How to add value to your home  

Adding value to your home is straightforward. Making money often involves spending money when it comes to investments, and your home is no different! Whether you are looking for a quick flip or a total revamp, it’s important to make the right choices.    

Below, we discuss the best ways to add real value to your home... 

A few ground rules 

Do not overspend! Make sure your changes are impactful and necessary. If a refurbishment adds to the quality of your living space, then do it, just don’t get carried away. 

Be resourceful, shop around conduct plenty of research. Don’t just sign on the dotted line in a branded store, consider independent tradespeople to carry out the work, they may do a better job for less.   

Kitchen or bathroom?  

If the kitchen is in good shape but the bathroom is crying out to be replaced, then you may get more for your money by choosing a bathroom renovation.  

It could be that you need to do both the kitchen and the bathroom, arguably the two most impactful, important and costly rooms in the house.  

A new bathroom can add up to 5% to the value of your house while a new kitchen can add up to 15%, do the maths and see what you can reasonably spend. Then, enjoy the quality of new tiles, colours, materials, and cabinets with a new space-altering layout.   

Loft conversions  

Loft conversion can add between 10 – 20% to the value of your home, but be warned this is not an easy task. Firstly, check if you can convert your loft, beam heights are critical here, so you will need to get a reputable builder to give a good appraisal. There is lots of red tape involved in creating a new bedroom, office or bathroom in your loft. The good news is that this is often much cheaper than adding an extension to your property.  

Garden and outdoor living spaces 

A nice garden with outdoor living space is almost like adding another room to your house. Be careful, a few shrubs and trees with maybe some decking and already you have spent thousands. Perhaps not as guaranteed to add the same levels of added value to your home as other areas but still worth doing and will complement the entire living experience of your home. Bifold doors removing the traditional boundaries between an indoor and outdoor living will enhance this further.  

Energy efficiency  

A new heating system is not a massive investment and will save money on energy bills and easily add more than the cost of replacing the system, while not putting potential buyers off with the prospect of replacing the boiler.  

Solar panels are becoming increasingly popular. It’s an attractive proposition, particularly in today’s climate; to be self-sufficient when it comes to producing electricity. In some cases, you may even be able to supply the local electricity board and get paid!  Lower your carbon footprint or consider running your car to gain more savings. 

The little things you can do 

Sand and paint internal and external doors and skirting. 

Check out your floorboards, in older houses often these can be sanded and varnished and will look beautiful on completion.  

If you can’t afford to replace tiles and cabinets, consider painting them.  

Improve or replace lighting and light fittings. 

Sort any damp problems. 

Replace carpets or old laminate.  

 Bad bathroom grouting often brings the value of a home down far more than the relatively low cost of getting it sorted.  

Check the guttering.  

Replace windows and doors.  

Paint and decorate the internal walls and remember, if you are selling soon, use safe, neutral colours. 

It’s all good 

Whatever you decide to do, all these measures, and any you think of on the way, will add value to your home in more ways than one!    

Just finished your home refurbishment, wondering what it’s now worth? Get a valuation or browse our properties for your next move.   

January is a fantastic month to prepare your property for a February sale. With the Christmas holiday behind you, hopefully you are feeling refreshed and ready to roll up your sleeves. 

Spring is always a great time to sell, so getting ahead of the competition and preparing for the coming months is a great strategy. 

So, why not put your house on the market in February? As each day passes, the warming weather will heat in harmony with the property market. Early birds will be searching, and probably have been, for their ideal home since last year. So getting your house on the market in time for February is a savvy move, because it not only beats the rush but also gives you extra time to sell and get the price you want. 

So, what can you do? 

A good entrance 

You and your home have made it through the winter, but there might be a few scars. Place yourself in your buyer’s shoes and look at the entrance to your home as you approach from the front. Are there any blemishes on the front door, or is there any paintwork that needs attention? Guttering? Weeds? It might not be summer, but you can still neaten up the front garden. 

Outdoor living spaces 

Entice buyers by showing them a vision of all-year-round outdoor living. Perhaps an outdoor fire or stove, some chairs, and a few logs. The leaves have long since been swept up, and if things appear tidy and serene, it might move buyers to buy. If they see outdoor winter living as well as a vision of the summer before and after the sun goes down, then perhaps they will move quickly. 

Create a cosy and warm atmosphere 

If this warm and wonderful atmosphere is also captured inside, then you are onto a winner. Offer proof of the coming spring with flowers or plants. A fire that is clearly in use and a living room that is in order (and lived in) will undoubtedly make potential buyers feel at home.    

An early spring clean 

It might not be spring yet, but that’s no excuse to give your home a good spring clean. If you do nothing else, your house will sell itself if it looks clean and well cared for. Combined with some of the other steps you can take, a speedier sale is almost certain. 

Give your own home a house inspection 

Empathise with your potential buyer and have a good walk through your house with your phone, taking pictures of anything that might need attention or dissuade a potential buyer. Even if you started this process last year, you are almost guaranteed to find areas that need painting, repairing, or replacing. If you start this process in January, then the clock is ticking and it's best to prioritise the various jobs you find. Ask yourself if you will get your money back if you find something that involves spending significant amounts of money, or if you can improve something that does not involve large injections of cash. 

Relax 

When all this is done, just sit back and let your house sell itself! The hard work is done, so enjoy the proof of all your hard work during the time you have left together because it won't be long until you will be on the move! 

Looking to sell swiftly? Contact us to see how we can help. 

There is much to think about when investing in property. Whether you are a seasoned investor or letting for the first time, this checklist may throw up a few things you might not have thought of... 

The Right House at the Right Price 

It all starts with the right house, flat or property. You will not get a good ROI (Return On Investment) if you have paid over the odds for your property. Worse still, borrowing excessively so your letting yield does not cover the cost of the mortgage. Using this scenario as the worst-case example the principle is true at any level. Pay the right price for a good property.   

The Area 

A good house is made even better if it’s in the right area. That is not only is it a nice area but is there a good balanced mix of both let properties and private residential homes? This gives you options when it comes to selling and letting.    

How Will You Let Your Property 

There are many agents who will provide different levels of service for a relatively small fee. Everything from collecting rent to finding and vetting your potential tenants. Some will even pay you a rental income before they have placed tenants. Maintenance and guidance on legal obligations can also be taken care of or you can opt for a halfway house where the letting agent will take care of some of these things, while you take care of the rest.  

Tenants 

If you choose to find your own tenants then you will need to set up a bank account, arrange references, set aside some time to meet tenants, so it’s worth paying a good letting agent who will take care of this for you.  

Rental Income  

It is important to get the figures right. You want to let your house and hopefully make a profit on any potential borrowings you may owe on the house or any maintenance and repairs and what you charge your tenants. The best way to do this is to create a spreadsheet and break down all costs on a monthly basis.  

Potential Expenses 

While you are on your spreadsheet, think of expenses such as maintenance; boiler services, electric appliance testing and budget for the unexpected like repairs or potential appliance replacement if applicable. 

Remember Legal Obligations and Contracts  

Check out any legal obligations and make sure your property is up to scratch to avoid any unexpected expenditure, for example is your fuse box obsolete? Also, you will need a contract to protect your tenants and yourself legally.   

Development Potential  

Perhaps you have no intention of letting your house, you are simply going to restore it, or modernise it, then sell it. Perhaps you will improve your property, then let for a time then sell it. Whichever you choose, consider market conditions and if you can stick to your budget. Try and find a property with plenty of development potential so you can add value to your investment.  

Are you searching for a great investment? Browse our properties and become an investor today 

Whether you’re letting or living in your home, maintenance can be a pain to deal with and not very exciting. More work especially if you do it yourself, but property is most likely your biggest investment, and you want to protect it.  Cold wintry nights bring with them; Jack Frost trying to bite chunks out of your pipes, the wind stealing tiles from your roof and heavy rain and sometimes snow bringing the potential of floods. While you can’t stop nature, you can certainly protect against it with the right winter maintenance plan. So, what can you do to help keep your property safe against the assaults of winter? 

Pipes 

During the winter your pipes are going to get a lot of use. Repeated heating and cooling combined with a vicious frost can cause cracking. An easy step to take is to carry out a visual inspection, particularly of any external pipes.  Make sure they are insulated to protect them and potentially your bank balance from any large bills.    

Roof 

Run your eyes (do this from the ground) along the roof, check if there are any missing tiles, and make sure the gutters are in working order and draining and not creating an expensive and damaging pool up on the roof!  

Boiler and Radiators 

Check the boiler, make sure it’s serviced annually. Bleed the radiators, the more efficiently they work, the better it will be for your heating bill.  

Wood Burners and Stoves 

If you are lucky enough to own a wood burner, make sure the chimney is clear and it’s all in good working order. When did it last have a service? This will keep the heat flowing efficiently and safely.  

Draughts 

Do any internal doors need adjusting or replacing due to the hot and cold cycle of the seasons? Is there a draught coming from the seals around the fireplace? Or is there a draught coming from somewhere else? 

Insulation  

It could be there is a draught coming from the attic. One reason why is that you need to insulate your attic. For a messy job, make sure you are wearing protective clothing and a mask, but do not take on a job requiring skilled tradesmen. Better insulation will enable you to save massively on your heating bill. 

Salt and Shovels  

If you have a lot of exposed concrete paving or tarmac make sure you dig out your shovel, sand or salt so you can be prepared for snow and ice.  

Stock up 

Build up your reserves of wood, or whichever fuels you burn on the fire. 

Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors   

With so many fuels and energy sources in use, make sure your warning alarms are in good working order. One minute of your time to check the batteries is always time well spent. 

Insurance  

Check your policy. If the winter is going to be particularly bad with storms, ice, snow or floods then use it as a reminder to check in fine detail what you are covered for. Some policies might not cover for wind for example and the finer detail may state that only a certain amount of compensation is paid in the event of damage.  

Remember, if you spend a lot of time away for work or in a partner’s house, to adjust your policy accordingly as the house could be classified as unoccupied, even if it’s only for a certain period of time.  

Now That You Are Protected, Relax 

If you ready your property for winter, hopefully you will never have to use your insurance. But if the worst happens, you can sleep soundly at night knowing you are protected not just by bricks and mortar! 

Thinking about moving? Get a valuation today