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Buy now, pay later interest freeHow to add value to your home
Winter is the perfect time to start planning and budgeting for a home renovation project in the spring. But it’s often tricky to know what you should do to add value to your home and how much you should spend.
The key to home renovation ideas is ensuring you don't spend more than the house will be worth when you come to sell. It's wise to have a valuation before you begin work on your home, get quotes from local tradespeople, and look at sites like Rightmove and Zoopla.
Although house prices are still continuing their upward trend, it’s wise to do your research before assuming all of your home renovation ideas will be worth it in the long run.
Here are our top projects for how to add value to your home, with potential percentage boosts as provided in The Times.
Basement conversion
If you have an unused basement, transforming it into an extra living space can boost your property’s value by up to 30% – as long as the cost per square foot doesn't exceed the price per square foot.
An extra living room, an office or playroom for the kids can be achieved with minimal hassle. However, a new kitchen or bathroom area will require additional plumbing and electrics, so this is a factor to consider. Get the professionals in to assess your space and discuss important elements, such as waterproofing your basement.
One work is complete, create a cosy, den-like feel and decorate your new space with soft, comfy furnishings. Add underfloor heating to make the room extra inviting and toasty, whatever the time of year.
Convert your garage
From home offices to home gyms, the way we live has been transformed, and many homeowners have realised how much they need an extra room. The garage is the ideal place for a quick conversion and high on the list of how to add value to your home, with the potential to add up to 15%.
A major benefit of a garage conversion is keeping much of the project work out of the main house, so it shouldn’t cause too much disruption. However, you may need to get planning permission, depending on the intended use of the space and how big a change you’re proposing.
Choose stylish tile flooring and fresh, bright walls for a spacious, homely look in your new garage conversion. For an outdoorsy feel, decorate a new office with plants and flowers to create an oasis of calm conducive to concentration.
Add an extra bedroom
Utilising your loft space by adding an extra bedroom is a popular project when homeowners consider how to add value to a home on a budget. There are different types of loft conversion, depending on your budget and style of home:
- Roof light conversion – the most cost-effective and causes minimal disruption, however this won’t give you as much space as the other types.
- Dormer conversion – this involves an extension so will be more costly but allows for more space.
- Hip-to-gable conversion – this offers a natural-looking, spacious extension but is only suitable for semi-detached or detached properties.
- Mansard conversion – the most expensive option, these create a new roof shape but offer the maximum amount of extra space.
Loft conversions can add up to 15% to the value of a property, especially those with en-suites. If you’re installing a bathroom, basins and pedestals are ideal for a small space, as are walk-in showers and wall-hung toilets to create the feeling of a larger area.
Upgrade your bathroom
A new bathroom won't give you the most bang for your buck, but an outdated bathroom can put potential buyers off and that’s why it’s up there as one of the top home renovation ideas. A bathroom renovation can add around 3% of the property’s value, which is why we recommend keeping fixtures and fittings simple, clean and neutral to appeal to all tastes.
A white suite and wall tiles will create a classic, fresh look. For smaller spaces consider installing a wall-hung toilet cistern and over the bath shower, whilst larger bathrooms can accommodate individual pieces like a rolltop bath and walk-in shower, for a more opulent bathing experience.
Invest in home heating
If you can only do one thing, upgrade your home heating system – ideally to an eco-friendly one. Not only can improving your home’s EPC rating increase the value of your home by around 7% on average, but it can also cut your bills. And, as energy prices are set to continue rising, investing in an upgrade to your home heating system can be a major benefit.
There are many types of energy-efficient home heating systems, including heat pump systems, combination boilers and solar systems. You’ll need to get a professional in to install a heat pump system, as it can involve disruption to pipework.
A biomass heating system can be expensive to install but could save on bills, so it’s worth weighing up your options.
Whether you're looking to renovate your home yourself or you're calling in the experts, here at City Plumbing we've been helping tradespeople and homeowners to transform homes for over 35 years. Our friendly team is on hand online and in showrooms to offer invaluable advice. Log in or register today to shop online or find your nearest branch.
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