Add value to your home

Discover 6 improvements to add value to your home

These are the improvements that add value, but always seek an estate agent's advice to make sure the added value will apply to your property. All homes have a ceiling price so it's vital to make sure that the cost is not so expensive that you won't make a profit – or even lose money – on your investment

Loft conversion
This is the most cost-effective way to gain extra living space and you should be able to do it if your home was built before 1975 and/or the loft has a maximum headroom of 2.3m. Work costs from around £20,000 and takes about six to 12 weeks. Creating a double bedroom with en suite is the most popular option and Nationwide Building Society estimates it could add 21% to the value of your home. Take professional advice before you start because the conversion must meet building and fire regulations.

Extension
Adding a single-storey extension can start at around £30,000, while two storeys can cost from £40,000. According to Nationwide Building Society, a ground-floor extension can increase your property's value by around 5%, while adding a bedroom to create a three-bed house will add 12%. When planning, make rooms as big as possible, but don't sacrifice too much garden as it can make a property feel out of balance and deter buyers. Check with the local planning office to see if you need permission. Work must also comply with Building Regulations and be inspected and passed at key stages.

Better kitchen
A new kitchen will make your property more appealing to buyers and can add as much as 4% to its value, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). But always keep expense in proportion to the size of your property. For example, there's little chance of adding value or even recouping costs if you add a bespoke £25,000 kitchen to a £170,000 semi.

Extra bathroom
A new en suite or second bathroom can add 5% to your home's value according to Nationwide Building Society, but don't do it at the expense of a double bedroom, as this could devalue your property. Simply renewing a bathroom suite will also make your home more saleable, but you may only recoup 25% of your costs.

Conservatory
Adding a conservatory can raise your house's value by 4% to 5% according to the RICS and is a relatively simple and cost-effective way of increasing your space. Choose a design that complements the style of your home and make sure it doesn't dominate your garden. Also think about its position: a south-facing conservatory needs ventilation and shade, while a north-facing room requires good heating. Check with your local planning department whether you need permission. If you're within your home's permitted development allowance (your local planning department can advise on this) and your conservatory is separated from your house by patio doors, you may be exempt.

Eco upgrades
Beatthatquote.com predicts that within three years an eco-friendly house will be
worth 6% more than a standard one – and many of the ecological improvements you can make, like adding insulation and fitting solar-panel heating, will also save money when it comes to energy bills. According to Nationwide Building Society, laying 27cm-thick loft insulation will reduce heating bills by £210-£250 per year, and cavity wall insulation will save £210-£250 per year. Prices start at £1,500 for a solar water heater, which can provide up to 70% of your hot water free. Government grants are available to help you make
these ecological improvements.

Useful contacts

Loft conversion
Gallery Lofts 01256 817480; www.gallerylofts.co.uk
The Loft Shop 0870 604 0404; www.loftshop.co.uk

Extensions
Architect Your Home 0800 849 8505; www.architect-yourhome.com
MJ Showell Building Contractor 01827 67978
Royal Institute of Architects (RIBA) 020 7580 5533; www.riba.org

Kitchen & bathrooms
Harvey Jones 0800 389 6938; www.harveyjones.com
The Kitchen, Bathroom, Bedroom Specialists Association (KBBA) 01905 621787; www.kbsa.co.uk

Conservatory
Anglian Home Improvements 0800 500600; www.anglianhome.co.uk
Bartholomew 01428 742800; www.bartholomew-conservatories.co.uk
Conservatory Information 01795 843272; www.conservatoryinfo.co.uk
Ultraframe 0500 822340; www.ultraframe-conservatories.co.uk

Energy saving
Energy Saving Trust 0800 512012; www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
• For information on planning and building regulations, visit www.communities.gov.uk or www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/planning
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) (0870 333 1600; www.rics.org/extendingyourhome) publishes a free leaflet called Extending your Home. It also offers a Building Cost Information Service (020 7695 1500; www.bcis.co.uk).
• For the Federation of Master Builders' free booklet The Essential Guide to Home Improvement,
visit www.buildingarticles.co.uk.

Get the best from your builders with our expert advice from the 'Federation of Master Builders'

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