You have some extra cash and want to invest it in your home. You want to improve the size or amenities of your home, but you also want to increase its value. It can be difficult to choose from so many options.
Kitchen renovation
The kitchen is always at the top of the list, but with caution. You should balance your budget with the likelihood of selling your property if you plan to sell it. Spending thousands on a new kitchen may not increase the value by the same amount, but you will have a better chance of selling your house for the price that you desire.
Bathroom renovation
The bathroom is another important factor in increasing the value of a home and selling it. It is therefore as popular as kitchen renovations. In some cases, bathroom renovations will allow you to recoup 80-130% of the cost. This is especially true if your bathroom was old. Consider adding bathroom space to your project. It is amazing how small spaces can be turned into additional bathrooms or toilet rooms. For Builders Bristol, contact mogfordprescott.co.uk/builders-bristol/
Extending your home
The figures on the value of an extension to your house are highly variable because there are so many variables involved. There’s no question that adding more space to your home will increase its value and make it easier to sell. A builder can give you some great ideas for your home that will fit within the rules of planning permission and add significant space.
Converting lofts
Experts say that renovating a loft will add between 9-10% to the value of your property. So, keep this in mind as you look at the cost. Some lofts don’t work well or require a lot of work in order to make them usable. Loft conversions can be simple for some homes and add a lot of space.
Ways to add space to your home
Extending is often the best way to add value, but the right type of extension depends on the layout of your home and the space around it. If the garage is mostly unused, converting it can add living space without building outwards. Knocking through can create a larger kitchen, or the space can stay separate as a playroom or dining room.
If you need more bedrooms, a loft conversion is worth considering. Depending on the roof space, it could give two separate bedrooms or one large main bedroom with an ensuite shower room.
For the biggest gain, a double storey extension adds room both upstairs and downstairs. That could mean an extra bedroom above and a new reception room below, or a large open plan living area on the ground floor. Whichever route you take, have it done well by an experienced builder, because quality is what turns extra space into extra value.
Building over the garage
Building above an existing garage is one of the quickest ways to add both space and value. Because it works with the structure you already have, there is usually no need to dig new foundations, which keeps the project simpler than many other extensions.
It also means you keep the garage itself, which is useful for storage and for parking the car. Many people would rather have a new bedroom upstairs than a ground floor bedroom next to the kitchen, which is often the result of a garage conversion.
The biggest gains tend to come in higher value areas, especially when the work turns a three bedroom house into a four bedroom one. Buyers of a four bedroom home usually expect an ensuite, so adding one at the same time can push the value further still. Houses with a double garage, old or new, are particularly well suited to this kind of extension.
Planning a renovation that adds value
Before major work begins, a full building survey is money well spent. It highlights costly problems before you spend on improvements and confirms the structural state of the property, which matters if you plan to remove walls or make other big changes. Taking down walls or extending outwards may also need planning permission.
Think about the practical side too. Renovations are disruptive, so plan how you will manage without a kitchen, bathroom or flooring for a while. Keep a contingency budget, because larger projects often uncover problems nobody expected, and without a float the work may not be finished to the standard you wanted.
Focus on the changes that add value. Modern kitchens and bathrooms are a good start, and converting a garage or loft into extra living space is a popular option. Just as important is knowing what to keep. Original windows, beams and fireplaces give a house character, and removing them can reduce its value rather than increase it.