The best way to invest in your home to boost its value

One of the most common questions we get asked when talking to clients is whether the extension or conversion they’re planning is going to add value to their home.

In many cases, we’re talking to people who have perhaps started a family or are looking to their future and their retirement. They need to create extra space and/or want to increase the value of the property so they can get the most return when they come to sell - either to downsize or upsize - in several years’ time.

First of all, let’s look at what sells a property: what maximises the sale price?

You might hear people say it comes down to the kitchen and bathroom, and yes, there is an element of truth to this. After all, every other room in the house is essentially four walls and some paint right? 

If you’ve got a beautiful, big bespoke kitchen with folding doors into the garden, centralised island and an eight-seater dining table, you might be thinking you’re on to a winner. But, if the only way to access it is through your lounge, you haven’t made the most of your space. Maximum value will be added by improving the living space and ensuring the kitchen, dining room and living area work together.

Bedrooms too are an important element. The number of bedrooms in a property has a big impact on the value so adding one - particularly a master suite - is likely to add significant value. But again, there are things to consider: there is a ceiling value for every street so at some point, extending your home to add a new bedroom isn’t going to bring any return.

So, what are the best ways to invest in your property - small or large - to add value?

Maximise space

One of the best ways to add value to a house is to improve the existing layout and maximise space. If you’re looking for a quick and relatively cheap fix, get rid of any fitted wardrobes (these are terrible for house value!). A step up from that is to look at your internal layouts and play around with adding or knocking down internal walls to make the most of your existing space. Fewer but larger rooms make a home appear larger and open plan kitchen diners - classed as multi-functional living spaces - are always something we recommend (as long as it makes sense for the space).

An architectural designer can draw up plans for building control to make sure any alterations you want to make meet building regulations. To have a chat about options for your home, please give our team a call.

Extending

If internal alterations can’t create the space you need, or you’re looking for something a bit extra, home extensions and loft conversions are a great option.

The value a home extension can add to a property, though, is all dependent on how much the house is worth already, the location, the size of the extension, and what the extension is going to be used for. The projects that are likely to add the most value would be a large single storey kitchen extension or a double storey extension to create a master bedroom with en-suite.

Our advice is always to be careful in how much you spend on your extension if you want to get the value back at the other end. Extending to create a porch is not only a great way to boost the kerb appeal of a property but also its value and the work isn’t likely to cost the earth.

Spruce up

Just by adding a lick of paint, decluttering and doing some DIY decorating to fix any defects such as peeling paint and loose tiles, it’s possible to add value to your home.

Kitchen renovations, too, don’t need to be a major investment. Small changes such as replacing unit doors and the worktops, retiling and adding new flooring can have a huge impact. The same with bathrooms - new lighting and flooring can make all the difference.

Other ideas include getting rid of old carpets and incorporating clever storage ideas. While it’s difficult to say how much value a ‘spruce up’ can add, we know it often makes it easier to sell the property at the optimum price.

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When it comes to investing in a home, we always advise our clients to do it for themselves, not just to add value, particularly with extensions and conversions. If you need the extra space and it’ll make you happier and more comfortable, and you can afford it, then go for it. Don’t worry so much about what value it’s going to add.

To talk to us about adding value to your home, through extending, converting, internal alterations or any other architectural design project, please contact our team on hello@practicalplanningco.co.uk. We offer free, no obligation design consultations so we can check feasibility and discuss any structural issues with you (and cost) on site before you decide to proceed.

Please remember, professional advice is always required with home improvement projects such as extensions and conversions in order to comply with building regulations.