Whether you want to get your home on the market or you’re making some savvy moves for the future, it’s worth thinking about how each part of your property can work harder. Even small changes can make a difference when buyers or valuers look at your home.
In the current UK market, a property’s value gets a boost from improvements that show thoughtful design and future proofing. With that in mind, here are some areas where targeted investment can meaningfully raise your property’s worth – so you can choose where to focus your funds and effort before you sell or simply enjoy a smarter home while staying put.
Make well-maintained outdoor spaces
Your outdoor area is often the first impression people get of your home, and it can set the tone for what they expect when they step inside. When you make sure the garden, patio or any outdoor living space is well maintained, you help buyers see value immediately.
According to a survey by Hammonds Fitted Furniture, the most sought-after feature in a house is a garden. Outdoor space is such a key feature that one in ten (10%) stated that they would offer £15k over the asking price for a home that has a garden.
As well as a garden, Brits are ready to pay £4,146 more on average for a house that has its own driveway and allows for off-street parking. So, if you have outdoor space, it’s time to make the most of it.
Lots of storage space
Smart use of space and clever storage solutions that make daily living easier and more organised are another surefire way to add value to your property. If your home already includes built-in storage or a utility room, you could find that this is a factor that bumps up the asking price on your home, with Brits willing to offer an average of £3,408 over for homes that already have built-in storage solutions.
Maximise what you have by evaluating your home from the buyer’s perspective: is the loft accessible and boarded? Are shelves and cupboards well fitted? Could you convert part of a garage into something more purposeful without major structural work? This could all make a difference.
From there, identify the one storage area that needs upgrading and appoint a joiner or fitter to complete it properly rather than leaving it half-done.
Add a conservatory or an additional room
Increasing usable living space often features in valuations. For example, a well-designed conservatory in the UK can increase a property’s value by around 5% to 7%, although Savills has put that figure as high as 12% on high-quality conservatories in London.
The Hammonds survey revealed that buyers would consider paying almost £4,000 (£3,951) more if the house has a conservatory, showing that there’s still an appetite for these airy additions to a home.
If you’re thinking of adding one, make sure you have the site and budget for such a project. If you decide to proceed, choose materials and designs that match the home’s existing character. Once the new room is completed, stage it properly by making it a usable living space so buyers can see how it functions.
Make energy-efficient upgrades
Home buyers are increasingly looking for properties that cost less to run and have lower carbon footprints. Installing features such as solar panels, triple-glazed windows or an electric-car charging point lowers your household bills and also signals to buyers that the home is modern and efficient.
For example, the UK Government notes that rooftop solar offers bill savings and can increase the financial value of the property.
This tallies with the results of the study, which revealed that one in 12 (8%) of those surveyed would pay £15k above the asking price for a home with triple-glazed windows or solar panels.
So, if you’re looking at ways to boost market value, assess your property and consider making adaptations that match up both with buyer expectations and your existing property. Be realistic about what you can change and make adjustments where possible – in doing so, you’ll tick some of these boxes and may see your asking price go up.