Adding Value to Your Home
Your estate agent may well have told you the most likely type of person that will buy your house in
the future so you should remodel your property with this in mind. For example, if you are expecting
to sell to a working couple, it might be a good idea to spend some money on enlarging your driveway
to allow for two cars. If you expect to sell to an older couple with grown up children, then an
extra bedroom may not be needed.
Before commencing any major building work on your property however, it's vital that you obtain any
required planning permissions.
Think about what future potential buyers would like to see in your house, especially in an older
property. Is there room for a downstairs toilet or an en-suite bathroom? Can a large unused larder
space be converted into a utility room?
If you are looking for more living space, it's a good idea to convert a dusty attic to a modern
bedroom, but before rushing to convert a garage, consider how much space you already have. Potential
buyers may not need this extra space and may prefer to use the garage as a utility room, or even to
park their car!
If you own an older property, buyers may appreciate the period pieces and features of your house
such as doors and windows. It's important to highlight these features and make sure they remain
after any renovations or remodeling work. Central heating is expected in today's market, so older
houses without it are at a large disadvantage. Money spent on upgrading your heating system is well
worth it.
Nowadays, buyers will consider the energy efficiency of your home so be prepared to budget for
modern levels of insulation. Fitting double or treble glazed windows will allow you to maximise the
value of your property.
Be careful not to spend your money on the wrong improvements. Increasing the number of bedrooms at
the expense of other rooms, such as living rooms may be a mistake. As far as possible, buyers
should be given the freedom to decide the use of the rooms.
Although interior design and property programmes on television often feature rooms with open plan
downstairs. These may look good but are they really practical with regards to heating your house
and providing privacy for family members?
Unless you can obtain a grant, technological features such as solar panels may not be cost effective
since they take a long time to repay their initial purchase cost.
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