How to add £44k to the value of your home by only spending £3,700
From hanging mirrors to painting doors - here's what you can do to boost the price of your home
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HOMEOWNERS can boost the value of their property by up to £44,180 by spending just £3,667 on simple home improvements.
There's no need to build an extension, tear down walls or rip out your existing kitchen either.
While some experts reckon that the housing market is growing in spite of Brexit doom and gloom, sellers still need all the help they can get to make sure that their property stands out from the crowd.
From painting your front door to make a good impression, to hanging mirrors in cramped spaces, here's a roundup of everything you can do to boost the value of your home without breaking the bank.
Name your house for free and add £5,000 in value
Telly's property guru, Phil Spencer, reckons that by ditching your house number in favour of a name could boost your house price by £5,000.
The Location, Location, Location presenter told the that regal sounding names that feature words like "crown", "estate" or "royal" such as Crown Cottage are popular among buyers.
Similarly, names like Harvest Lodge or Owl Corner paints a more romantic and rural picture and can add some serious value to your home.
You'll need to let Royal Mail and the council know about the name change which is normally free, although some councils do charge a fee of around £40.
Hang mirrors for £100 and add up to £1,000 in value
Hanging mirrors can instantly boost the size of your house, creating the illusion of space, says Phil.
It works particularly well in cramped hallways and pokey living rooms, especially if adding a skylight isn't an option for you.
Hanging mirrors opposite windows tricks the eye into thinking there is another window there and maximises the impact of natural lighting.
Energy saving measures cost £475 and add £4,000 in value
Living in an energy efficient home saves you money on your household bills in the long run, which is why buyers often look at the Energy Performance Certificate before purchasing property.
Fitting double glazing, replacing your front door and insulating the loft are among the list of a few things you can do to make your home more energy efficient.
Research by comparison site GoCompare found that spending £475 on insulating your home could boost its value by up to £4,000.
Modernise kitchen costs £22 and adds £15,415 in value
Many buyers are on the lookout for a good-looking kitchen so it's well worth freshening up the one in your home.
You don't have to spend thousands replacing the one you've got either. Discounters like B&M sell self-adhesive film than can be stuck onto existing surfaces, such as work-tops and cupboard doors.
An 2.1 metre will set you back £8.99 from the discounter for the cupboards, while a costs £5.99 for the work-tops.
Replace you current cupboard handles with these - £7 for a pack of four - then you could boost your house price by up to 5 per cent.
On an average home that costs £308,290 (according to Rightmove) that's another £15,415 by only spending £21.28.
Get planning permission for free and add up to £5,000 in value
It's no secret that converting rooms and adding extensions adds value to your property - but already having the planning permissions is something buyers may be willing to pay more for.
It can take local authorities up to 16 weeks to decide on planning applications, and that's without having to resubmit plans that include changes.
That's why some buyers will pay over the odds for a property that already comes with the right building permissions, according to Phil.
Paint your front door for £70 and add up to £1,000 in value
Your front door is crucial to hooking in potential buyers so it's important to make a good first impression.
What help is out there for first-time buyers?
GETTING on the property ladder can feel like a daunting task but there are schemes out there to help first-time buyers have their own home.
Help to Buy Isa - It's a tax-free savings account where for every £200 you save, the Government will add an extra £50. But there's a maximum limit of £3,000 which is paid to your solicitor when you move.
Help to Buy equity loan - The Government will lend you up to 20 per cent of the home's value - or 40 per cent in London - after you've put down a five per cent deposit. The loan is on top of a normal mortgage but it can only be used to buy a new build property.
Lifetime Isa - This is another Government scheme that gives anyone aged 18 to 39 the chance to save tax-free and get a bonus of up to £32,000 towards their first home. You can save up to £4,000 a year and the Government will add 25 per cent on top.
Shared ownership - Co-owning with a housing association means you can buy a part of the property and pay rent on the remaining amount. You can buy anything from 25 to 75 per cent of the property but you're restricted to specific ones.
"First dibs" in London - London Mayor Sadiq Khan is working on a scheme that will restrict sales of all new-build homes in the capital up to £350,000 to UK buyers for three months before any overseas marketing can take place.
Starter Home Initiative - A Government scheme that will see 200,000 new-build homes in England sold to first-time buyers with a 20 per cent discount by 2020. To receive updates on the progress of these homes you can register your interest on the website.
Phil reckons that giving your front door a lick of paint could add up to £1,000 onto the value of your home.
We previously spoke to Russell Quirk from online estate agents Emoov who said the front door often indicates the condition of the whole property.
Dark blue, black or red coloured doors are sure to impress viewers, while Russell added "yellow, green and above all brown are a no-no".
Neaten up outside for £1,500 and add £6,165 in value
Property expert Sarah Beaney previously told us how sprucing up the outside of your home is a must if you want to get the maximum price.
Make sure all plants and the lawn are well tended, and tidy up the exterior of your property so it looks its best – no one wants to buy a house with peeling exterior paintwork and weed-strewn paths.
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This could add two per cent on the value of your home on average.
Spruce up your bathroom - spend £1,500 and add £6,600 in value
A new bathroom can really help the sale of your property - pushing up the price by up to 3 per cent - so it can't hurt to make yours more modern.
We estimate that a new bathroom suite will cost around £1,000, including fitting, while tiling will typically cost an extra £500. Altogether, that's a cost of around £1,500.
But you can do it for less if you only need to replace a few broken tiles and old taps.
A nicely finished bathroom can push the price of an average property up by £6,600.
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