1. Create an extra room.
An extension, especially one that creates an extra bedroom or reception room will increase the value of your home. In fact, you may not even have to do the work, selling a house with planning permission for an extension already sorted out will allow you to ask a higher price.
2. Improve your bathroom.
 Many prospective buyers look for fresh, up to date bathrooms, so tear out that 1970's avocado suite and replace it with a modern white bathroom suite. Wet rooms are also currently very fashionable but make sure that the installation is done by an experienced professional as a leak can be both disastrous and expensive to fix.
3. Create a basement room. In some areas of the country basement excavations or cellar conversions are becoming increasingly popular. This is not a job to be undertaken lightly however given the practical challenges that they can present. The upside is that by adding another floor the work can increase the value of the house.
4. Central Heating. If your home doesn't have central heating (and many older buildings still do not) it can have a negative effect on the price you can get for your home. Consider fitting an energy-efficient heating system.
5. Convert an outbuilding. If you are lucky enough to have an unused garage or outbuilding consider converting it into an office space. An increasing number of people are working from home so office space can be a real plus. Don't, however, convert the only garage into an office as this may decrease the value of your home - many people look for a garage with a house.
6. Revamp your kitchen.  Kitchens are major selling points so think about updating the oven sink, units and work-top (even just putting new doors and handles on the kitchen units can improve the look of a kitchen). Focus Kitchen Appliances have a good range of appliances, units and worktops to choose from.
7. Extend upwards.
Converting your loft into another room (or rooms) will add value to your home. Who knows it may even allow you to take in a lodger as well giving you some extra income.
8. Double Glazing.
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Double glazing is a must for many people and can be a valuable asset. You must make sure that it is in keeping with the rest of the house though. If you have an older house with sash windows replacing them with uPVC windows may even reduce the value of the property.
At the same time you may wish to look at improving the amount of light coming into your home by using skylights, patio doors, solar tubes or even glass floors. By adding glass your house you can increase the feeling of space and make that dark room a much more pleasant space to be in.
The video to the left from the Digital News Agency gives some ideas about the many projects where you can use glass to add value to your home. |
9. Decorate.
 A quick coat of paint gives a good return on your investment although it's probably more likely to speed up a sale than increase the value. Go for neutral colours where possible.
10. Keep it tidy.
Obviously a clean, clutter free home will sell quicker than a home that is dirty and has all the surfaces piled high with junk. Remember, first impressions count.
11. Do some basic maintanance
It may sound obvious but if you have an older house you should spend a few minutes tighting loose doorknobs, making sure that windows are close properly and generally fixing any problems with the fixtures and fittings.
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