6 Best Ways to Add Value to your Home

To renovate or not renovate? That’s a crucial question when you’re planning to put your house on the market.

If you want to work your way up the property ladder to your dream home, you need to know how to maximise the value of where you live now. Here are 6 of the best ways to add value to your property. All values quoted are statistical assessments and not guaranteed.

1. Convert your cellar

Potential Value Added: Up to 30%

Transforming an existing cellar into a living or storage space can boost a property’s value by up to 30 per cent – so long as the build cost per square foot is less than the price per square foot of the area.

2. Split a house into flats

Potential Value Added: 30%

Converting a house into flats is popular in London, where flats are in high demand and often easier to rent out. Splitting a property into separate units can therefore maximise rental income in the short term and profit on sale in the long term.

3. Convert your garage to living space

Potential Value Added: 15%

If your garage isn’t being used to house a car, it could make sense to convert it into a living space – especially if you have parking space outside.

4. Extend the kitchen with a side-return extension

Potential Value Added: 15%

A side return is a narrow alley that runs adjacent to the kitchen in a typical terraced or semi-detached house. Extending the kitchen into the side return and to the full width of the rest of the house means you gain valuable space and can also improve the layout.

5. Loft conversion to add a bedroom

Potential Value Added: 15%

An extra bedroom can add up to 15 per cent to the value of your home, especially if it’s a loft conversion with an en suite bathroom. Most lofts can be converted, but it’s worth getting an architect or builder to double check before you start.

6. Increase living space with a conservatory

Potential Value Added: up to 10%

If you want to feel closer to nature, a fully glazed conservatory will merge indoors with outdoors. To get started, think how you want to use the space and whether a modern or traditional style will be best for your home and lifestyle.