How to add value to your home

10 July 2023

Whether you are planning to sell your home or stay put for a few years, high quality home improvements will add value to your house and can work out much cheaper than moving.

Homeowners should look to invest in improvements that add to the overall footprint of property – such as creating extensions – or home improvements that modernise, improve the general condition of a home, or add interest – such as creating a dedicated work from home space, installing underfloor heating, or restoring original features.

Fix it!

Make sure buyers are not put off by any outstanding minor repairs and replace cracked floor or wall tiles, fix leaky taps, patch up any holes and cracks in walls or ceilings, replace lightbulbs and repaint the front door.

Swapping your cabinet or door handles is another quick win.

Create an open-plan living room/kitchen

Open plan kitchen/living/dining spaces have become extremely popular and a room like this can add a real wow factor and photographs very well for the sales brochure, especially if wide- opening doors to the garden can be incorporated. If you are spending money on a new extension, this is a great way to make the most of your investment.

A generous roof window can bring the sunlight into the heart of your home and in many cases, you can reconnect your house to the garden.

Consider a loft conversion

A loft conversion can add a lot of value to your home, particularly if it adds an extra bedroom with an en suite.

A simple loft conversion can be completed in four to five weeks and is the least disruptive type of extension. However, more complex projects might take several months, plus any time it takes to gain planning permission.

What about the bathroom?

Wetrooms and shower rooms have risen in popularity in recent years, however a bath can still add value.

In recent years there’s been a trend for wet rooms and shower-only bathrooms and as a result many homeowners have opted to remove their baths completely. While you may like this new look, many prospective buyers may be put off your property as a result.

Don't forget about the outside

Try to look at your home from a buyer’s point of view. To improve the kerb appeal, remember to cut the grass, repaint faded or flaking window frames, trim bushes, remove weeds and ensure potential viewers can clearly read the house number.

For some, a garden is considered to be just as important to a house buyer as an office or a second bedroom so it is worth sprucing up the area.

Consider highlighting an area of the garden suitable for a bit of natural privacy, away from noise and curious neighbours. This helps buyers picture their own private space, far from the distractions and interruptions of everyday life. Garden furniture (even something as simple as a giant beanbag or a few chairs) can make a huge difference here, as it helps to fill out the space and create an outdoor living area.

Add a garden room

While a garden room might not add as much value to your home as a traditional extension or loft conversion, they take considerably less time and investment to complete - making them great value for money.

Having a dedicated office space is fast becoming an essential feature for prospective buyers, reflecting the rise in hybrid working across many industries in Scotland. A games rooms, an indoor gym, a yoga studio and even a small cinema area may also work well in a garden room.