Whether you’re renovating a property or looking to flip one before putting it on the market, this guide has everything you need to know about home improvements that add value.
Table of Contents
We’ll take you through 31 ways to increase your property value, with tips on maximising your profit and making your money go further.
We’ll also share ‘improvements’ that won’t add value. So if you want to make the most of your money and time, keep reading…
Top Ten Home Improvements that Add the Most Value to Your Property
- New Kitchen
- Bathroom upgrades
- Double or triple-glazing windows
- Landscape garden and patio make-over
- Extra bedrooms
- Home extension
- Loft Conversion
- Solar Panels
- Upgrade central heating and improve energy efficiency
- Paint and Decorate
Bring the Interior Up-to-Date
#1 Modernise Your Kitchen
You’ve probably heard the saying that kitchens and bathrooms sell houses, and it’s true. An up-to-date modern kitchen is one of the best ways to add value to your home. After all, it is the hub of the home!
Updating a kitchen can be as simple as just giving your cabinets a fresh coat of paint. Or, it can be much more complex and involve an entirely new kitchen and layout. Property experts say if you can only afford to tackle one room in the house, make it the kitchen.
If you plan on buying a new kitchen, ensure you get the most value from it. This guide from the Nationwide Building Society suggests that the amount you spend on a new kitchen should be in proportion to the value of your home. For example, a £500,000 home requires a higher spec kitchen than a property worth £100,000 (and vice-versa). Otherwise, you may forfeit adding any substantial value.
Elements for Added Value:
- Quartz & Marble — Luxury materials like quartz or marble worktops are extremely desirable in kitchens for being easy to maintain and durable. Not to mention, they’re stunningly beautiful and make any kitchen look high-end.
- Modern Appliances — According to Country Living, buying new energy-efficient built-in appliances is the second most important contributor to adding value to your kitchen.
#2 Update the Bathroom
Years ago, bathrooms were rooms that just needed to be utilitarian. However, nowadays, people are looking for their bathrooms to be a luxury place to relax and unwind in an almost spa-like home experience. Modernising a bathroom to reflect this is a great way to add value.
To achieve this, a whole new bathroom suite isn’t always necessary, and you’d be surprised how different a shower can look with new hardware and tiles.
But ripping a whole suite out and starting afresh may also be beneficial, particularly if you want to change the room’s layout. Any new bathroom should still tick all the practical boxes, be easy to maintain, and have a bit of style too!
Elements for Added Value:
- Power Shower — Nobody wants to step into a weak shower. In fact, in this poll by moneywise.co.uk, 70% of property professionals said installing a power shower was one of the most important factors in adding value to the bathroom.
- Underfloor Heating — Ditching radiators and opting for underfloor heating is becoming increasingly popular in bathrooms. It will give you more wall space for a larger bath or shower and heat the room evenly. It will also add a luxurious element to the room. Who doesn’t want cosy toes after stepping out of a shower on a cold winter’s day?!
#3 New Flooring
There are very few floors that will truly last a lifetime. Even if your floor hasn’t worn out, it may be outdated in style. The days when carpets in bathrooms were desirable are long gone. Likewise, patterned carpets and lino tiles are no longer wanted.
Updating a floor can entirely transform the look of a room. It doesn’t have to be expensive, and there are many easy DIY options if you’re on a budget.
Ensure you choose the right floor type for the room. For example, reception rooms should be durable and easy to maintain (e.g. tiles), whereas bedrooms should feel cosy and warm (e.g. carpet)
Carpets are a smart choice for bedrooms to add a cosier, more homely feel. Whatever you choose, though, new flooring is a great way to update a tired interior.
Elements for Added Value:
- Wooden Floorboards — Bringing floorboards back to life in an older period property is a great way to add value without spending a fortune.
- Natural Stone — Natural stone, like limestone, is the only type of flooring that gets better as it ages. It can truly last a lifetime and adds a pinch of character simultaneously.
#4 Paint and Decorate
Damaged walls, ugly artex ceilings and outdated colour schemes can age and devalue your home. Replastering and painting a room with a fresh coat of modern emulsion can bring a house into the 21st century. This is particularly important when selling, as it will appeal to prospective buyers and help achieve the maximum value from your home.
For small spaces, light-reflecting paints and mirrors are a great way to trick the eye into thinking a room is bigger.
To show your rooms to their full potential when selling, declutter and ensure all rooms are well furnished.
Elements for Added Value:
- Stay Neutral — With trends ever-changing, if you’re looking to add value before selling your home, you may wish to keep the decor neutral. This approach allows buyers to visualise your home as a blank canvas.
- Be On-Trend — As a complete opposite to the point above, you may also wish to swing the other way and opt for a specific modern style to appeal to a certain taste. Where buyers lack imagination, having something stylish and ready-made can help seal the deal.
Pro Tip: Consider investing in a high-quality paint sprayer to speed up the painting process.
Sort Out Practical Issues
#5 Have Both A Shower And A Bath
Having a shower and a bath means your property will appeal to everyone. Families, in particular, always need a bath for small children, yet the convenience and speed of a shower are also vital.
Installing both a shower and a bath doesn’t necessarily mean you need to add a whole separate shower unit.
Simply ensuring your bath area is fully tiled (or has a shower curtain) with a properly fixed shower head will solve this issue. Although if you can add a separate enclosure, this will certainly be more desirable.
Elements for Added Value:
- Glass Screens — Choosing a glass screen around your bath rather than a shower curtain looks more modern, is easier to clean and generally does a better job at preventing water from escaping. Furthermore, it will add a more luxurious vibe.
- Separate Enclosure — A separate enclosure may not be vital, but if you have space and can install one, it will add more value.
#6 Upgrade Your Central Heating
Central heating systems are constantly being modernised and improved for efficiency. If you don’t have central heating, this can be hugely damaging to the value of your home and not to mention your Energy Performance Certificate. Likewise, an outdated boiler can devalue your property and turn off potential buyers.
Upgrading a boiler, particularly if it’s older than 15 years, or installing a whole new central heating system is not cheap, but In the long term, it can save you £100s on your heating bills and add value at the same time.
Ensure you get a Gas Safety registered fitter to install your boiler and have all the safety certificates ready.
To add that extra finishing touch, consider boxing in your boiler and pipes to hide the unsightly mess.
Elements for Added Value:
- Smart Thermostats — Making sure your central heating is smart-ready means it will be future-proofed. It also allows more options for programming and controlling your heating, so it’s beneficial for lower bills too.
- A-Rated & Reliable Brands — Most modern boilers nowadays are A-rated, but certain well-known brands claim to add more value than others. For more info, we recommend checking out this Which Guide.
- Period-Style Radiators — In period properties, cast iron and column radiators are incredibly desirable to buyers and will add some irresistible charm.
#7 Adding Built-In Storage Space
Excess space within any home is a premium. But even if you don’t have oodles of space, making the most of the space you do have, particularly unused spaces, is a great way to add value.
Having built-in storage means you don’t need to buy any additional bulky furniture, and makes better use of certain areas within the home.
Alcoves are a great example. I.e. they don’t provide additional living space, so they’re perfect for turning into cupboards and wardrobes.
Even in the smallest properties, thinking outside the box can unfold many clever ways to add storage solutions to the home. This could be a simple storage bench in a hall or pull-out drawers hidden under the eaves of an attic bedroom.
You only need to watch ‘George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces’ to see what I mean!
Elements for Added Value:
- Wardrobes — New clothes are bought all year round, so having built-in wardrobes is highly appealing. Whilst there are many bespoke companies, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get the wardrobe of your dreams. Some very clever IKEA hacks on the internet look just as beautiful and bespoke.
- Under the Stairs — If you have an open staircase with disused space underneath, boxing this in and installing a small door will provide tons of storage space for things like coats, shoes and larger cleaning devices.
#8 Relocating a Bathroom (Moving a Downstairs One Upstairs)
A downstairs bathroom is quite common in older properties, but unfortunately, it’s not always practical. Moving it upstairs not only frees up space downstairs but it makes the layout of the housework much better.
It’s worth noting that sometimes relocating a bathroom can be quite tricky, and the cost of doing this depends solely on the position of the soil stack and whether or not it would need repositioning (and whether it even can be!).
If repositioning the bathrooms also means losing a bedroom, there is some debate about whether or not this should be done. If you can split a bedroom into two, you can get the best of both worlds.
Elements for Added Value:
- Clever Layouts — Bathtubs come in all different shapes and sizes, from corner baths to L-shaped baths. With clever planning, you’d be surprised how easily you can squeeze a bathroom into the smallest spaces.
#9 Fix Structural Defects
Structural defects are one of the biggest issues that can devalue your home. It can even lose you a string of buyers when it comes to selling, as it can cause prospective buyers to run for the hills. And if it doesn’t, they’ll likely be looking to knock a wad off the price.
Structural defects can be as small as having a cracked lintel or as damaging as subsidence. In some cases, mortgage lenders may not lend on properties with serious defects, so it’s well worthwhile getting these resolved.
Elements for Added Value:
- Sorting Damp — Problems with damp can prevent mortgages from going through entirely. Often, damp is easy to fix and is caused by minor issues like a leaky pipe or the ground level sitting above the damp proof course (DPC). These are all inexpensive to fix and can be the difference between knocking £1,000s off your house’s value.
Be efficient!
#10 Improve Energy Efficiency
When selling your house, it will be examined for its energy efficiency and given a rating on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
This rating indicates to prospective buyers whether the house is built to modern standards, which suggests how much the house will cost to heat and run compared to other houses.
Buyers will consider this information when buying a home and use it in their decision-making process.
You can make several alterations to improve your rating, such as adding insulation, switching to energy-efficient light bulbs, and, as mentioned previously, upgrading your boiler.
A better EPC means buyers will put a higher value on your home. We recommend checking out the Energy Saving Trust’s EPC Guide for more information.
Elements for Added Value:
- Loft Insulation — Installing extra loft insulation is cheap, easy and completely DIYable. The minimum thickness recommended nowadays is 250mm. This recommendation was updated relatively recently, as it used to be as low as 100mm! You don’t need to remove the old stuff, you can lay new insulation over the top, and it’ll help the house to retain heat, cut your bills and improve your EPC.
- Energy-Saving Bulbs — Swapping to energy-saving bulbs is a small change that may also improve your EPC. They’re cheaper to run, last much longer, save money on your electric bill, and barely cost more than a regular bulb – so why wouldn’t you?
#11 Adding Double or Triple Glazing
The type of glazing you have is one of the most important factors in determining energy efficiency. Single-glazed windows are well known for their considerable heat loss, with some research suggesting that as many as 80% of UK homes are now double or triple-glazed.
If you haven’t yet upgraded, your house is behind the times.
The cost of installing double or triple-glazed windows depends on how many windows you need and how large they are. Triple glazing will cost around 30% more but is twice as efficient.
Both, however, are more secure, easier to maintain, save money on heating bills and add value to your home. Most glazing is guaranteed to last at least 20 years, making it a worthwhile investment.
Elements for Added Value:
- Aluminium — If you want to stand out from the street, aluminium framed windows are a growing trend in the UK. They’re much stronger and more secure than uPVC and give your home a modern edge.
- Sash Windows — If you have a period property, fitting sash windows will add even more value to your home. The classic design of these windows adds charm, character and authenticity to any period property.
- Vinyl Windows — If you’re tight on a budget, then Vinyl windows might be your best option. According to the experts at Ecoline Windows, Vinyl is a popular frame material for the following reasons:
- Cost-effectiveness. Unlike Wood or Aluminum, Vinyl is 20-25% cheaper but still features fantastic durability.
- Energy-Efficiency. Vinyl is a natural thermal insulator that doesn’t transfer heat easily like metal. Vinyl windows, triple glazing and spacers will significantly boost your home’s thermal performance.
- No frequent maintenance. Vinyl doesn’t require painting and won’t warp due to heat or moisture.
#12 Smart Home Technology
Is smart home technology here to stay? Yes! It’s the future. If you want to keep up with the times, installing smart technology within the home will give your house an edge. So keep it modernised and appeal to all gadget lovers.
Smart home technology includes smart thermostats, doorbells, home security and light bulbs. The list is endless, and while new technology constantly develops and expands, it’s a great way to stay on-trend and current within the home.
Elements for Added Value:
- Home Security — Burglar alarms are now a thing of the past. Smart security is taking over. For example, remote access CCTV is a beneficial investment in more ways than one.
#13 Solar Panels
Who doesn’t want to create their power and have it pay for itself? Solar panels are still expensive to buy and cost upwards of £5,000, so run the numbers to see if it’s worthwhile.
According to The Eco Experts, homebuyers are more likely to spend extra on homes with solar panels installed, so they can benefit from lower bills.
To gain the most from your solar panels and earn your initial outlay back, you must keep them for at least 5 years.
#14 Underfloor Heating
There are two types of underfloor heating; those powered by electricity and those heated via water pipes.
There are pros and cons for each, but both are effective ways to heat the floor beneath your feet, and in turn, they heat the air above it too.
Underfloor heating is a fast-growing market that adds luxury and practicality to your home. It’s a luxury that homebuyers are willing to pay extra for. Well, who doesn’t want to feel warmth beneath their feet?
Elements for Added Value:
- Kitchens and Bathrooms — These two rooms are specifically good locations to install underfloor heating as they’re usually tiled surfaces that can otherwise be cold.
Stand Out From the Street
#15 Window Shutters
Window shutters are the only window dressing that adds value to your home.
Perhaps it’s because of their elegance, their higher price tag, the fact they’re visually appealing from the outside of the house, or because they do a fantastic job at giving privacy whilst also allowing light. They tick all the boxes; you’ll find them on many homeowners’ wish lists.
Whilst they are fairly expensive for a window dressing, you can get DIY-installed shutters which are considerably cheaper.
You can also opt for half-height shutters, known as “cafe-style”, to keep costs down.
Elements for Added Value:
- Front of House — If you can only afford to install window shutters on one side of the house, you should make it the front rooms so your home exterior can benefit from their beauty. This way, your house will really stand out from the street.
#16 Reinstall Period Features
Back in the 50s, 60s and 70s, period features were a huge turnoff to homeowners, so much so that they were ripped from many homes and thrown into skips. Nowadays, these features are back in fashion and specifically sought after.
If your house has been stripped back of all its original features, putting them back (whether it’s using reclaimed or reproduced pieces) will increase the value of your home.
This may be installing period doors, fireplaces, cornices, or period-style radiators. The more a house is true to its original form, the more attractive that will be to buyers and the more value it will add.
Elements for Added Value:
- Fireplaces — Fireplaces can transform a living space and become the centrepieces of a room. Even if all other period features have been lost, installing a fireplace is a great way to add a focal point that packs a punch.
- Cornice and Ceiling Roses — These add elegance, style and grandeur to a room. These are great options to add back if you want to make a room stand out.
#17 Add Kerb Appeal
First impressions matter. If your house is lacking in this department, you should think about modernising and giving it some oomph.
This may be done by adding cladding, a new paint job, or landscaping the front to incorporate more flowers and greenery.
Turning an ugly house into an attractive house is an effective home improvement to add value and get buyers through the door.
Elements for Added Value:
- Outdoor Lighting — Lighting can be both practical and aesthetic. With the UK being well known for its gloomy weather, it’s a great way to make a house look beautiful all year round. It also helps to guide your way in the dark and deters burglars.
#18 Create Off-Road Parking
Almost every household in the UK has at least one car, so having somewhere to park a car close by the house is important. After all, nobody wants to walk three streets with bags full of shopping, do they?
If you have space, dropping the kerb and landscaping the front to allow room for at least one car is a sure way to add value.
You’ll have to apply to the council to make this happen, and prices vary between £0 to £300, not including landscaping, gravel or driveway blocks. However, it will add thousands to the overall price of your home and be a huge box ticked off buyers’ lists.
Elements for Added Value:
- Gravel — If you want to save money, gravelling a driveway is a great way to go. It’s cheap, can be installed entirely by DIY, and is visually appealing.
#19 Install a Log Burner
Over the last decade, log burners and multi-fuel stoves have grown massively in popularity, with some stores claiming sales have increased by as much as 50%.
Log burners and multi-fuel stoves aren’t just pretty, though. They’re safer than open fires and much more practical since they kick out some serious heat.
Using a log burner means spending less on your heating bill, especially if you have a free wood supply.
Convert, Convert, Convert
#20 Loft Conversion
Converting an attic is a great way to add an entire extra floor to your home. The size of your attic and whether there are any height restrictions will determine if a conversion is possible. These factors will also determine the required work and overall cost.
According to The Guardian, an attic conversion can add 20% to the value of your home.
Of course, an attic conversion is not for the faint-hearted. It will be invasive, destructive, and time-consuming. However, if bedroom space is lacking, there’s no better way to add more room.
Elements for Added Value:
- Extra Bathroom — Converting the attic to become a master suite, complete with an en-suite, is a great way to add value. The Guardian suggests adding a second bathroom in an attic may add up to £10,000!
#21 Convert Basement/Cellar Space
If you have a period property, you might have space underneath your house in the form of an old cellar.
Before the fridge was invented, these were spaces to store raw meat and keep it fresh. Nowadays, they often sit underneath houses as empty disused rooms or storage spaces.
However, converting a cellar to live in will add an entire floor, extra rooms, and considerable value. Renovating a cellar is no easy feat as you’ll have to deal with damp below ground level and fit a fire escape. You may also need to lower the floor level.
The expense varies considerably from cellar to cellar, but if you have one, it makes sense to adapt it for living, especially in areas like London, where space is at a premium.
Elements for Added Value:
- Basement Kitchens — Moving your kitchen and living space into the basement while simultaneously digging externally to lower the garden leaves you with an entire floor to convert into bedrooms. The more bedrooms, the higher value a home can achieve.
#22 Convert a Garage
Garages are great for tool storage and sheltering cars, but if you don’t use them to their full potential, garages can become dumping grounds.
Turning it into a home office or playroom is a great way to add extra living space if you don’t use your garage. It’s one of the easiest conversions since little structural or invasive work needs to be done.
In terms of how much value it can add, Virgin Money suggests converting a garage can add 20% to the value of your home. If you have more than one garage, it makes even more sense!
Alter the Internal Space
#23 Extend
If you can’t convert, extending your home is a great alternative way to add more living space and square footage to your property.
Bigger kitchens, utility rooms, open-plan living, additional bathrooms, extra bedrooms, and even adding a home office space are all additions you can make in an extension.
Generally, the bigger an extension is, the more value it will add. This is particularly true for areas such as London and the South East, where space is at a premium.
Homes and Property say, on average, a medium-sized extension can add almost 60k to a house price. If that’s not a reason to extend, I don’t know what is!
Elements for Added Value:
- Bathrooms — Extra bathrooms in large properties are a good way to add value.
- Bedrooms — The more bedrooms, the higher the value of your property.
#24 Add a Conservatory
Conservatories are a cheap way to add a ground floor extension. They often don’t need planning permission, and pre-fabricated designs mean quick installation and less hard labour.
The design of a conservatory should be carefully thought about, particularly for retaining heat. How well it performs in summer and winter will greatly impact its practicality and whether it’s truly beneficial.
Property Price Advice has lots of good information if you’re considering one. According to Phil Spencer, a decent conservatory can add up to 7% to the value of your home.
#25 Remove Internal Walls
Knocking down walls is a great way to open up internal space and make the house appear bigger. Whilst you may lose a set room, you’ll gain more light and space. Also, it often makes the house flow better.
Much like repositioning furniture, sometimes it’s all you need to get the most out of a room.
The cost of removing a wall depends on its size and whether it’s load-bearing. For more info, this guide from Homebuilding and Renovating has everything you need to know.
Elements for Added Value:
- Open Plan Kitchen — Knocking down a wall between a kitchen and dining room is probably one of the most effective walls to bring down. Most people desire open living in these rooms, giving you a new layout for a bigger, better and more sociable room.
#26 Add More Natural Light
Rooms with little to no daylight can be quite depressing to be in. They say lighting can make or break a room, and it’s true.
Adding extra windows will not only make a room brighter and nicer, but it will make a room feel bigger. Roof windows are also a great way to do this, as well as sun tunnels.
Whilst it may not increase the value dramatically, it will make the room appear more light and spacious, which are huge selling points for any home.
#27 Apply for Planning Permission (even if you cannot carry out the work)
Even if you cannot complete the project, having planning permission increases the value when you come to sell.
It means any new buyer won’t need to go through the planning process, and it also means they won’t have to risk buying a house and having planning rejected. It may just be a piece of paper, but it’s worth a lot!
#28 Add an En Suite
Having an en suite sells properties. According to The Telegraph, having an en suite or extra bathroom can add nearly 5% to your home’s value.
As mentioned, bathtubs and shower cubicles of all shapes and sizes make fitting this extra room much easier. With the help of a saniflo system, you can have an en suite installed anywhere.
It doesn’t have to cost a lot and will create an attractive feature for potential buyers.
Make the Most of Outdoor Space
#29 Bring the Outdoors In
Opting for large opening doors, such as bi-folds, sliding doors, or french doors, is a great way to bring the outdoor space inside.
Connecting indoor and outdoor spaces can make rooms feel more spacious and brighter. It also allows access to the garden for indoor-outdoor living.
Large opening doors will also add a bit of style, act as a ‘picture frame’ for the garden, and add the ‘wow’ factor to a room.
Elements for Added Value:
- Bi-folding Doors — Becoming increasingly popular, bi-folding doors are desirable because they fully open up an indoor space into the outside. They’re pricer than standard french doors but make an impression that lasts.
#30 Build a Summer House/Garden Room
Building a summer house or garden room is a savvy equivalent to building an extension or full outbuilding. It can provide a home working space, a place for a gym or just a little sunroom to relax.
It’s important to note that building a garden room involves a lot more work and money than building a summer house. To understand the differences between the two structures, check out this article from The Garden Room Guide.
According to Tepilo, with the rising cost of living and hefty stamp duty on up-sizing, home buyers are opting for this route as an alternative concept to adding more space.
Providing it has been done well and can provide a multitude of uses, it will add space and value to the home.
To learn more about building a garden room, check out Ali Dymock’s fantastic video series on how to build a garden room. To get you started here’s his first video:
#31 Landscape the Garden
Outside space is great, but if it’s just a sea of semi-dead grass and not much else, it’s not being used to its full potential. An outdoor space should be somewhere you can live in, just like the inside of your house.
Landscaping doesn’t necessarily have to be overly elaborate. Simply providing an outdoor living area, like a patio with some easy-to-maintain greenery, enhances the beauty of your home. It turns a simple outside space into usable space, which buyers will love.
Elements for Added Value:
- Patio or Decking — A seating area in the garden is so important when it comes to landscaping. There aren’t many sunny warm days in the UK, so there must be a space to sit and enjoy when they come around. A great backyard can become more appealing with a beautiful deck to enjoy barbecues and fire pits with family. The cost to build a deck largely depends on the size and complexity of the deck being built.
- Mature Greenery — Gardeners love mature plants because they’re well-established and bring more than just a few buds to a garden. Some people will pay crazy prices to plant a mature tree in a new garden. If you already have that, you’re onto a winner! If not, get planting as soon as possible, and your garden will be all the more desirable in a few years.
7 Home Improvements that Do NOT Add Value
So we’ve talked you through 31 ways you can add value to your house through small and big home improvements.
But what about the improvements that don’t add value? Luckily, we have a guide for that too. So here are 7 home improvements we recommend steering clear of.
#1 Expensive Wallpaper and Luxury Paints
While expensive flooring can produce a better return, things like paint and wallpaper won’t. Once the paint is on the walls, nobody will ever know whether it’s from a luxury tin.
Likewise, a feature wall worth £200 in wallpaper won’t see you get that money back. If you’re redecorating to sell or add value, using luxury decorating products will not aid you in any way.
#2 Losing a Bedroom
When space is minimal and spare bedrooms aren’t necessary for day-to-day use, it can be tempting to repurpose said bedroom. This might be for either a second bathroom or extending another room.
Losing a bedroom, however, can damage your home’s value. Having a 4-bed house with 1 bathroom is much better than a 3-bed house with 2. The number of bedrooms matters, even if they’re small!
#3 Adding a Swimming Pool
Believe it or not, swimming pools can put buyers off because they’re expensive to heat and maintain. Furthermore, they rarely get enough use to justify the initial outlay.
Swimming pools are great on hot summer days, but if you want to make alterations that add value, we recommend staying clear.
#4 Losing a Reception Room for a Garage
Garage extensions are one thing, but turning a part of the house into a garage is another. If you’re thinking about losing your dining room in favour of a garage, this may damage your home’s value.
Living space always comes first to buyers, so sacrificing a room for a garage means a lower house valuation.
#5 Luxury Landscaping
Landscaping adds value, yes. However, paying a premium for mature greenery won’t. Some trees, for example, can cost hundreds of pounds. Whilst planting several of these trees may look nice, they won’t add much value.
#6 Creating Spaces that Don’t Work
We’ve all seen houses that have undergone renovations at some point in their life that didn’t work and left us in disbelief.
Some of the worst offenders are added bathrooms that are too small to fit into and narrow kitchens where you can’t open more than one cupboard at a time. Any extension or major change you make within your home should be carefully thought out for practicality.
When in doubt, hire an experienced architect to help plan your project.
#7 Over-Improving
Despite all of the improvements above, some houses on certain streets won’t gain any extra value, no matter how many improvements you make.
It’s important to know the value of your street and whether there’s a ceiling price for your neighbourhood. You should gain inspiration from neighbours about what they’ve done and ensure your budgets align with your home’s potential value.
Address Book
If you’re looking to find reliable tradespeople, builders and other property experts, we recommend checking out the following websites:
- For Gas Work: Gas Safe
- For Electrical Work: NICEIC
- For Builders: Federation of Master BuildersNHBC
- For Woodwork, Joiners and Carpenters: Guild of Master Craftsmen
- For Log Burner & Fireplace Installations: HETAS
- For Windows and Doors: FENSA
- For Architects: Architects Registration Board
Home Improvements that Add Value — Final Thoughts
We hope this guide has given you some inspiration, ideas and confidence to know what home improvements are right (and wrong) for your property.
For more information about renovating your property, check out our guide to projects you can do without planning permission.