Top 4 home improvements that increase property value

Collaborative Post | Homes are the perfect investment opportunity. If you make the right home improvements, you can achieve huge returns that far exceed any savings account and do not come with the same risks associated with stock markets. Here are four of the best, high-value improvements you can make to your home that will give you a great return when the time comes to sell your property.

Convert the garage

If you have a garage attached to your property, then you are in luck. There is no better way to add property value to your home than adding liveable space. Extra square feet mean extra pounds on the house price, and often in the tens of thousands. Extending a property or converting a loft or basement is expensive and time-consuming, but converting a garage is quick and cheap to do.
 
You can add a large extra room that can function as a living space or bedroom, and you can even fit an en-suite in there too. Conversion and decoration are pretty simple, but some of the work may be a bit beyond a do-it-yourself enthusiast. You will need some help to get some of the bigger jobs done. Look for a ‘handyman near me’ at MyBuilder to get an extra pair of experienced hands to help you.
 
At MyBuilder, you can read reviews of workers from people just like you, and even see photos of completed work. This lets you find the right person for the job and you can hire them with confidence, knowing that they are capable and reliable.

Remodel your kitchen and bathrooms (Photo by Sidekix Media on Unsplash)

Remodel your kitchen and bathrooms

These two areas are the highest-value rooms in a home. Per square foot, nothing comes close. They can also be the most expensive areas to upgrade, so you need to be careful and thrifty to get the best return on investment. A glorious kitchen and boutique bathrooms help sell a home as no other space can. With the right decor, these rooms can add desirability as well as value.
 
The most expensive elements of both of these rooms are the appliances. Ovens, fridges, baths, and sinks can all be costly to replace so try and refurbish and reuse what you have. If you do need to replace the bathroom furniture, for example, try to reclaim and upcycle used fixtures and fittings. Salvage yards can be a goldmine for high-quality, vintage baths, taps, and sinks.
 
Every pound you save when remodelling a kitchen or bathroom with triple or quadruple when you sell your home. Investing in these two rooms that you find in every home has a huge return on investment potential, as long as you spend savvy and make cost-effective updates.

Open plan living spaces

This home improvement can require some extensive renovations, but it is worth it. Many lovely homes are stymied by small rooms that can feel claustrophobic and cold. Open up your living room by taking down a connecting wall to another space. This can bring extra light into a space and make a home that looks traditional on the outside more modern on the inside.
 
Big jobs are best completed by professionals, and you should consult an architect or experienced contractor before you get out your sledgehammer. Though it does require a significant financial investment, all the money and more comes back to you when you eventually sell your home. In the meantime, you get more space to enjoy as well as a lighter and brighter living space.
 
You can do this upstairs too if you want a bigger master bedroom with an en suite bathroom. This will add a lot of value to your property, but again it will require a large investment to get the work done. Make sure you carefully weigh up the cost and benefits before you commit to any work.

Update the outdoors

For the best return from the smallest investment, update your garden. This is a simple job to do, with the right planning and preparation. You can save a lot of money on labour by doing the work yourself and most garden makeovers can be completed in a weekend. The most important thing is to add functionality and usability when you give a garden a much-needed update.
 
A decking or patio area is a must. With this you can enjoy al-fresco dining or entertaining friends and family outside, weather permitting. It is worth adding a couple of extra features to this area, such as an awning or patio roof to give you some shelter from the elements. This will help you, and any future owners of the property, get more use from the area throughout the year.
 
Landscape the garden to give the patio area a better view. Use plants and flowers to bring colour, texture, and depth to the space. Painting any exterior wall or fencing is a good idea, but do not stick to the traditional creosote, wood-stained colour palette. Try pastel shades, or greens and blues.

And for instant kerb appeal, consider painting the exterior of your home!

Any one of these home improvements can give a significant boost to your house price. Put a couple of them together and you can add tens of thousands of pounds to your property value from a relatively small investment.


Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post