DESIGN OF 17 NEW HOMES

8 ways to add value to your home

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Do you want to improve your home whilst adding value to it? Have a read of our 8 ways that you can do so in this article.

  1. Go open plan

Homes with an open plan kitchen/dining room are usually more appealing – families like to have big, open plan rooms where they can eat and live together. If you do plan to take out existing walls, make sure that your builder works with a structural engineer.

  1. Create more space

Having more living space can mean better kitchen and dining areas, additional bedrooms or bathrooms, or a home office. If you want to extend your house, try not to extend it by more than 20-25% of the outside space, otherwise the house could become unbalanced.

  1. Go green

Having good insulation in your home will reduce energy bills as well as improve the thermal performance. Cavity walls and timber floors are easy to insulate – concrete floors can involve losing some floor-to-ceiling height and are sometimes more difficult.

  1. Add an ensuite

A big house with only one or two bathrooms could benefit from an ensuite in the main bedroom. To further improve saleability, choose efficient products to use to get access to energy and water rating certificates.

  1. Refresh the flooring

Flooring makes a big impact on the overall feel and value of any home. Old tired laminates and unattractive worn carpets are signs that your floor needs updating. Upgrade examples include opting for new high-quality carpets, or switching to tiles in the bathrooms and kitchen. One of the simplest and instantly impactful choices can be putting in a wooden floor.

  1. Get glazing

Having suitable fenestration will add visual appeal straightaway, and bi-fold doors give you great access to the garden, as well as that “wow factor”. Triple glazing doesn’t cost much more than double glazing, yet it really adds value as it’s a way of saving energy.

  1. Keep your home maintained

Staying on top of the upkeep of your home is important. Key areas include the roof (regularly checking there aren’t any tiles to replace) and timber window frames (refinish every few years to preserve them). Replacing your guttering if necessary is a quick and cost-effective way to shape up your home and add value.

  1. Stay focussed

Get stuck in your project with your developer’s hat on. You should begin by looking at the ultimate resale value of your property. Every street has a ceiling price – find out what yours is through valuations from estate agents, then get quotes on the work you wish to undertake.