What are the best ways to add value to your property?

Have you resolved to improve your home this year? The events of 2020 drove a boom in renovations as Brits used their extra spare time to make things more comfortable. Not all home improvements offer the same returns when the time comes to sell up, however.

From extensions to interior makeovers, significant changes rarely come cheap either, so you may want to consider various financial options. Below we discuss five of the best ways to enhance your surroundings and add real value to your property.       

Convert your loft

Adding a bedroom is usually a safe bet for adding value, providing you don’t detract from any existing spaces. Do you have a redundant loft that’s waiting to be transformed?

Options range from simple roof light conversions to pricier mansard conversions that require more complicated structural work. If you can, incorporate an en-suite bathroom into your plans to improve comfort and convenience and maximise your returns.  

Most loft conversions are classed as permitted developments and don’t require planning permission as they use what’s already there – but it’s always a good idea to check with your local authority before pressing ahead.

Extend the kitchen

An open-plan kitchen is the heart of the modern home and an increasingly attractive feature for buyers. If yours is small or shut off from the rest of the home, consider knocking through an internal wall or building an extension.

Single-storey side-return extensions can be a smart option for terraced and semi-detached properties and are usually permitted developments. Just make sure to replace any lost natural light with roof lights or a glazed roof.

Add living space

From converting a garage or cellar to adding a conservatory, there are several ways to lure buyers in by adding valuable living space to a property.

It could make sense to transform your garage if you have a parking space outside anyway, and converting a cellar won’t require planning permission unless you live in a listed building, while conservatories increase the listed measurements of your property.    

Update your central heating

Efficient heating can reduce energy bills and appeal to the modern buyer’s environmental expectations. Having a new heating system installed is also a disruptive process that many buyers will pay more to avoid undergoing themselves. 

Alongside a new boiler and radiators, you can also improve efficiency by sealing drafts, replacing windows and adding loft insulation.

Enhance outdoor areas

Having impressive outdoor space can help to seal a deal, especially given people’s collective experiences in lockdown. A simple tidy up may go a long way, while larger landscaping projects could create new possibilities for relaxing and entertaining.

And from a neat driveway to an attractive front door, make sure to enhance your property’s kerb appeal too.  

Could any of these tactics suit your property? Research the most appropriate options further and see how much value you can add.