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How add value to your home
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From a lick of paint to sprucing up your garden to loft extensions, there are plenty of ways to make your home a top seller. We’ve teamed up with experts at the HomeOwners Alliance to reveal 10 ways to add value to your property.
Significant home improvements are expensive, so it’s important to consider how your plans will add value to your home.
If you have lots of plans for home improvements, it makes sense to focus on projects that will also add value. That way what you spend now will be reflected in the price of your property when you sell.
But what adds value to a house? The HomeOwners Alliance asked more than 300 members of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and estate agent members of the Guild of Property Professionals which projects will add value to your house. Here’s what they revealed:
1. Knock down a wall for open-plan living
The research found that removing an internal wall to create an open-plan kitchen and diner was the best way to add value to your home. It should also make your home more pleasant to live in, with an increasing number of us opting for open-plan living.
Knocking down walls means more communal spaces where families can enjoy quality time together, whether that’s chatting while dinner is cooked or keeping an eye on kids while they do their homework.
Best of all, this is a relatively simple project that most builders can complete in under a week.
Boydens tip: Always seek professional advice – many walls are load-bearing!
2. Build a garden room
Another option is to add another living space outside – whether it’s a self-contained annexe, a home office or yoga studio, adding a garden room will boost your property’s selling potential considerably. Boydens tip: It may not add as much value as an extension, but a garden room will take considerably less time to build.
3. Spruce up your kitchen
A new kitchen isn’t just a treat for you, it can also significantly boost the value of your home. Putting in a new worktop, cabinet doors or floor doesn’t have to break the bank if you shop around.
Boydens tip: There are plenty of second-hand, recycled kitchens on the market for a fraction of the original price.
4. Create a downstairs loo
A downstairs toilet is a big attraction to a variety of different buyers. Adding one will make your home attractive to young families with children, those who like entertaining and don’t want guests wandering upstairs, to older buyers who might be looking to future proof their homes.
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So, turning wasted space such as an understairs cupboard into a loo can add value to your home. This is a great project if you have a limited budget. For a relatively small outlay, you could add a significant amount to your home’s value.
Boydens tip: If space is tight, opt for a wall-mounted basin and toilet.
5. Make way for an ensuite
Another way to add extra bathroom space is to carve some space out of your master bedroom to create an ensuite.
Boydens tip: Existing plumbing and available space will pretty much determine whether you can have an ensuite.
6. Create a parking space
While green front gardens have kerbside appeal, if parking is at a premium in your neighbourhood, then paving over part of your front garden to create space for off road parking could significantly boost your home’s value. A parking space can add as much as 13% to the value of your home, according to Direct Line.
You’ll need to check with your local council to see if you need planning permission to do this. Usually, if your home isn’t on an A or B road you won’t need permission, but you will have to comply with your local authority’s regulations on dropping the kerb.
Boydens tip: Creating a parking bay or driveway could add 10% to the value of a property (source: YourParkingSpace.co.uk).
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7. Spruce up your back garden
Gardens are often overlooked when property projects are concerned but ploughing some money into your green space can be rewarding. Analysis has found that adding decking and lighting to your back garden can really boost the asking price when a property goes on the market.
Boydens tip: Composite decking requires less maintenance and has a longer lifespan than other decks, which can be a selling point.
8. Decorate
If you are planning to put your property on the market, make sure you give it a fresh lick of paint first. Don’t under-estimate the importance of kerb appeal by updating the exterior of your home. Getting professionals in could set you back around £1,000, but it could add £5,000 to your home’s value, according to TV property expert Phil Spencer.
Boydens tip: A neutral colour scheme will make it easier to sell your property.
9. Convert your loft
Homeowners looking to add floor space could significantly add value to their home. Loft conversions cost around £20,000 on average but they could boost your home’s value by double that amount, according to Phil.
Boydens tip: Consider the layout of your completed loft conversion long before you get the experts in to start work. Home
10. Get planning permission
If you are preparing to sell your home and can’t afford a big project to boost the value, you could consider just getting the planning permission. Buyers are prepared to pay quite a premium to avoid the paperwork involved in an extension and to know red tape won’t stand in the way of their plans and allowing them to start work the minute they pick up the keys. Submitting a basic planning application costs up to £400 but could add as much as 10% to the value of your home, according to insurance firm Hamilton Fraser.
Boydens tip: Get pre-application advice from your local planning authority.
And finally, before you start, ask the experts
Improving your home to make it more enjoyable is a benefit for you and your family today. Opting for a project that will also give you a big financial boost when you sell only adds to the benefits. However, if your primary aim is to add value to your home then you should consult an expert first to make sure you’ll get a return on your investment. The HomeOwners Alliance is the go-to site for home related expert advice, to help make homeowning a less stressful experience. They provide advice to help people make smart choices at every step of the homeowning journey – whether buying, selling, owning or improving their homes. You can find them at
