House prices have been slowly increasing over the last few months, but there’s uncertainty ahead as the impact of the Brexit result will likely depend on what kind of exit the UK Government manages to achieve. So, whether the prices continue to rise organically, or the housing market takes a bit of a whack in the short term, it’s still a good moment to dedicate a little bit of time to ensuring you are maximising the value of your home.
In this blog and in Part 2, we will be detailing ten of the best methods to boost the value of your home, and we’ll begin Part 1 with some common sense followed by a few classic value boosting ideas.
Care and Maintenance is Key
Many folks think of adding certain upgrades to the home when they consider boosting the price of their home, but taking care of what you already have should actually be a much higher priority. Keeping the attic insulation in tact, repairing leaks and other bits and bobs, plus replacing leaky windows or broken guttering will all save your home from additional damage in the future. It’s also worth noting that houses that receive regular care and maintenance are usually the easiest to sell.
Make Space for More Space
Take a wander around your home and make a note of anything that takes up a lot of room but doesn’t need to be there. The likes of non-structural walls, kitchen islands and unnecessary cabinets might be able to be removed to create extra space, even if it’s just space for space’s sake. Of course, something like a kitchen island might actually add value itself depending on the type of house and kitchen design, but do consider your options as space always helps add value to a house.
Light the Way to Higher Value
Lighting is crucial when it comes to squeezing the most value out of your home. You’ll want to allow as much natural light into the home as possible, so it might be worth looking into getting a sun tube, light pipe or tubular skylight installed. Another simple but effective value booster is the addition of dimmer switches to any rooms that would benefit from mood lighting.
Energy Efficiency Boosts Value
Going green is one of the best things you can do for a nice boost to the house’s value. Replacing old heating or air conditioning systems with new ones will help massively with energy bills. Solar-powered water heaters may also be worth a look if you have the right property for them.
A Little Bit of Landscaping
This is a simple issue I’m sure everyone is aware of but should still be mentioned in any list such as this: an overgrown or unkempt garden is not very attractive while a neatly pruned and cared for garden is very attractive. One diminishes the value of a property while the other adds value to it. So get out the shears and the mower and put your green fingers to good work.
Another five value boosting tips coming in Part 2!
