra space. Conservatories are often cold in winter and too hot in the summer. However, investing in a better quality, insulated conservatory will help to solve these issues. Always get several quotes from reputable contractors before embarking on expensive home improvement projects, and if you are extending out or down, check whether you need planning permission before you begin.