Learn all about some of our favorite tips and tricks for adding value to your home as we cover both big and small renovation ideas.
Introduction
Trying to add value to your home can sometimes be risky business, as it can be difficult to know what will add value to your house and what will end up being a waste of the budget.
Depending on how much you are willing to spend on giving your home a new and updated look, there are both small projects that can be easily carried out for a quick fix or you can also choose to undertake some larger projects to really boost the overall value of your home.
Whatever you decide is right for you and your property, we have compiled a list of all the best ways you can easily add value to your home if you are thinking of selling it someday.
Table of contents
How to Add Value to Your Home
Carrying out any of the works we are about to discuss on your home will instantly add value to your property and are sure to pay off when it comes to putting the house on the market.
Convert the Basement into a Living or Storage Space
An easy way to increase the size of your property whilst still working with the space you have is to convert your basement into decent storage space or into another living area.
One of the reasons why this is such a popular option for people who are looking to increase the value of their home is that you do not need planning permission to make these changes. Well, not unless you are planning on making structural changes to a listed building, that is.
There are plenty of tips for turning a basement into a living space online, but if you are not particularly well versed in (or interested in, for that matter), it may be worth considering hiring a professional to do the job, although keep in mind that this will end up costing you more.
Extend the Kitchen
It is true what they say about the kitchen being the heart of the home, so why not make the heart of your home even bigger for potential buyers to see by extending the kitchen area.
In a lot of cases with a terraced or semi-detached house, you will be able to extend the kitchen out into the side return or alleyway that runs alongside the kitchen and can lead into the garden. This will give you additional kitchen space giving you a larger layout to play with.
However, whenever you choose to extend the perimeters of your house you will have to consider what you are giving up in return. In the above example of a side-return extension, you may lose windows which will reduce the amount of natural light you receive in this area.
You will also need to check to make sure you comply with any planning permission rules.
Makeover the Kitchen
If it is not feasible to extend the kitchen, why not give it a makeover to update its look?
Your kitchen area should be somewhere that people can see themselves cooking and socializing or entertaining guests, so it needs to be quite clean and aesthetically pleasing.
Whenever you are thinking about remodelling any room in your house, you should start with the building blocks or the room’s foundations such as how you want the layout to look, whether or not it requires any structural work, or if you want to move its location entirely.
You can go big or keep it simple and you would be surprised at how similar the effect is on the outcome, no matter which end of the price scale you are choosing to look at. Even just giving the cupboards a fresh coat of paint or improving the lighting can be all the difference.
Add an Extra Bedroom
Another great way to add value to your house is to add an extra bedroom, as this is one of the largest factors that can influence the price of a property. In the majority of cases, the more bedrooms there are thrown in, the better, so it might be worth adding an extra one.
According to an article in the Telegraph, “adding a double bedroom can add more than 10 percent to the value” of your home which would make it an excellent investment.
With that said, there is only so high the value can climb within whichever area you are living, so this will be capped at a point regardless of how many bedrooms a house has to boast.
Bedroom extensions can be costly and are not always practical depending on what style of house you are living in. If your property has beautifully large bedrooms, however, you can easily add another one by splitting one of the existing bedrooms into two separate rooms.
This will be a much more cost-effective way of increasing the size of your property, but it is not a good idea if you would be creating two tiny box rooms that would be fit for Harry Potter.
Put Some Work Into the Garden/Patio
Every garden compliments the home, and there are a number of of things you can do to make your garden area look great, such as any of these basic garden maintenance tasks:
- Clean up and tidy litter and dead plants
- Weeding
- Repair and feed the lawn
- Cut back overgrown trees and shrubs
- Create interesting shapes with beds and borders
- Add color and interest with planting
You could also choose to add something like a shed or a garden office, as both would boost the overall value of your home and will be a great selling point for potential buyers. These, however, would obviously be a much more expensive option and would depend on the available space.
Renovate the Bathroom
Bathrooms have come a long way since being merely a place to wash and go about your business, and in most cases these days, the best bathrooms are the ones that add a touch of elegance and luxury to your home. Plus, of course, fresh, clean, and hygienic looking.
A good change to make if you are renovating your bathroom would be to add a shower if you haven’t already got one, as most people who are buying will look for at least one in a home. With that said, if your area is a popular place for families to move into, then a bath might be a better investment as most families with young children will need a bath in their house.
You could, of course, choose to stay away from the actual layout (and therefore the plumbing and structural design) of the bathroom and conduct purely cosmetic renovations.
For example, you could repaint your bathroom walls, get a funky new statement mirror, or even replace the unit that you use to store your toiletries and other essentials. Why not really decide to push the boat out and treat yourself to a new toilet brush while you are at it.
Get a New Carpet
Keeping carpets clean is a nightmare, but when it comes to selling your house, this is something that can seriously affect the value of your property and what it will sell for.
Stains, holes, and heavy wear and tear on carpets is a huge turn off for potential buyers and can detract from the rest of your house, no matter how beautiful it is from the ground up.
This is why it can be a good idea to replace carpet that is beyond repair, but otherwise, is it really worth the cost of having the whole carpets replaced? You could save some serious cash by instead opting to hire a deep cleaning service to get it back to looking its best.
If you are choosing to replace the carpet completely, keep in mind that the new owners may have completely different tastes to you, so it might be worth going for something simple.
It is also not a good idea to go too overboard with wall to wall carpeting throughout your home, as this can be off-putting to potential buyers, or at least it can be according to Forbes.
Fix Structural Issues
There is no room to play when it comes to structural issues with your property as these can have seriously negative consequences for your house and can cause damage down the line.
Cosmetic issues can cause the value of a property to decrease but, more importantly, you will need to know that your house is entirely structurally sound and secure so that it is safe enough for you or the new owners to live in. This may include fixing a few things, such as:
- Sagging or leaky roofs
- Rising damp
- Structural cracks to the walls
- Bowing walls
- Rotten joists or roof timbers
- Insect infestation
- Missing or broken roof tiles (majority of all homes in the USA are shingle not tiles)
- An unstable chimney stack
- A collapsed floor/slab
It can be difficult to follow a linear timeline with any house renovation projects or if you are undertaking work to try and increase the value of your house, but we would recommend that you get around to fixing any structural issues before moving onto decorating and renovating.
Not only does it make more sense to do it this way around, but it also means that you will be less likely to go over budget towards the end of your project as these are some of the most expensive costs that go into renovating a house or attempting to add value to a property.
Install a New Heating System
Whilst this may not be the most exciting upgrade you can make to your home, updating your old central heating system and replacing it with something new and modern is yet another way to increase the value of your property, especially if it is an older property that you own.
For example, replacing a dodgy old boiler with one that is brand new will do a lot to add on to the value of your house. Alternatively, you can stick to just changing the positioning of your existing radiators or adding new features like underfloor heating or a heated towel rail.
The best way to add value to your house (and be kind to the environment at the same time – double win!) is to improve your central heating system as part of your efforts to improve your overall efficiency, such as sealing drafts around windows and doors and adding insulation.
This is also a good selling point to run by any prospective buyers as it means that the energy bills for the house will be much lower than a house with a poor energy efficiency rating, which could be exactly what your buyers are looking for in a home.
Invest in Solar Panels
If you live somewhere where your house is exposed to a decent amount of sunlight, then investing in solar panels for your home is another great way to help add on to the total value.
Not only is this a good option for the environment (meaning it will be an excellent selling point to any potential buyers who are also environmentally conscious themselves) but it is a good move for anyone who has the foresight to think about what will appeal in the future.
With the way recent advancements in technology have been going, it is fair to assume that having solar panels installed is only going to increase the value as it is something that more and more people are looking at when they are thinking about buying a house.
Although the costs for installing solar panels is usually pretty straightforward, they can also be quite high which is what puts a lot of people off. The good news is that there are certain subsidies available from the government or your local utility who may offer to cover up to 30 percent of the costs involved with installing the solar panels in the form of a tax credit.
Decorate the House/Fix Up Defects
Aesthetic improvements are some of the easiest ways to add more value to your property without having to actually spend that much money, especially if you are doing it yourself.
If your house is looking a little tired then it will immediately put any potential buyers off, even if the structural bones of the house hold great potential themselves. So, if that sounds a little bit like the current state of your house, then consider the following home improvements:
- Peeling paint
- Squeaking or sticking doors and windows
- Door latches that don’t work
- Moldy sealants in the kitchen and bathroom
- Dripping taps
- Loose tiles
- Sewer smells
- Broken or damaged windows
- Squeaky floors and stairs
- Cracks to ceilings and plasterwork
- Lifting flooring
The majority of these can be easily fixed with a bit of DIY savvy, and if ever you are in doubt, you could always check YouTube where you can find plenty of tutorials on how to do these.
Of course, you can choose to hire someone to come in and professionally carry out these jobs to a high standard, but the increased expenses are often not very cost efficient.
Consider Replacing the Windows With New Ones
Windows are like the eyes that see into (and out of) your home. They are something that you will probably look out of at least once every day, therefore it is something that potential buyers will look at if and when they come to view your property.
In some cases, it can therefore be a good idea to consider replacing some of the tired, worn looking windows with shiny new ones. If you are replacing the look and aesthetic quality of the window, why not also look for something that is going to offer improved insulation?
Do not forget to stay in keeping with the rest of the house when you are picking out new windows, as otherwise, they can look out of place and draw the eye in a negative way. This goes for both the interior and the exterior aesthetics of your home.
Replace Some of the Old Furniture
Sometimes, you don’t need to touch the actual property at all when you are trying to add value, as simply replacing some of the old and outdated furniture can be enough to do it!
This can breathe new life into the rooms of your house and can give your home a more modern feel that appeals to potential new buyers. Styling a home for an open-house or a private viewing can make all the difference in how it is received and the value it is given.
If you do not want to go to the trouble or expense of replacing absolutely all of your old furniture, you could probably get away with just replacing a few major statement pieces.
For example, you could choose a dramatic new bed to take center stage in the master bedroom or you could replace your sofa with something more chic and comfortable.
Exterior Home Makeovers That Can Add Value
As well as paying attention to improving what the inside of your home looks like in order to increase the value, there are also a few things you can do to the property’s exteriors.
For example, any of the following work would be worth carrying out before trying to sell your home, and most of these jobs can be done yourself rather than hiring a professional to do it.
- Repointing brickwork
- Repainting door and windows
- Replacing an old garage door
- Changing/repairing windows
- Repainting walls
- Repairing cracked or broken cladding such as render or timber
- Removing stone cladding
- Adding a porch
- Adding climbing plants/trellis
- Replacing/adding a house sign or number
- Renaming the property
Not all of these can be done yourself, however, so do not attempt to do anything that you could end up making worse… Even just doing a few of the things on this list yourself can reduce the overall costs to you whilst still working towards improving the property’s price.
Ways to Add a Wow Factor
These days, more and more people are looking for things that are going to help them stand out rather than sticking too strictly to the mainstream trends and fashions. For this reason, it is worth looking into some of the ways you can add that wow factor to your property.
You can do this by adding a few interesting features that not everybody will have at home.
Add a Fireplace
Who doesn’t dream of having a house with a fireplace that they can cuddle up by at Christmas with their loved ones as they pass you presents under the tree? Just us? Okay.
Even if you are not into Christmas, a fireplace can be a beautiful statement feature in any home, especially if it fits in well with the rest of the interior decor and the style of the house.
If you choose to add a log burner it can act as a double investment as this will be a good way to have an extra heat source to warm up your home during the winter months, as well as being an aesthetically pleasing addition that can help to increase the property’s value.
Even without being used for its official purpose, a fireplace can still make an excellent focal point in any room and can be used to display plants, prints, artwork, sculptures, or candles.
Full Height Windows
Create instant drama and add that wow factor to any space by having full height windows fitted. These will allow a gorgeous amount of natural light to stream through into your home and will make it look a lot brighter as well as connecting you to your outdoor spaces.
Don’t you remember we mentioned that indoor-outdoor flow earlier and how popular it is? Well, full height windows can help you achieve this as they will provide a brighter and wider view of the areas outside. The only downside is the costs involved with installing them.
A Staircase Makeover
Your staircase might not be at the top of your priority list when deciding what to tackle next in terms of home improvement projects, but a staircase makeover can have effective results.
It is admittedly part of the house that plays a more functional role as the thing that connects your upstairs areas and your downstairs areas (sometimes spanning across multiple floors), but that does not mean that there is anything to stop you from having fun with it either.
A popular style in today’s society is to have a carpet runner coming down the middle of the staircase whilst each side is left with the hardwood exposed or painted to match the carpet.
You could also simply spruce up your stairway by giving it a fresh coat of paint which can help to add drama, especially if you choose to paint it in a dark, bolder color. As Joa Studholme from Farrow and Ball explains, this “creates instant drama in the hall and a grounding backbone through the center of the house” which will definitely add a wow factor!
Add Some Nice Paintings/Artworks
If you are trying to sell your house and you want it to go for a higher price, a great tip is to fill the space with some nice paintings and pieces of artwork to compliment the property’s style.
This can be the difference between a house that looks finished and a house that some might find lacking or like it still needs a bit of work to get it to where they want it to be. In certain cases, it has even been known for the buyer to request to buy the artwork with the house!
Even if you choose artwork that a potential buyer would not necessarily pick out for themselves, it is all about helping the buyer to visualize themselves in the space with their own artwork and belongings by helping to build up that mental image or picture in their mind.
A Nice Neat Bookshelf
Not only can a bookshelf be the perfect place to store all of your books instead of stacking them up in a random corner somewhere (unsurprisingly really, seeing as that is exactly what they were originally designed for…) but this can also be a good place to store accessories.
For example, vases filled with fake flowers or small ornaments and decorative artefacts can be stored on a small bookshelf tucked up against one of the walls in any room.
In fact, you can use something like this to store pretty much anything, books or no books!
Styling With Furniture, Lamps, Accessories, and Flowers
There is a reason why high-end real estate agents and brokerage agencies will spend so much money on styling a house for an open-house or a private viewing, as this can really show off the potential of a property to all of the potential buyers who come to see it.
Styling the house with simple yet high-quality pieces of furniture, for example, can really elevate the overall look of a house without having to touch the property itself. The same can be said for accessories such as lamps or other types of lighting fixtures in the property.
As for flowers, most people would argue that fresh is always best if you are having people come and see the house as it will give off a beautiful scent, although nothing beats the smell of freshly home baked cookies wafting towards you as you walk around the house.
With that being said, artificial plants and flowers can have just as much of a visual effect as real flowers without anywhere near the same level of upkeep – simply arrange them in a vase and position them around the house to draw the eye (or alternatively, to draw it away).
Summary
So, there you have it. These are some of the best tips and pieces of advice that we have collected over the years, both through research and through our lived experiences as well.
Remember that when you are trying to add value to a house, the goal is to keep the costs of any renovations and work to put into the property to a minimum to maximize your profits. This means that any work you do should never exceed the value it will add to your home.
Another important thing to keep in mind when you are trying to add value to a house is that time is money. You don’t want to get stuck with your house on the market for years just because you took too long to renovate it and now the market has changed or is against you.
With all that being said, if you follow the advice that we have provided you with throughout this article then we are sure that you will be able to increase the value of your own property without any issues, and without overspending on the budget. Let us know how you get on!