Knowing exactly what you need to do when you are remodeling, decorating, renovating or updating your home is very useful when it comes to ensuring that you are increasing its value. There are certain projects that are guaranteed to boost your home’s curb appeal. Luckily, many of these projects don’t have to break the bank and don’t take a large amount of time to carry out.
If your plan is to work yourself up the property ladder, then it definitely pays to know what home improvements will add to your property value and how they do so. This is also worth knowing if you have planned to make this property your forever home, as it can help you establish the projects that are worthwhile and make commercial sense.
There are many big projects that are obvious choices when it comes to adding value (a new kitchen or an extension), but there are many basic cosmetic and structural repairs that shouldn’t be forgotten about. To help, here are eight things that you can do to increase the value of your property.
Solve Any Structural Problems
Ensuring that any structural problems in your home are fixed before you decide to do any cosmetic work on the building is highly advised. If you have issues with your home’s structure, then you need to be prepared to spend a lot to fix it.
When it comes to adding value to your property, fixing these defects is essential. Examples are rising damp, a leaking or sagging roof, cracks in the walls, bowing walls, infestations, broken or missing roof tiles, and a collapsed floor. If you are unsure about any of these defects, then speak to a professional (such as a surveyor, structural engineer, or builder).
Update Your Central Heating
Depending on the age of your house, making sure it has central heating or the system is up to date is highly advised when it comes to increasing your property value. Also, making improvements to the energy efficiency of your home is another great idea.
Examples of how you can do this include sealing any drafts that may be coming through the windows and doors, replacing windows with double glazing, and installing insulation in the attic space. You should also think about replacing the boiler if its capacity isn’t sufficient.
Do Some Gardening
Since buying a house, you may have let the garden do its own thing. Making sure the garden is well designed doesn’t only make it more attractive, but it can also add value to your property. Adding fences and improving how secluded your garden is can be very beneficial for the price of your home, as people love to have privacy in their gardens. Making sure shrubbery and mature trees are tidy, there are no weeds, the grass is well looked after, and a variety of plants add color are simple yet effective methods of improving the look of your garden.
Update Old Electrics
Updating your home’s electrics can be a disruptive job and will always require a professional. It is essential that you carry out this work before you start any sort of cosmetic work on your home. If the house hasn’t been re-wired for a long time, then you need to make sure you update your electrics. Adding more sockets to the rooms in your house is a simple way to increase its value. You should use rewiring as an opportunity to update all the lighting as well as adding or replacing extractor fans in the bathrooms.
Do Some Decorating
Some of the things that put a lot of buyers off are peeling paint, doors, and windows that stick or squeak, latches on doors that don’t work, moldy sealant in the bathroom and kitchen, taps that drip, loose tiles, smelly sewers, windows that are damaged or broken, creaky stairs and floorboards, ceiling and plasterwork cracks, and lifting flooring. Fixing these types of problems may not add much value, but it will definitely make it easier to sell your home at the optimum price.
Replace Windows
Replacing all your windows with double glazing is a great way to increase the value of your home. Not only does it save the buyer money on heating bills once they move into the property, but they are also much kinder to the environment. Replacing windows can improve the building’s aesthetics. It can also make it a safer place to live because new double-glazed windows are more secure when they are closed, and they usually come with some kind of locking system.
Remodel Spaces That Already Exist
Although extensions are a great way to add value, you should work on existing spaces first. This includes updating all the bathrooms and installing a new kitchen. You could also draw up your floorplan and see if you can knock through any walls to ensure that you are achieving the optimum layout. People value rooms that are larger in size, as it makes the property look bigger, especially if you ensure that the same flooring and wall color continues throughout the space.
Make Your Home Stand Out
If you declutter your home, style it well, and repaint the walls, you can add 5-10% to the value of your home. Although real estate agents may find it tricky to place a figure on cosmetic improvements, the market will never fail to disappoint and will always add a premium on homes that have a great style and have been decorated well.
These alterations don’t need to be hard, simple things like changing the floors to a trendy style, repainting the walls in neutral shades, decluttering to create storage, changing the light bulbs to more energy efficient ones, making sure the windows are clean, sanding floorboards, stripping the woodwork and styling with modern furniture, accessories and lamps are easy ways to make a difference.
When it comes to increasing the value of your property, it isn’t always an easy task. It can take time, a lot of energy and effort, however, the results of these changes are guaranteed to pay off. Although some work can be done yourself, always hire a professional for harder and more dangerous jobs.
