What changes can I make to increase the value of my house?
They are a number of changes that you can make at low cost that can really boost the value of your home and get it sold. Below are the top things you should look at first:
1. Stuctural issues
2. Loft conversions
3. Redecorate
4. Update the bathroom
As a homeowner, you want to make sure that your house is worth the maximum it can be when you go on to sell, to get you the best price. There are all sorts of changes that you can make to your house to increase the value, but what are the most common changes and what are the easiest ones for you to do before you sell? Quick Sell Your House have looked into it and outlined popular changes that homeowners make before putting their house on the open market.
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1. Deal with any structural issues
Resolving structural issues is usually a fairly expensive improvement to your house, but will massively increase your value when it comes to selling. Houses with structural damage tend to sell for a very low price, as the buyer will have to spend money resolving the issues. It’s also not worth making cosmetic changes to a house that has structural damage, as it will likely be ripped out in the repairing process, so if your house has any structural issues, this should be what you focus on before selling if you want to achieve a good price when you sell. Dealing with these issues yourself can be a pricy change but will allow you to set a much higher asking price for your property. Common structural problems include –
- Bowing walls
- Rising damp
- An unstable chimneystack
- A sagging/leaking roof
- Structural cracks on the walls
- A collapsed floor
- Missing/broken roof tiles.
These structural problems will cause your house value to drop steeply, so rectifying them will help you to increase that value. If you’re not in a position to be able to do these repairs or don’t want to spend money on the house that you intend to sell, you can come to us. Quick Sell Your House buy properties in any condition, saving you time and effort.
2. Loft conversions
A loft conversion is a great alternative to extensions, as they tend to be much cheaper but still increase the value of your house. You can use this to add an extra bedroom to your property, further increasing your value. There are rules and regulations that you’ll need to be aware of if you want to do this – for example, the room will need to be of a certain size to qualify as a bedroom and will need to have a full staircase to the loft. Loft conversions are a very popular aspect of a house, and on average can add over £20,000 to your property value when done well! You can find inspiration on sites such as Pinterest for great ways to make a loft conversion look stunning. Usually, these conversions don’t need planning permission, but there are some exceptions, so make sure that you look into this.
3. Redecorate
Possibly the easiest way to add value to a house, freshening the place up by redecorating is a great way to boost your sale price. There are lots of cosmetic issues that will usually put potential buyers off, such as –
- Peeling paint
- Loose/cracked tiles
- Moulding bathroom sealants
- Cosmetic cracks in ceilings/plasterwork
- Dripping taps
- Sewer smells
- Lifting flooring
- Sticking doors and windows.
Most of these are changes that you can easily rectify yourself for a very low price and are things that other homeowners are likely to have sorted before putting their house on the market too. Spending a weekend repainting the house, replacing any damaged tiles, and fixing sticking doors and windows will make your house much more appealing to your viewers. These changes won’t increase your house value by a dramatic amount, but they will appeal to your buyers and be more likely to put an offer in for your house – it can also work in your favour to get a higher offer as if they have to rectify these issues themselves when they move in they may offer you a lower price to compensate for this.
4. Update the bathroom
Bathrooms are a key feature to any house, and an unappealing bathroom will put off lots of viewers. Thankfully, there are a few tricks that you can utilise to make any bathroom look its best. Choosing light, neutral colours is the best option, as a light shade will make the room appear cleaner and more spacious. You can add pops of colour with fresh towels or small plants, but avoid crowding the bathroom as you don’t want it to look too cluttered. If the bathroom doesn’t have a window, you can look at getting a larger roof light to brighten the room up. You can also look at redoing the flooring if it’s old and damaged – you can lay your own flooring easily enough to keep the price down. If your bathroom suite is a bright colour, you may decide to replace this with a plain white suite. Colours like avocado, peach or pink will usually put buyers off, and changing this can completely renovate the bathroom for a reasonable price.
There are also a few features that you can add to your house to make it stand out to your viewers and increase your value at the same time. Features such as a roof lantern, full-height glazing, feature windows, a fireplace or a new front door can make a massive difference to the appearance of your house and help to push your value up. They are usually relatively easy and are very cost-effective – perfect for any homeowner looking to sell.
Updating your house is usually much more straightforward than some homeowners may realise, and can have a huge impact on your house value. If you’re looking to add value to your house, the best thing to do is to decide how much you’re willing to spend before deciding which changes you want to make. Having a budget in mind can guide you in the right direction and make sure that you don’t spend lots of money making improvements and only see a minimal value increase. Stick to your budget and identify what your house needs. If the front door is dated and unattractive, this is a good place to start. If the bathroom has recently been renovated, you can leave that room alone. Make the most of your house, and watch your value increase!
How do I sell my house fast?
If you’re looking for a quick house sale, you’re in the right place. Quick Sell Your House can get you a free cash offer on your property and show you how you can have your house sold in as little as 7 days. If you want a quick house sale, get in touch with us today.
