Which Home Improvement Add Value?

As you would expect, we have worked with hundreds of homeowners to make the home improvement and renovations that mean they can enjoy their homes more. From landscaping and driveways to new bathrooms and kitchens to extensions and loft conversions, there is nothing the specialist team at S&D Projects can’t deliver.

But, what home improvements add value to your property? Are there some that should be avoided?

Defining value

There are two definitions to ‘adding value’;

1. The first is the financial value it adds to your home, an important consideration if you are expecting to sell in the coming months or years.
2. Aesthetic value in terms of how well your home is accessible and usable. It can be simple as taking the wall down between the dining room and kitchen to make a more family-friendly dining and kitchen area.

There are winners and losers, however, in the home improvements we make when it comes to both definitions of ‘adding value’.

Opinions change, what was once a great idea is now considered a poor home improvement choice. You want to invest in your home so it brings you the best of everything, so what works? And what may not have the impact you thought it would?

Which home improvements work?

YES…

• A new boiler – with the boiler coming in at around £2,000 and installation adding another £1,000 or so on top depending on which company you use, you may be pleasantly surprised to find that a modern, efficient, combi-condenser boiler can add as much as £7,000 in value and appeal.
• Landscaping – surprisingly, spending cash on making the most of your outdoor space can add value, around 1% but every little helps! However, the landscaping needs to be in keeping with the value and location of your home so bear that in mind when planning your garden makeover.
• Knocking through walls – from a kitchen diner to moving walls to help the flow of life through your home, you could more than double the money you’ve spent on these kinds of renovations when it comes to adding value. Again, if they make your home more appealing, you strengthen your selling position.
• Updated double glazing – early examples of double glazing are not as efficient as modern double glazing and so updating your windows and does could bring a pleasant 4% increase in property value.

NO…

• New flooring – looks nice but if it isn’t to people’s taste, they just rip it out. Just make sure the flooring is tidy and clean and save your cash.
• New bathroom – we find hard to believe this is on the list but apparently, new buyers tend to rip out what is there and add their own. Again, it seems that unless it is new and unused, you may find that sparkling new bathroom is not the value-adding renovation you thought it was.
• New kitchen – again, we have always assumed that a new kitchen is a big hitter when it comes to adding value. Granted, it can make your home more appealing but if it isn’t right, buyers simply rip it out. Bear this in mind if you plan on making this your selling point.
• Solar panels – again, they can work but there again, some people are still so suspicious of their reliability that it can be a bit off-putting.

What we think…

We think you need to think about how you use your home and the renovations you need to make to make it a home, and not be too tied up in trying to make it a show home for others.

What renovations are you planning?