Experts Reveal, Which DIY Trends can Impact the Value of your Property

It’s no secret that house prices are at an all time high, having increased by 11% in the space of just one year. On average, this means that buying a house could put you back an extra compared to 12 months ago.

But it doesn’t end there. In that time, the Bank of England interest rate has risen from 0.5% to 0.75%, making it even harder and more expensive to borrow money to buy a house in the first instance.

So what can we expect moving forward? Will house prices and interest rates continue to soar through 2022, or will they eventually drop? With so much uncertainty within the housing market at the moment, it’s difficult to predict whether we’ll see continued growth or not, making it hard for you to decide when to make your next move on the property ladder.

In the meantime, you might be tempted to stay put, biding your time in the hope the market slows down before you decide to pack up and move on. In this case, you could use this time to improve your current property with the intention to add value, so that when it’s the right time for you to sell up, you’ll walk away with more money in your back pocket.

But when it comes to home improvements, which DIY projects are likely to make your property more attractive to prospective buyers, and which trends are thought to decrease its value? As part of our latest campaign, we’ve explored a whole host of different ways you can change and improve your home to make it more desirable in the hope of scoring you an easy sale and, of course, a profit for you. To find out more, keep reading.

Any homeowner has the potential to add value to their property. First time buyers in their very first homes might be especially keen to overhaul their space in a bid to increase the value of their properties so that they’re able to move up the ladder when the time is right.

Aside from increasing the value of the property for selling purposes, making improvements can mean it’s more enjoyable and comfortable to carry on living in your current home for the foreseeable future, whether that’s two or five years, before you choose to sell and move on.

When it comes to home improvements, it’s simply a case of knowing what to do in order to get the maximum price when it comes to selling up - but what exactly should (and shouldn’t) you be doing to add value to your property?

As part of our campaign, we spoke with two industry experts, George Clover of Helmores Estate Agents in Crediton, Devon, and Daisy Jones of Hewitt Adams in Heswall, Wirral, to get their take on what they think are the best home improvements for maximising the value of a property, and what sort of projects could actually have the reverse effect.

You can find our experts' thoughts and opinions in our full campaign, but for a sneak peak at what they consider to be the best (and worst) DIY home projects for giving your home the edge when it comes to selling up, keep reading.

First up, Daisy from Hewitt Adams suggests that garden improvements have the potential to add value to a home, specifically gyms or offices, as well as garden breakfast bars. To support this, George from Helmores Estate Agent points out that simply maintaining a clear, clutter-free garden with a tidy lawn can make a huge difference without costing much or, as Daisy points out, requiring specialist skills.

But what about internal home improvements? It seems like the finer details can make all the difference. Daisy points out that seemingly small decisions, such as choosing quartz or granite kitchen countertops over vinyl finished versions, can add value and appeal to a property. Further to this, George points out that spending money on rooms such as the kitchen, and bathrooms, has the potential to bolster selling potential.

While the smaller details can have a huge impact, what about larger scale changes? As George rightly suggests, making your home bigger by adding an extension, or even a loft conversion, has the ability to really boost property value.

He also states that first impressions are important, pointing out that “curb appeal is essential”, specifically mentioning that windows and external doors should be in good condition. More generally, George believes that homeowners should present their properties as best as they can without being “scared to leave some potential for the next owner.”

Now we have an idea of what can add value to a property, what sort of DIY projects can have the opposite effect? Believe it or not, there are some home improvements that may seem like a good idea but in actual fact could devalue your property when it comes to selling up.

Daisy points out that small decor choices can put off potential buyers. For example, she mentions that sliding barn doors aren’t always a good idea. Although they can be aesthetically pleasing and enhance the look and feel of a room, they can be a waste of wall space depending on the type of property. She also mentions projects like wallpapering a bathroom or choosing to paint floorboards or tiling isn’t to everyone’s taste, and it could be what puts someone off purchasing your home, possibly forcing you to lower the selling price to attract attention.

You may also find that neglecting issues around your home could affect the price at which you sell it at. George points out that old, unsafe electrics can hinder value, as can structural defects. To support this, Daisy points out that problems like subsidence can devalue a property, so it’s worth solving these problems before putting your home on the market.

Now we have an idea of what can add value to a property, what sort of DIY projects can have the opposite effect? Believe it or not, there are some home improvements that may seem like a good idea but in actual fact could devalue your property when it comes to selling up.

Daisy points out that small decor choices can put off potential buyers. For example, she mentions that sliding barn doors aren’t always a good idea. Although they can be aesthetically pleasing and enhance the look and feel of a room, they can be a waste of wall space depending on the type of property. She also mentions projects like wallpapering a bathroom or choosing to paint floorboards or tiling isn’t to everyone’s taste, and it could be what puts someone off purchasing your home, possibly forcing you to lower the selling price to attract attention.

You may also find that neglecting issues around your home could affect the price at which you sell it at. George points out that old, unsafe electrics can hinder value, as can structural defects. To support this, Daisy points out that problems like subsidence can devalue a property, so it’s worth solving these problems before putting your home on the market.

There are so many ways you can add value to your property, while also making it more appealing to prospective buyers. So, why not get stuck into your own DIY project? Check out our full tool hire range to get started.

Which DIY projects have you carried out in your home? Which ones will you be trying your hand at next? Let us know using #ToDIYorNotToDIY.