Increasing the Value of Your Home

Increasing the nalue of YOUR HOME Introduction Selling your home is complicated business. Dealing with such large quantities of money can be troubling and the choices you make could significantly impact the rest of your life. Whether you're a first time seller or regular property developer, finding ways to increase your home's value is crucial, and no doubt you have plenty of questions. From quick and easy fixes to renovations and extensions, there are plenty of things you can do to increase the total value of your home – even if you have a minimal budget. £ £ £ £ AAAAA £ 3 3 3 3 AAAAA Selling your home is complicated business Dealing with such large quantities of money can be troubling even if you're a first time seller or regular property developer. Plenty of things you can do to increase the total value of your home - even if you have a minimal budget. Quick Fixes Free The dreaded de-clutter weekend is crucial. In fact, before you start any other menial tasks begin with this quick and easy chore, as you may reveal issues that would have otherwise gone amiss. The idea behind de-cluttering is to create the illusion of more space and give buyers the chance to envision their belongings in your home. Pack everything into boxes and either stack them tidily in the attic or put them into storage. De-Clutter Work out the most probable "type" of buyer and arrange your home accordingly. For example, if you think your home will attract a businessman, arrange the spare room into an office; or if you're targeting families, a play room could be more beneficial. Sometimes a simple rearrangement of furniture and décor is all that's required to draw attention. Target your Buyer A mirror hung on the wall of a narrow hallway will make the space look surprisingly bigger. Use mirrors to enhance the entrance of your home; it's the first and last area buyers will see, so ensuring it looks as large as possible is paramount. Hang Mirrors Under £50 Estate agents consider the kitchen to be the most important room in the house, and cabinet is often the biggest problem. However, contrary to popular belief, you don't need to buy new cabinets to make them look presentable. Touch up scratches and fading with a single layer of paint and simply clean or replace rusted hardware - Make Over handles and hinges, etc. Cabinets A bright home is a happy home, so invest in new high-wattage light bulbs and throw away any tacky lampshades. If you have long fluorescent tube lighting in your kitchen, replace it for something a little less industrial to create a more homely atmosphere. Fix your Lighting The little changes make all the difference and sometimes something trivial such as a bathroom without a full roll of toilet paper or freshly hung towels is enough to make it look incomplete. Just before each viewing give every room the once-over to ensure there's nothing out-of-place. Mow your garden and trim your plants; close open Tough Up the drawers and cupboards; tie back curtains and make the beds - do Interior and anything and everything to make your home look complete. Exterior Under £100 Painting is the easiest way to give your home a lift. Put a fresh coat of paint in the most important rooms of the house - the living room, kitchen and bathroom. Stay away from dark and bold colours and keep everything neutral. Don't use too many different colours or experiment with accents or unconventional finishes - simplicity is key. When you've finished painting don't ruin all your hard work by hanging up posters and artwork. Patch and Paint Don't replace your carpet or laminate when you're moving; it's completely unnecessary as you'll never know what décor style your buyer will prefer. You should, however, make sure that your floors are looking their best. Rent a steam cleaner to get out difficult carpet stains or buff hardwood until it's sleek and shiny. Don't waste your money on a professional cleaning service unless you genuinely have to. Clean the Floors £100 - £1,000 A new bathroom will put roughly 2.88% onto your home's overall value, yet it's one of the cheapest and easiest fixes you can make. Replace old taps; add a heated towel rail; install a large shower head; and replace shower curtains with a glass screen or door. Keep everything chrome and touch up any loose grouting to finish it off. Overhaul the Bathroom Under £1,000 If you don't have a conservatory, porch or the cash for an extension, you can make money by simply securing permission to build. A successful planning application can place your home in a higher bracket. In addition, knowing that the council have already accepted your proposal will give buyers peace-of-mind because they'll know Get Planning that the option to adapt the property is possible. Permission These tips may not seem too important; however, small changes can make all the difference. Even if they don't increase the actual value of your home, they could still change the attitude of a prospective buyer and tilt the scales in your favour. Renovating and Redecorating Install Energy Efficient Windows Add Energy Efficient Insulation Add an Remodel the Kitchen Convert the Attic En-Suite Developments and Extensions Landscaping Tricks Makeover the Garden Construct a Porch 2 Install Outdoor Lighting 2 Convert the Garage 3 Add a Walkway 3 Construct a Conservatory 4 Build an Outdoor Seating Area Build a Basement Pave the Front Garden Build a nice Fence Research conducted by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) concluded that making energy saving improvements increases property value by an average of 14% – sometimes up to 38%. Boosting Energy Efficiency Small investments could tip your EPC rating over the threshold. Examples include: Low-flow or vacuum toilets Low-flow showerheads Daylighting - skylights, Programmable light shelves and light tubes thermostats To significantly increase your home's EPC rating, consider making the following investments Insulation Solar Panels Tankless Water Heater Conclusion Before you begin redecorating or building with the purpose of increasing your home's value, seek help from professionals. By working alongside both an estate agent and architect, you can make your decisions based on: Most importantly, how much money you hope to gain when you're ready to sell. Budget The size and structure of your property The estimated timeframe of completion Fundamentally, the money you invest should offer a worthwhile return; not just in terms of financial value, but also time and effort. 《 件