Right Estate Agents Cuffley and Goffs Oak

Certain home improvements can vastly increase the value of your home, but before you start spending, it’s important to ensure there will be a return on investment.





Successful home improvements can add thousands to a house price, as well as making your home a more enjoyable place to live. Not every improvement needs to be costly. They can range from the simple task of fixing superficial defects to adding a conservatory, and it’s important to look at the potential return on investment to make sure you’re not over capitalising.

Small improvements that are unlikely to break the bank include taking a look at the minor defects in your house. Fixing things like peeling paint, squeaking doors, mouldy sealants and dripping taps may not directly add value to your property, but these are the little things that can prevent it from selling at the optimum price.

Freshly painted rooms in neutral tones look clean and up-to-date, and that spells value. It also gives the potential buyer a fresh canvas to add their stamp to a home. Painting can visually increase your home’s square footage, making it feel larger than it is. Replacing heavy drapes with vertical blinds or shutters to let light in, clearing the clutter and adding a large mirror in a small narrow space can add to this effect.

The two rooms that benefit most from small renovations tend to be the kitchen and bathroom. Replacing outdated bathroom suites and improving fixtures and fittings in the kitchen can instantly add value.

More extensive ways to increase value tend to involve extending the square footage, whether it’s be adding a larger kitchen with a single-storey extension or squeezing in an extra bathroom. The latter is estimated to typically boost value by around 5%. En suites are in high demand, so if there’s an opportunity to carve out a space without impacting too much on other rooms, it will likely be worth the investment.

Extending upwards is often one of the easiest ways to gain an extra bedroom and bathroom, and a loft conversion can increase floor space in your house by up to 30%, adding up to 15% to your property’s market value. The most successful loft conversions are those that fit in with the design of the existing property, both inside and out. Experts all agree that creating an extra bedroom, bedroom can add more than 10% to the value of a property.

Flexible living areas are also in high demand, so if your home has a number of smaller rooms divided by walls that aren’t load-bearing, opening these areas up could transform the flow of your living space at a relatively low cost.

Finally, conservatories are back in style and are a relatively easy way to add living space, although achieving a balance between outdoor and indoor space is vital. If you do choose this route, don’t substitute the cheaper UPVC option for the premium look and feel of a hardwood conservatory and make sure the conservatory is in proportion to the house. Conservatories need to blend with the existing structure, be made with quality materials, and provide a lot of light to be worth the cost.

Feel free to give us a call on 0845 026 8527 or visit our website www.RightEstateAgents.co.uk

Certain home improvements can vastly increase the value of your home, but before you start spending, it’s important to ensure there will be a return on investment.

Successful home improvements can add thousands to a house price, as well as making your home a more enjoyable place to live. Not every improvement needs to be costly. They can range from the simple task of fixing superficial defects to adding a conservatory, and it’s important to look at the potential return on investment to make sure you’re not over capitalising.

Small improvements that are unlikely to break the bank include taking a look at the minor defects in your house. Fixing things like peeling paint, squeaking doors, mouldy sealants and dripping taps may not directly add value to your property, but these are the little things that can prevent it from selling at the optimum price.

Freshly painted rooms in neutral tones look clean and up-to-date, and that spells value. It also gives the potential buyer a fresh canvas to add their stamp to a home. Painting can visually increase your home’s square footage, making it feel larger than it is. Replacing heavy drapes with vertical blinds or shutters to let light in, clearing the clutter and adding a large mirror in a small narrow space can add to this effect.

The two rooms that benefit most from small renovations tend to be the kitchen and bathroom. Replacing outdated bathroom suites and improving fixtures and fittings in the kitchen can instantly add value.

More extensive ways to increase value tend to involve extending the square footage, whether it’s be adding a larger kitchen with a single-storey extension or squeezing in an extra bathroom. The latter is estimated to typically boost value by around 5%. En suites are in high demand, so if there’s an opportunity to carve out a space without impacting too much on other rooms, it will likely be worth the investment.

Extending upwards is often one of the easiest ways to gain an extra bedroom and bathroom, and a loft conversion can increase floor space in your house by up to 30%, adding up to 15% to your property’s market value. The most successful loft conversions are those that fit in with the design of the existing property, both inside and out. Experts all agree that creating an extra bedroom, bedroom can add more than 10% to the value of a property.

Flexible living areas are also in high demand, so if your home has a number of smaller rooms divided by walls that aren’t load-bearing, opening these areas up could transform the flow of your living space at a relatively low cost.

Finally, conservatories are back in style and are a relatively easy way to add living space, although achieving a balance between outdoor and indoor space is vital. If you do choose this route, don’t substitute the cheaper UPVC option for the premium look and feel of a hardwood conservatory and make sure the conservatory is in proportion to the house. Conservatories need to blend with the existing structure, be made with quality materials, and provide a lot of light to be worth the cost.

Feel free to give us a call on 0845 026 8527 or visit our website www.RightEstateAgents.co.uk

When thinking of moving home, you will need to consider what aspects of a property are most important to you:

1. Number of bedrooms / bathrooms.
2. Parking provisions.
3. Separate kitchen and dining room.
4. Private garden.
5. Conservatory.
6. How much time/money you may want to spend redecorating etc.
7. Tell your agent exactly what type of property you are looking for and the elements that you could possibly compromise on. Also inform them what you don’t want and whether you have a mortgage agreed in principle.

New Builds
You may want to consider buying a new build; which are growing in popularity and offer many benefits to homebuyers. The benefits of buying a new home include:

1. 1. Not having to spend money or time redecorating or repairing your new home. You may even get to choose the design before it’s built.
   2. New build house developers registered with the National House Building Council (NHBC) provide a 10-year warranty. Similar guarantees can be gained from other providers.
   3. You can avoid waiting for detailed surveys to be completed as your guarantee covers any unforeseen problems.
   4. The average new home is up to six times more energy efficient than a traditional second-hand home.*
      There are no upward chains when buying a new build house, so the whole process is quicker and less stressful. Some new home developers offer part exchange deals on your current home. (*Source: The New Homes Marketing Board http://www.nhmb.co.uk) 

The Area
If you are moving to a new area, you may want to do some research to see if it is suitable for your lifestyle. Useful information about house prices, school performance, public transport links and other amenities can be found on Rightmove.
The checklist below covers some of the most important things you need to know and where to get the information:

1. Use the Government websites to find out what the council tax bandings are in the new area. The VOA website can be used for England and Wales while the SAA website is for Scotland. .
2. Get information on a variety of subjects including: population, crime, health and housing from the Office for National Statistics website.
3. Check out the public transport links on the Transport Direct or the TGL website for London.
4. Visit the Highways Agency website to check your road transport links and any plans for future road developments that may affect house prices in the future.
5. Look at the Environment Agency website to find out more about the local environment; from pollution to flooding.

The Viewings
As soon as you have established the property is of sufficient interest for you, book a viewing with the agent. Also, don’t forget to take a camera and tape measure on every viewing you go on – the camera is so you can avoid having to rack your brain about which property had the lovely en-suite. With cameras built in as standard on most mobile phones, this is easier than ever. But remember to always ask permission with the agent or owner before taking any pictures. The tape measure is for you to see if your large/favourite pieces of furniture will fit in the rooms.

Feel free to give us a call on 0845 026 8527 or visit our website www.RightEstateAgents.co.uk