What are the most valuable home improvements you can make?
Taking steps to improve your property during your ownership is essential to avoiding costly repairs and maintaining its worth and will establish a nicer environment in which to live. The best improvements will also add value and help you get a greater return on your investment when you come to sell.
Before starting work, consider getting a professional property valuation to understand what your home is worth and discuss how your changes could impact this figure. This will help you identify key areas for improvement, so you get the most out of your money and effort.
- Convert your loft
Especially in overcrowded cities such as London where space is at a premium, finding ways to create additional square footage will significantly boost the value of your property. Extensions can be costly and time-consuming – and are at risk of being turned down – while loft conversions are relatively easy to complete and add another multipurpose room.
- Update the bathrooms
The rooms that date most quickly are bathrooms. Used daily, sometimes by multiple people, they see a lot of wear and tear over a short time, and features such as showers are constantly being developed. Making minor updates can make your bathrooms look more luxurious and worth spending more on.
Renew old tiles with marble-look materials, install a towel rail and upgrade your appliances with eco-friendly features such as a dual-flush system or low-flow taps. Upgrading from an old shower cubicle to a wet room or shower-over-bath is more costly but worth the investment.
- Upgrade the kitchen
In most households, the kitchen is the heart of the home, especially if you have an open-plan living area. Making this room brighter and more spacious and repainting it in a warm and welcoming shade will go a long way to helping you sell your property for more money. If it’s within your budget, fitting smart appliances is a great touch.
- Prioritise efficiency
As energy bills continue to soar, consumers are increasingly concerned with energy efficiency. Raise your EPC rating by improving your insulation to help keep heat inside: examples include refitting windows with superior glazing and frames and adding materials to your walls and roof cavity. You can also look at swapping your existing heating system for an eco-friendly alternative.
- Enhance kerb appeal
Finally, remember that buyers are just as concerned with the external appearance of a property as with the rooms inside. A garden is one of the top features homebuyers look for when viewing properties, so keep this well-maintained and add a patio and seating area. You should also ensure your home is structurally sound with no missing roof tiles or damaged walls.
