If you are looking to sell your home at any point in the near future then you are obviously going to want to make a profit from it. Over the years there would have been some wear and tear on your property from the elements and it’s imperative that you keep on top of them and repair/renovate everything before you get your house evaluated.
However, if you want to really up the value of your house before you sell it, then you are going to have to invest in making some wholesale changes to your home. Having a look at the local market and asking experts what the trends are is a great way to start. It is also widely known that eco-friendly houses are fetching much better prices than those that are ill-equipped for looking after the environment.
Another way to add value to your house is obviously to add space – most real estate agents will tell you that an extra bedroom and bathroom will help the value of your property to rise. This also goes for extra living spaces and the easiest way to achieve extra rooms in the house is to do simple conversions. There are a number of different spots in the house that you can convert to ensure your house price increases including loft, garage, shed, basement, conservancy and garden conversions.
One of the easiest places to add another bedroom and bathroom is the loft. It is also probably the least disruptive conversion and it won’t have much of an effect on the everyday life going on in the house below. You have to make sure that the loft is easy to reach and safely accessible before you work on it. You will most likely have to strengthen the floor in the loft, which could result in a raised ceiling level – so just make sure that you are left with enough room to stand in. According to many estate agents - loft conversions can increase your house value by 12.5%.
If you don’t own a car, like most of Britain’s urban residents, and you have a garage – then you are sitting on wasted space. Garage space is ample, and more often than not, used as storage space rather than somewhere to keep a car. Use your garage to add value to your house by converting it into another living space. It can be made into a downstairs lounge or bar, children’s play area or a spare bedroom if you convert it correctly.
This conversion is definitely one that can’t be taken lightly, and a whole lot of consideration need to happen before you decide to add a basement to your home. It’s one of the most expensive conversions that you can do to your house, you will most definitely have to move out for a while, there is lots of digging and it will most likely have some sort of impact on the overall structure of your house – so it’s a massive undertaking. But, it can add massive value to your house, and in some cases you can almost double the amount of living space that you have in your home, without your garden or other space being compromised.
If you have the space outside, then adding a conservatory can do great things for the value of your house. Ensure that it complements the style of the rest of the house by using the same decorations and flooring that you find inside. Consistency is keen when adding a conservatory to your home, because even though it was added afterwards – you certainly don’t want it to look like it was just added as an afterthought. The conservatory makes a nice sanctuary that can be used as a sunroom, a reading room or a play room for children and it can add around 7% to the value of your home.
If you live in an urban area, chances are that you there is very little parking available on the street. This means that if you have somewhere to park your car – then your property is going to be worth more than those next door that don’t. While it is lovely to have a garden, the upkeep can be pretty hard work and the benefits of converting it are huge. You may need to get planning permission first, but then get to work on turning your garden into a drive way or parking space and you could add a whopping 50 000 quid onto your property.
There are a great number of other changes you can make to your property to add value, such as kitchen and bathroom renovations, repainting, redecorating and up-to-date heating and insulation.