How to increase your property value with actionable ideas.

Whether you’re looking to embark on a complete home renovation or a simple interior (or exterior) makeover, there are plenty of ways to add value to your property.

Not all these options have to be expensive either, and there are plenty of cost-effective ways to help you increase your return on investment without burning a hole in your pocket or your time. 

With some home remodeling ideas, you can learn how to increase property value. As there are many ways to add family home improvements you should have a look at all the best ideas and pick an area to focus on.

When should you invest more in your property?

For many people, finding the right time to invest in your property and modern home improvements can be challenging.

The truth is the ‘right time’ will depend on your own finances and personal circumstances however, there are also a few common reasons that encourage people to begin their renovations or makeovers. These can include: 

• Space: If you need more space in your house or living room.
• Selling your house: Investing before you sell your home to increase property value.
• Improve your quality of living: To improve your quality of living by opting for greener and more ergonomic interiors and exteriors.
• Increase equity: To improve your equity and invest, develop, and improve other properties.

Whether you want to focus your time and attention on just one room or give your whole house a makeover, there are various ways to invest in your property and increase your house value.

You should consider the following 12 ideas:

1. Property maintenance

Performing general maintenance jobs around your property can be a relatively cost-effective, and simple, way to increase the value of your home.

These jobs can include applying fresh coats of paint, getting your carpets professionally cleaned [1] (or deep cleaning them yourself), making sure your roof is in good shape,  and if you wondering why does my roof look wavy check for leaks in your property.

Essentially, if there are minor problems with a property, that seem big to some people the list of potential buyers, will be much smaller as not everyone has the confidence and the skills to fix a house with a few problems.

2. A new landscaping design

When it comes to increasing the value of your home, landscaping your garden is one of the best property investments you can make.

Do fences increase property value? Privacy and good views are highly sought after, so why not investigate your green space and see if you can change a few things?

This could be as simple as replacing your fencing for added privacy or it could be the opposite.

Depending on your properties surrounding the environment, you may want to consider fencing that provides greater visibility to the scenery surrounding your home.

Or you could replace a fence with trees, and greenery instead.

So that, in the long run, this will block more sound and give an even greater level of privacy to your home.

With privacy, outdoor living is more desired, investing in, decks, an outdoor cooking area, pergolas, shade sails, are some obvious and popular options.

You might be thinking “does an outdoor kitchen increase home value?” It is a good way to increase your outdoor space with a dedicated cooking area.

Many people prefer cooking outdoors actually compared to cooking inside, all though it isn’t too popular right now.

With the right setup, your outdoor cooking area could be comfortable enough to fully replace an inside kitchen.

3. Does a new bathroom add value to your home?

Ensuring your bathroom is in good condition is essential, and there are plenty of ways to do renovate and remodel your wet areas so that your bathroom adds value to your home.

So you should begin by assessing the room for damage such as dampness and mold which is both dangerous and unappealing to prospective buyers.

Make sure your flooring is clean, re-grout tiles if you need to, and check for any leaks or faults with the sinks, toilets, baths, and showers.

But you might want to completely gut out and remodel your bathroom.

New tiles really are the way to go. So is having an open shower, and treating the whole bathroom as a single wet area.

Maybe a shower big enough to stretch or do yoga in the morning is what you would prefer.

4. Modern remodeling kitchen addition ideas

For many people the kitchen is the heart of the home, the cornerstone of family life often bustling with people and excitement.

Renovating your kitchen with great addition ideas can be a great way to increase your property value according to many Estate Agents, if you can only afford to renovate one room in your home it should be the kitchen.

If you opt for a renovation, remember to consider making it accessible and leave lots of space between appliances such as the fridge, the cooker, and the sink.

You could also improve your kitchen’s storage space by replacing cupboards and installing adequate lighting. Under-unit lighting is highly sought after, so this might be something to consider. 

You might want to upgrade your joinery unit to a comfortable rustic design, with a solid wood countertop with open storage.

Or a modern granite, quartz, or maple countertop with storage options made by the best joiner in your area.

Be sure to remove old floor coverings, for a polished timber or concrete floor, or tiles that will match your updated bathroom, tip: Work with what you already have.

5. Renovate to add bedrooms

Not only is a 4 bedroom house worth more than a 3 bedroom home, but the property home improvement of a 3 bedroom vs 4 bedroom value home could be even bigger by turning your 2 bedroom house into a 4 room place.

Adding rooms to your property can be one of the easiest ways to double and improve your property value.

Making this an effective way to increase the value of your home with a room addition.

As land values continue to rise in price, converting a two-bedroom house into a four-bedroom home only increases the potential profit on this renovation.

Many builders and homeowners double their property value by adding 2 more bedrooms. 

The reason for this is sometimes there are building restrictions on how many rooms are allowed within a house’s floor plan size.

Basically, a certain amount of living space needs to be available for each additional room.

Often a 1 or 2 bedroom house can be converted into a 4 bedroom home if the extra land is available without the need of a size increase in the living areas, but is this something you need to research on a case-by-case basis.

Lofts are a great space to convert into bedrooms and they can be renovated at a low cost too.

If you’re considering a loft conversion, you should get an architect or a builder to inspect the space to make sure it’s safe and suitable for conversion. 

You might also have another area that could be converted into a bedroom.

But note you won’t get the same increase in property value as if you actually extended your house. 

Building a new two-bedroom house these days might not make much sense when you consider the land value and design fees.

It wouldn’t cost much more to just build a 3-4 bedroom house and double its value from the beginning.

The increased property value or equity of 4 bedrooms might be needed to actually make the building process possible in terms of a loan.

Reducing costs when adding a new room

If you are wondering how to add a room to a house cheap then, find a good designer in your area that has low costs for the addition of a simple room. A simple-shaped room that also takes into consideration common building material sizes, will reduce building waste and speed up the building process.

A design that fits inside the building code will also reduce the need for an engineer’s structural design.

Room shape also has an effect on building costs, for example; you build an L-shaped addition.

For almost the same amount of materials and time to build, you could have doubled your floor by building a square or rectangle.

Of course, an L-shaped building can look better on a single floor or top floors and create privacy.

This rule of doubling your floor area for almost the same price reduces as the overall building addition gets bigger.

But for small addons avoid the L shape, or wall out of square if you want to keep the building costs down.

6. Make your house entrance-way impressive

Creating an inviting and impressive entrance to your property will help make a great first impression.

And if done correctly, could help increase your property value to potential buyers on the first impression.

Start with fixing your old or poorly maintained paths, doors, and windows, and be sure to pay extra attention to these areas.

Making the entrance of your property more attractive could be as simple as a fresh lick of paint.

However, you should also consider giving any brickwork or your front porch a clean too.

But if you’re doing serious remodeling or design to increase your property value, consider allowing a fair amount of internal space at the entranceway to your house.

And if there is a staircase your front door make it wide and decide on something unique about its design, life rustic solid timber slab stairs.

7. Does a guest house increase home value?

Adding a separate rentable space to your property could add to your property value.

There are several ideas that can be easy to implement however, you should make sure you check the regulations for your dwelling before you proceed with construction.

Mostly but not always a property is limited to a single dwelling unless you subdivide which is costly.

Adding a separate rentable space to your property could possibly be achieved in different ways though, so have a think about and research other options.

• Constructing a self-contained flat or cottage – these may be allowed in addition to one dwelling depending on your local laws, a self-contained unit might also be able to be purchased in a kit-set, with a straightforward building process.
• Building a portable tiny house on wheels – these may not require a building consent before implementation as it’s kind of like an RV or a vehicle. You can also move it with you. Click here for software to design a tiny house.
• Sleep-outs can also be added and may not need local consent, although you might have big limitations on what you can and cannot do, it could be an easy way to add a bedroom that could be rented through. Without modification of your current dwelling.

8. Create a more open living space

In recent years open living has become increasingly popular, particularly amongst younger buyers. Not only is it visually appealing but if your property is on-the-small size, open living can give you more space where it matters.

If you want to opt for an open living you should consider changing your flooring and having different designs in each room; this helps give a sense of the divide between areas whilst still enhancing the size of your living.

You need to check that a dividing wall is not taking any weight from your roof, this is called a “load-bearing wall.”

If a wall is taking the weight from your roof or an upper level you will need to get a beam designed and approved to take the span of the intended wall opening size.

It’s a pretty straightforward process for a builder but an architect or engineer will need to approve the design in many cases. 

If a dividing wall is not load-bearing, you just need to check that it isn’t calculated as a “bracing element” for your house.

If not it’s an even easier process and you might just be able to knock the wall down, check with your local authorities.

9. Improve your interior design with a theme

Living themes are a great way to make your property more attractive to potential buyers with family home improvements and there are various options to choose from. Some of the most popular themes include:

1. Contemporary house

Contemporary interiors are renowned for their simplicity and tend to showcase the space of a home rather than the things inside of it.

Black, white, and neutral tones are the cornerstone of contemporary themes as well as strong, visible lines.

2. Scandinavian interior design

Like contemporary interiors, Scandinavian themes also focus on simplicity.

Scandinavian designs typically use mid-century furniture and minimalist window treatments that encourage light to pour through and illuminate your rooms.

3. Modern property home improvements

When house design is built for luxury living and looking the best, this is an architect’s dream.

Maple tabletops, dark colors, a full motion tv wall mount, and big open spaces, the modern living design comes at a price that not many cannot afford. 

Kitchens and bathrooms with the most modern design can increase property value, make the place cleaner, and look simple in a good way.

4. Comfortable rustic design

The term rustic is broad, and it tends to encompass several different designs however, its predominant focus is on all things casual, natural, and appearing slightly rough in a natural way.

For example, exposing the natural shapes and curves that trees and rocks have. The natural element of the rustic design can take on different forms.

However, it involves the use of natural materials such as wood and stone instead of synthetic materials.

In keeping with the above themes, the rustic look makes use of  ‘natural’ and minimalistic colors such as greys, browns, and greens. It is the perfect house design for a DIY’er as well.

DIY’er will have all their projects looking great in a house designed with natural materials and a rustic interior. Why not get out your best chainsaw and make more.

5. Mixing Rustic with modern

Don’t be scared to mix rustic and modern living design. Keeping a rustic design in the living room for comfort, and a more modern-looking bathroom and bedroom.

10. Should you subdivide your section

If you’re not able to add a separate rented space to your property, and you want to grit your teeth on a serious property development then subdividing is the next big thing.

However, you should be aware that subdividing can be a costly alternative and requires money or a big load upfront.

Compared to adding bedrooms and improving your outdoor living spaces.

You should also note that you will need to obtain costly planning permission to subdivide.

If you’re looking to make a serious profit by developing an additional house or many on a large property. this might be what you have in mind.

Just don’t overdo the environment. You could build up instead.

11. Increase the amount of green area

We all need to take a breather from suburban life sometimes.

Plus, according to the UK’s office for national statistics, green spaces can increase the price of your property [2].

So when you’re considering how to add value to your home, don’t miss the opportunity to expand your outdoor space.

And don’t sacrifice trees for an empty grass yard.

 Kelsey Munro reports [3] streets that have only a %10 tree coverage can have a $50,000 higher property value compared to houses with fewer trees on the same street.

There are many reasons why trees increase property value. But the main obvious reason is that trees just create comfort, and make for a much better living environment.

If people are not just trying to find a place to live, many people prioritize a clean green living space [4] over an extra room.

12. Do garages increase property value?

Does a detached garage increase property value? Or is it better to build an inbuilt garage?

On one hand, a detached garage can keep the loud noise away from the family when you are working on your DIY and woodworking projects.

On the other hand, some people like that their garage is right there. Detached garages often have a lower standard for building requirements.

Making detached garages generally cheaper to build than a normal house addition, and you will have plenty of space for all your DIY and woodworking tools.

A bigger or a new garage comes down to your personal needs, as a luxury more than a need.

It will have less property value effect than a new room, it depends on how much space you have available.

But of course, think about whether your property has enough space for an added detached garage, and be careful not to cut a potential area for a garage. So take a future garage space into consideration when you are doing any renovations. As you could build a garage with your added living space on top.

Just understand that a garage build as part of your house would then need to be built to the higher building standard as it will support the living area above.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for ways to increase your house value, we have shown you that there are many different ways depending on the effort you’re willing to invest.

There is something to suit every budget, property, or skill set so regardless of your circumstances.

There might be a great way to improve your living space, increase your property value, improve your equity, and provide an additional living space for someone else, in a clean green environment.

Lastly, focus on what’s easiest for you, and best for your situation.

Don’t focus on increasing the size of your entranceway if you could instead add a bedroom.

Improve your outdoor living, modernize your kitchen, or repair a leaking roof in need.

You could be surprised to know how much is your property’s worth after getting it appraised [5].