Upgrades you can do that will actually add value to your home

Since the pandemic has changed how we use our properties, there’s a temptation to spend up on home improvements. Especially if you think you’ll recoup those costs — and more — from an increased price when you sell up. But be careful. Not every project will give a return.

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Recently, bathroom retailers reported record sales of hot tubs. Now, occasionally you may be tempted by a top-of- the-range number, with Bluetooth speakers, hydrotherapy jets, LED lighting and a host of other features. But please stop and think again.

No one will ever say, I must buy that house because it has a hot tub.

And why are people still obsessed with conservatories? These relics from the 1990s are brutally hot in summer and fearsomely cold in winter. But often they are considered an investment. It is also assumed that any added square footage will end up on the bottom line when you sell. This is not always the case. So, what can you do to add value? Consider space and how you use it. Use sunlight to your advantage, and the outdoors to its full potential.

So what are some of the things you can do to your home that will add value to it’s bottom line?

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Improve the outdoor area

Outdoor spaces that are perfect for entertaining will increase the desirability of your home. While shade and shelter are essential, fire pits and fountains have also become popular additions to many backyards. Cheap stone patios, outdoor lighting from a DIY store and a range of garden furniture that looks like it’s fallen off the back of a truck are not the way to go. As we continue through the next phase of the pandemic, these things matter. So does having a convenient place to put a barbecue. Better still, install an outside kitchen. Yes, they cost a bomb, but buyers love them. A retreat away from the main house has always been on buyers’ wish lists, but the pandemic has brought this to the fore. There’s an entire industry that’s emerged in the past few years building bespoke outside rooms that don’t need DA approval. The planning system is relatively easy to navigate. You can usually put a retreat in your garden without permission but do check with your planning authority.  Seek out makers of beautiful prefab ranges of offices and garden pods.

Build a swimming pool

Don’t build a pool too small. No one will pay a premium for a pond. And kidney shapes are best left in the 1970s.

In 2008, as the property market cascaded into oblivion, commentators opined on home improvements that lost you money. Top of the list was a swimming pool — because they take a lot of time and money to maintain,  they put off buyers with small children. Wrong! A decade and a half later, swimming pools are more desirable than ever.

Make sure they’re designed properly and installed well. Modern technology means that chemical balance and cleaning can all be done by systems and tech. Lower-cost solutions can ionise the water — or try chemical feeders that maintain the right pH and chlorine levels. Robotic pool cleaners such as a Dolphin or Zodiac will happily keep the tiles spick and span. And don’t skimp on the heating system. Choose an air source pump rather than gas boilers. The best machines can save a lot of work.

Will it return your investment in your property sale? Yes, if you’re at the top end of the market, where a pool is considered as standard. If you get the project right, you’ll make a decent return.

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Improve the layout

It is important when considering the layout of your property to try and avoid losing rooms. Even if you are creating a superb layout, if in the process you go from a 3 to a 2 bedroom property it is extremely likely that you will be reducing the value of your home. Also, try to keep layouts flexible – if you create an open plan ground floor layout consider installing dividing doors and make it easy to reinstate stud walls so potential purchasers understand they can change the layout to meet their needs. 

Curb Appeal

How your home looks from the street influences desirability. Adding a fence can be expensive but won’t necessarily increase the value of your home. However, it would be worth fixing and painting any existing fences around the property.

Build a granny flat

It’s becoming more common for generations of families to live together and split the cost of living. If you have space, adding a granny flat to your property can increase the overall value as long as it’s done right.

Install Gas Heating and Appliances

Improve energy efficiency. Estimates for fuel inflation mean that by the end of the decade fuel costs will be the second largest household payment after the mortgage. This means that having a fuel efficient home will be a big advantage for many prospective buyers who are becoming increasingly conscious of a home’s running costs. If you are extending or converting then consider insulating the walls and ceilings because 70 per cent of all heat is lost through them. Gas appliances are a favourite home feature for a couple of reasons plus they’re efficient.

Installing gas cooktops and ovens add value in the kitchen and is often preferred to electric ovens and cooktops due to its ability to provide instant heat and even temperature compared to electric. As for the environment, gas may produce less greenhouse gas emissions than electricity. Changing to a fuel efficient system will also reduce bills as can under-floor heating. We have found that many simple low cost measures are effective at reducing energy costs, which will become increasingly important as time goes on.

Give things a fresh coat of paint

A new coat of paint is the easiest and most cost-effective way to refresh the look of your home while boosting value. Decide whether you want to redo the whole house or focus a couple of rooms? As for the colour, it’s been said that ivory is the one colour that will add value to your home but the jury is still out on that one in my opinion. And don’t forget, there are plenty of shades of white on the spectrum.