Five Ways to Add Value to Your Home Whether you are looking to move home or not, it makes sense to add value to your living space. This article explains some ways in which you can do so.
Front door
Upon first glance, you may think the notion that front doors can increase the value of a property is ridiculous. I can assure you that it isn’t and when you really think about it, it does make sense. The front door is a part of the property that everybody will see – visitors and passers-by alike – and it will heavily influence somebody’s first impressions of your home. According to studies, it can take as little as 8 seconds to decide whether to buy a house (now you’re starting to realise the importance, right?). Ensuring the front door is both aesthetically pleasing will ensure that people have pleasant first impressions of your home.
In regards to colour, a unified street is an appealing street. Using a similar (or the same) colour for the front door to neighbours can make the street look more appealing, not just your property. Doorknobs, knockers and materials are equally important to colour. Don’t forget to add foliage where necessary to form the perfect entrance to a house.
Shutters
Again, shutters may seem like a strange addition if looking to add value to a home, but Channel 4’s Phil Spencer agrees and if shutters are good enough for him then they’re good enough for me. Shutters come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colours and materials; this means that there is a style to suit practically any home. Shutters grant a higher level of light control over blinds and curtains, some styles also offer near-blackout conditions when closed.
Shutters come in both interior and exterior varieties. Shutters are not widely found, at least not in the UK so using them well can create a unique feeling and character within a room. Phil spencer likened having them to adding a ‘timeless elegance’ to a property.
Loft Conversion
Loft Conversions are often the first option that springs to mind when it comes to adding worth to your home, and rightly so, the value that they add cannot be understated. Not only does it add value to your home, it allows you to utilise a fairly large area of space which would previously have been wasted; so it’s an ideal investment to make whether you are looking to move house or not.
A typical loft conversion costs 20,000 – 40,000 and could add up to 25% value to your home. It’s also worth remembering that the initial cost will be offset by the resale value of your home should you ever wish to move.
Parking
There’s no hiding from the fact that cars are an essential part of everyday life, for pleasure, transport and business. With this in mind, it makes sense that parking is of huge importance in properties. Parking is a massing selling point, especially in built up metropolitan areas such as London. Adding parking (or extra parking) to a property has the potential to add huge value. It is worth noting that permission from your local council may be required.
Conservatory
Another popular way of adding value to your house is adding a conservatory. Design is everything with conservatories; you need to pick a style that is in keeping with the rest of your house to avoid looking like you’ve added a cheap bolt-on extension. One of the benefits of adding a conservatory is that they are considered to be ‘planning permitted’, in other words, there is no need to apply for planning permission.
Conservatories range widely in price, from around 5000 to 40,000+. The price will depend on the style and size required.