Whats the best way to add value to a property?
Whats the best way to add value to a property?
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Discussion

Anthony26

Original Poster:

539 posts

198 months

Friday 27th August 2010
quotequote all
Hi all I have recently moved out from my parents after saving up I brought my first house a 3 bed semi, when i first moved there it was in a state so completely redecerated it fitted a new boiler etc, now its all done I was thinking maybe adding a conservatry or somthing to add a bit move value to the property, as I only plan to stay there another 4 years any Ideas what could be a strong selling point looking spend about 6k?

Slagathore

6,225 posts

222 months

Friday 27th August 2010
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Wouldn't be much of a conservatory for £6k? Unless you done all the work yourself. If you can get a decent one done for £6k, then it certainly won't do any harm come sale time, but I wouldn't expect it to be worth £10k + more than others on the road.

Then there's the usual arguments about them getting too hot in summer and too cold in winter.

If the interior is all up to scratch, including plumbing, wiring, decoration, new kitchen and bathroom etc, then there isn't really much more you can do to add value.

Sounds like you probably paid less for it in a run down state, so you'll probably do alright in 4 years time when you come to sell it anyway.

I'd look at similar houses on your road or area, see what condition they are in and how much they're going for. If they're similar to yours, then the only way to really make yours worth more would be to add an extension, loft conversion or garage.


pugwash4x4

7,682 posts

251 months

Friday 27th August 2010
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downstairs toilet will make it way more saleable.

neutral decour will help.

nicely fitted kitchen is a huge plus point.

converted loft space added about 8k to my last place.

Simpo Two

92,948 posts

295 months

Friday 27th August 2010
quotequote all
New bathrooms and kitchens are the usual favourites I think.

Then the wife of the owner-to-be falls in love with it and the husband has to buy it smile

Four Cofffee

11,838 posts

265 months

Friday 27th August 2010
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Keeping exterior paintwork and garden clean and tidy is simple enough. Off road parking adds value even if it means paving or gravelling the front garden carefully to it still looks like garden when the car is out.

anonymous-user

84 months

Friday 27th August 2010
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
New bathrooms and kitchens are the usual favourites I think.

Then the wife of the owner-to-be falls in love with it and the husband has to buy it smile
+1 Much better than tacking a greenhouse on the back.

Timmy35

13,014 posts

228 months

Friday 27th August 2010
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Dave_ST220 said:
Simpo Two said:
New bathrooms and kitchens are the usual favourites I think.

Then the wife of the owner-to-be falls in love with it and the husband has to buy it smile
+1 Much better than tacking a greenhouse on the back.
+2 also adding the downstairs bog idea, women are obsessed with toilets, and both her mother and her mother inlaw will think having a crapper upstairs AND downstairs is the best thing since vindaloo.

T84

6,941 posts

224 months

Friday 27th August 2010
quotequote all
This is true, we basically have a glorified piss cupboard downstairs and everyone woman that comes into the house fking loves it

illmonkey

19,827 posts

228 months

Friday 27th August 2010
quotequote all
Timmy35 said:
Dave_ST220 said:
Simpo Two said:
New bathrooms and kitchens are the usual favourites I think.

Then the wife of the owner-to-be falls in love with it and the husband has to buy it smile
+1 Much better than tacking a greenhouse on the back.
+2 also adding the downstairs bog idea, women are obsessed with toilets, and both her mother and her mother inlaw will think having a crapper upstairs AND downstairs is the best thing since vindaloo.
The toilet is most defiantly the best thing since having a vidaloo.

Jasandjules

72,628 posts

259 months

Friday 27th August 2010
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
New bathrooms and kitchens are the usual favourites I think.

Then the wife of the owner-to-be falls in love with it and the husband has to buy it smile
Yep, this ^.

Or, in some respects they might not "add value" per se BUT they will result in a much quicker sale, which can equate to the same thing.

BoRED S2upid

21,071 posts

270 months

Friday 27th August 2010
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T84 said:
This is true, we basically have a glorified piss cupboard downstairs and everyone woman that comes into the house fking loves it
Thats the difference between men and women right there. Id prefer a green house tacked onto the back of the house than a cupboard downstairs to piss in especially in a 3 bed house the bathroom can't be more than 20 steps from any room!

Timmy35

13,014 posts

228 months

Friday 27th August 2010
quotequote all
BoRED S2upid said:
T84 said:
This is true, we basically have a glorified piss cupboard downstairs and everyone woman that comes into the house fking loves it
Thats the difference between men and women right there. Id prefer a green house tacked onto the back of the house than a cupboard downstairs to piss in especially in a 3 bed house the bathroom can't be more than 20 steps from any room!
It's also in the description, they will refer to it as a "downstairs loo" with some excitement, visitors will be shown it with pride.

We will regard it as a cupboard, which we've somehow shoe horned a pisser into, where we could have stored something useful like an old bike and some half used paint tins.

T84

6,941 posts

224 months

Friday 27th August 2010
quotequote all
To be fair it's all right, it's a really simple room so easy to maintain, and it's a duplex apartment so you do have to go upstairs to use the loo otherwise, it's good for when you have guests as you can just keep it to one floor smile

ShadownINja

80,126 posts

312 months

Friday 27th August 2010
quotequote all
Cellar to store bodies? Er, I mean games room.

Edited by ShadownINja on Friday 27th August 12:50

Timmy35

13,014 posts

228 months

Friday 27th August 2010
quotequote all
ShadownINja said:
Cellar to store bodies? Er, I mean games room.

Edited by ShadownINja on Friday 27th August 12:50
Cellars can add value. Same deal as attics though, they're expensive so you might struggle to get your money back.

Anthony26

Original Poster:

539 posts

198 months

Friday 27th August 2010
quotequote all
Well funny as it sounds i do have games room with a fruit & pinball machine as its still my bachelor pad and Gf only stays weekends, but when it comes to buying a house when does the bloke really get a say! so a down stairs st house seems a good idea but where to put it could be a problem it already has a new bathroom and kitchen off road parking the one 5 doors down had a garage and went for 25k more then I paid but to be honest the drives are not really wide enough for one unless u drive a mini and most people seem to fill them with junk round here. The loft conversion sounds a good idea but would having to go up a ladder to get to it be a put people off?

Timmy35

13,014 posts

228 months

Friday 27th August 2010
quotequote all
Anthony26 said:
Well funny as it sounds i do have games room with a fruit & pinball machine as its still my bachelor pad and Gf only stays weekends, but when it comes to buying a house when does the bloke really get a say! so a down stairs st house seems a good idea but where to put it could be a problem it already has a new bathroom and kitchen off road parking the one 5 doors down had a garage and went for 25k more then I paid but to be honest the drives are not really wide enough for one unless u drive a mini and most people seem to fill them with junk round here. The loft conversion sounds a good idea but would having to go up a ladder to get to it be a put people off?
Building regs, you can't have a ladder as the access if you're having a loft conversion, you need a fireproof staircase, escape window in attic, and a firedoor. The days when you could board the floor, stick in a velux window and a loft ladder and call it an extra bedroom are sadly gone.

Anthony26

Original Poster:

539 posts

198 months

Friday 27th August 2010
quotequote all
Timmy35 said:
Anthony26 said:
Well funny as it sounds i do have games room with a fruit & pinball machine as its still my bachelor pad and Gf only stays weekends, but when it comes to buying a house when does the bloke really get a say! so a down stairs st house seems a good idea but where to put it could be a problem it already has a new bathroom and kitchen off road parking the one 5 doors down had a garage and went for 25k more then I paid but to be honest the drives are not really wide enough for one unless u drive a mini and most people seem to fill them with junk round here. The loft conversion sounds a good idea but would having to go up a ladder to get to it be a put people off?
Building regs, you can't have a ladder as the access if you're having a loft conversion, you need a fireproof staircase, escape window in attic, and a firedoor. The days when you could board the floor, stick in a velux window and a loft ladder and call it an extra bedroom are sadly gone.

That sounds like it will cost a lot more then 6K

BigBen

12,159 posts

260 months

Friday 27th August 2010
quotequote all
pugwash4x4 said:
converted loft space added about 8k to my last place.
Out of interest was that over and above the cost of conversion ?

Timmy35

13,014 posts

228 months

Friday 27th August 2010
quotequote all
Anthony26 said:
Timmy35 said:
Anthony26 said:
Well funny as it sounds i do have games room with a fruit & pinball machine as its still my bachelor pad and Gf only stays weekends, but when it comes to buying a house when does the bloke really get a say! so a down stairs st house seems a good idea but where to put it could be a problem it already has a new bathroom and kitchen off road parking the one 5 doors down had a garage and went for 25k more then I paid but to be honest the drives are not really wide enough for one unless u drive a mini and most people seem to fill them with junk round here. The loft conversion sounds a good idea but would having to go up a ladder to get to it be a put people off?
Building regs, you can't have a ladder as the access if you're having a loft conversion, you need a fireproof staircase, escape window in attic, and a firedoor. The days when you could board the floor, stick in a velux window and a loft ladder and call it an extra bedroom are sadly gone.

That sounds like it will cost a lot more then 6K
Oh god yes. You won't get much change out of £15k to do a loft conversion properly these days.