Increasing the square footage of your property is a fairly guaranteed way of adding value to it. However, we refer you here to the age old adage: quality over quantity. There are plenty of ways – big and small – to refine and improve your home to positively impact its value. Use this as your guide to getting started.
Fix structural issues first
When you’re on the precipice of a renovation project, it’s easy to get ahead of yourself and get excited about the finer details like interior design. But before you let your imagination run away from you, it’s worth dealing with the less flashy finickity bits like structural issues first and foremost. This way, you’ll be less likely to be met with a nasty surprise later on.
Cracked walls
Cracked internal walls not only look unsightly, the longer they’re left the deeper the crack becomes. If you’re looking to DIY-it, follow this handy step-by-step guide by Clear Cut Painting. If you’d like an expert opinion about the state of the structure, it may be worth hiring a Structural Engineer who can make sure all the important cracks are safely filled in.
Chimneys
Whether you’re looking to remove your chimney to create more space or to improve the structural integrity of your home, consider a buildings regulation package to simplify some of the rules that come with this type of work. Addressing a wobbly chimney now could prevent damage down the line as well as offering up just a little bit of extra room inside.
Leaks
This may be an obvious one but leaks are all too often overlooked and leaving them to drip away can wreak havoc with your home. Refitting your plumbing may not be a glamorous pursuit but it could make all the difference to your day to day quality of life. Not to mention saving you a bomb on any bills for structural works that could emerge through water damage.
Address your central heating
We really can’t emphasise the value in addressing central heating problems and maintaining a smooth-running system. With increasing bills and heightened national awareness of our big leaky home problem, there’s never been a better time to address your home’s energy efficiency and improve your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating. And it’s not just for the planet, believe us – it’s for your pocket.
Insulation
One of the most impactful ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home is to get better insulated. This means keeping in vital heat throughout the colder months, caring for the structure of the home and requiring less energy in order to heat your home. It also goes without saying that reducing the humidity within the home can minimise the risk of respiratory health problems in the occupants.
If you get your EPC rating checked, you should receive some specific advice on how to combat your energy efficiency issues but common suggestions include loft insulation and cavity wall insulation. These changes are likely to lower your energy bills, make you more comfortable at home and add value to your property should you look to sell it in the future.
Glazing
We’ve already touched on leaky homes and the problems that come with them. Having poorly glazed windows is one of the most common ways for heat to escape out of the home. The impact? Requiring you to rev up the heating for even longer just to stay warm or risking regular colds from feeling perpetually chilly. Consider opting for window refits to install double glazing and lock in your heating – with efficiency as a growing concern for prospective buyers, it could also boost your asking price.
Create open-plan spaces
Open-plan living spaces have long been popular, dominating double-page splashes in architecture magazines and making the kitchen island a modern house staple. This article explores why it has long reigned in the residential renovation market and how it can benefit families.
The top lines are: open-plan living offers families and households to engage in a more connected existence which can in turn improve their sense of wellbeing. It’s also a fantastic way of creating flow throughout your property and increasing the amount of natural light that makes it into the home.
© Veronica Rodriguez
Loft conversion
Want to increase the value and maximise the space in your home without actually extending it? If you’ve got the right kind of property for it, a loft conversion could be the answer you’ve been searching for. For the uninitiated, a loft conversion is a reimagining of uninhabited attic space that transforms it into a safe, livable area. Because it adds an additional room into a home where it would have at best been storage space, it can make a huge difference to the value of your home.
© Veronica Rodriguez
Read our complete guide to loft conversions to find out more about what permissions you’ll require, potential timelines and what to expect throughout construction.
Decorating
We’d always suggest beginning with fixing structural and insulation issues but, if you’re satisfied with where your home is with these factors, it might just be time to get decorating. If you’re looking to add value to your home or if you’re as far along as looking to sell, make sure that the surface you’re presenting is something you’re truly proud of. Here are 3 ways to get started: - Replace broken or loose wall tiles Cracked or falling tiles can look messy and the longer they’re left the more out of shape they can become – not to mention how dusty they can make the room they’re in. Replace broken or loose wall tiles which you can either attempt solo with a handy DIY guide from Victoria Plum. Alternatively, get in touch with an interior designer to hear some creative ways that your space could be reimagined.
Repaint walls
Now this may not sound revolutionary but it really is amazing what a fresh lick of paint can do. Once you’ve fixed any pesky cracks, it’s time to refresh your walls with a clean finish.
Replace old door knobs, handles and locks
There’s not much we can do about door knobs, handles and locks rusting over time but if you’re looking to add value to your home, it’s really important to pay attention to the details. Explore Buster & Punch for stylish, elegant solutions.
Get outside
Appearances aren’t everything but they do count for a lot. Present your home from the outside how you’d like people to feel about it on the inside – prioritise getting it clean, tidy and organised. Here are our top ways to improve the initial impression of your home:
Repaint the outside of the home
If repainting the inside of your home is already on your list of things to do, it seems a shame to neglect the rest of your property – especially as it’s the first thing anyone will see.
Empty drains
In an ideal world, emptying your drains would be a regular habit to maintain but we all let tasks like this fall to the wayside. Empty your drains to reduce the risk of flooding and structural damage, as well as to improve the ease of your home on the eye.
Add some greenery
Whether you’re greenfingered or not, it might be time to show your garden some attention. Increasingly, it’s one of the most popular parts of a property that people look at when they’re deciding whether they want to invest in a property so if you’re trying to add value it’s in your interest to tend to the lawn.
