Before placing your home on the market, it makes sense to perform a little profit-oriented housekeeping. Ask any real estate expert, and they will tell you how it is often the smaller details that add up to the biggest differences price-wise.
But of all the home improvements you can conduct before selling your home, which have the most positive effects on market values?
According to those who specialise in maximising properties’ market values, the following could make a significant contribution to your home’s value and curb appeal:
1. Painting and decorating
Superficial it may be, but a fresh coat of paint really can hide a world of sins. Always remember that those who view your home with the intention of making an offer want to see it as something like a blank canvas. Hence, a pristine coat of fresh paint (in a neutral colour) can be just the thing to help them do just that.
2. Basic repairs
The same can also be said for the equally superficial repairs that are technically not a big deal. Examples of this include stiff doors, squeaky floors, window rattles, cracked wood, chipped paintwork, broken lights, stained fabrics, and anything else that could technically take the shine off the room in question.
3. Front door, porch, and hallway enhancements
First impressions are everything, and most prospective homebuyers make up their minds almost immediately after entering a property for sale. Anything you can do to make that all-important first impression the right first impression is something you should be doing. Ensure your entrance ways send the right message about the rest of your home.
4. Declutter and clear out
Back with the blank canvas theme, getting as much excess clutter out of your home as possible is essential. If necessary, consider hiring a storage locker for the duration of your relocation, offloading everything that does not need to be there.
5 . Kitchen and bathroom remodelling
Installing a new kitchen or bathroom (or simply updating your existing setup) could add anything from £5,000 to £25,000 to the total market value of your home. In both instances, the average return on a kitchen or bathroom upgrade when selling a home is around 65%.
6. Smart lighting and heating
With the living-cost crisis only set to get worse before it gets better, more prospective buyers than ever before are prioritising smart and efficient utilities. Smart lighting and heating, in particular, can be highly attractive to prospective homebuyers, constituting an affordable upgrade and adding as much as £10,000 to a home’s market value.
7 . Outdoor living spaces
More people are spending more time at home than ever before, as hybrid working continues as the new norm. Private outdoor living spaces are particularly attractive to prospective homebuyers, which in many cases can be a deal-breaker. Research suggests that by presenting your home’s exteriors in the right way, it can increase the value of your home by more than £8,000.
8. Private parking
Building a garage or driveway may seem like a major undertaking, but doing so can nonetheless lead to a healthy return. On average, adding a single-car garage to a home can increase its total market value by as much as £25,000 in some parts of the country.
9. Loft conversions
The value added by a loft conversion will be determined by multiple factors, including the functionality of the new space and its size. In the case of a fully functional living space large enough to use as a bedroom or home office, a loft conversion can easily add £40,000 or more to a home’s market value.
10. Conservatories
Last up, a modest conservatory can be installed for as little as £5,000, yet it can make a significant contribution to a home’s asking price. Anything from £8,000 to more than £15,000, depending on the location of the property and the type of conservatory installed.