5 simple ways to add value to your house

If you're ready to move homes, you'll want to get the most money you can for your house. Here are five of the simple but sometimes overlooked ways of adding value to your house.

1. Freshen it up

The easiest thing to do before marketing your house is to simply redecorate. Painting the house in neutral colours can help it to feel fresh while acting as a blank canvas for prospective buyers. It'll also give it that move-in-straight-away feel. If buyers don't think they'll have lots of work to do, they'll have less justification for bartering on the price. Once you've redecorated, allow enough time for the smell of paint to go before you let people in to see the house. It's also a good idea the dress the rooms. This can include laying the dining table, put beds in all of the bedrooms and ensure all of the beds are made up, put out fresh flowers and have books on your shelves to give it a 'loved but lived in' feel. This way, buyers can get an idea of how each room should be used.

2. Lay a lawn

If you have a garden that is gravel or full of weeds, and you're trying to market your house to families, the best thing you can do is smarten the garden up and lay a lawn. Families want a safe but fun grassy environment for their children to play in.

Many buyers will be looking for a low maintenance garden that can be achieved by ensuring the fences and walls are in good condition and then laying the lawn right up to the sides.

3. Fix any major problems

Any major electrical, plumbing, damp or heating problems will lower the value of your house. Fixing these issues may be expensive but can be worth it, helping you to get the price you want. If you don't want to spend the money, you can get quotes to fix the problem. This way buyers will feel some of the work has already been done.

4. Refresh the bathroom

It can be worth just replacing parts of the bathroom, such as the toilet or sink, if the rest of the suite is in good condition. Or fixtures and fittings could be replaced to give it the illusion of being new. If you decide to replace the whole bathroom, choose neutral colours so that buyers can add their own style to it.

One of the best ways to add value to a home is to add an en suite to the master bedroom; however, this can be costly and may not be possible.

5. Refresh the kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of a home and can make or break a sale. If your kitchen is particularly old, you could install a new one. If you do, try and keep the style simple and neutral so that it will appeal to a range of buyers.

Kitchens are very individual, and the way you use your kitchen won't necessarily work with whoever buys your home, so it may not be a good idea to install a brand new kitchen. Inexpensive ways of making your kitchen more attractive are to paint or replace the cupboard doors and tiles, like with Caliber Kitchens. Replacing the working surface can also lift the room and make your kitchen feel like new.

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