We shell out a lot of money to bring our dreams of stepping onto the property ladder into reality. When you’ve got the house, it shouldn’t stop there. You should want to find ways of adding value to your home. From decorating to extensions, there are lots of things you could do as a homeowner. Let’s look at a few ways where you can add value to your home easily.
Curb Appeal
You only get one chance to make a first impression. How your home looks from the outside is of massive importance. From well tended gardens and borders to newly painted walls, you can add value with some really easy jobs. Having colourful pot plants by the front door and the rubbish bins hidden away, perhaps in a wheelie bin shed, help to give that first positive impact.
Off Road Parking
The driveway is also a huge plus point. Having at least one parking space is ideal but can you take a section out of the front garden to make a second or third space? You can still keep some green space but having a larger driveway will certainly add value to your property.
Open Plan Living Space
It’s reported that having an open plan living space can add 5% value to your home. Removing a wall between your kitchen and living room can add more light, a warmer welcome and a feeling of a much larger space. It’s not for everyone and not necessarily easy to do. You can’t just go hammer and tong at a wall. It could a load bearing wall which will mean more work and possibly getting the professionals in. You need to consider the journey through the space too. Give it an edge and bring it to life with solid wood flooring.
Add A Conservatory
Bring a little bit of the outside in with a conservatory. This can add as much as 10% to the value of your home. There are a whole host of options for your conservatory and a whole host of uses too. It could be somewhere to just sit with a book or perhaps it could be an area for the children to enjoy. Whatever it is you need to consider how it will be heated and also features such as self cleaning glass.
A Kitchen Makeover
A new kitchen could add up to 10% value to your home but you need to be careful not to overspend. The more you spend on the kitchen, the more you might expect it to add value, but it won’t necessarily. There is a ceiling to the amount of value it will add. If the current kitchen is in good condition, new doors, a lick of paint and maybe new white goods can help make it great. If it’s dated, you’re probably best to start from scratch.
Conversions
Turning your loft into a bedroom can add up to 15% to the value of your home. If it includes an en suite, even better! The majority of loft conversations are considered permitted development however it’s always best to check before you start any work. There are many types of loft conversions available, from cost effective to expensive. Another space you could convert is a cellar. A lot of houses have cellars and some even have cellars they don’t know are there. Converting a cellar into a living space could add 30% to the value of your home!
Turn Your Garage Into A Living Space
Many of us don’t use our garage for the intended purpose of a vehicle. We sometimes use it as a dumping ground and somewhere for the chest freezer. If you can turn your garage into part of your living space, you can add value. It could be a home office, a playroom, a utility space with a downstairs toilet. You don’t even need to convert the whole thing, you could leave a section at the front for tools and that pesky chest freezer!
Update Your Bathroom
A new bathroom can add value to your property but it can also cost. One way to avoid extra cost is to use the same layout, meaning that pipework doesn’t need to be shifted around. You can save money by choosing a complete suite instead of individual items as you get a cheaper package deal. Shop in seasonal sales in order to save even more!
As you can see, there are ways to add value to your home. From a lick of paint and mowing the lawn to conversions and conservatories. Make your house a home and add plenty of value at the same time.
