Blog>How-To Guides>How to add value to a new build home
Last updated: 6 March 2024
How to add value to a new build home
Wondering how to add value to a new build home? You're in the right place. We guide you through a list of renovations, upgrades, and even minor tweaks that are most likely to give you a good return on investment.
When plotting how to add value to a new build home, it's crucial to determine how much your home improvements will cost and how much of that cost you're likely to recoup when you sell your home.
Only by doing this will you add value to your home. Spend more than you have the potential to make back, and you're more likely to make a loss.
The good news is that your financial outlay doesn't necessarily need to be huge in order to add value to your property. In this post, we'll cover various ways for how to add value to your home including major renovations, lucrative upgrades, and minor tweaks.
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How to add value to a new build home
If you've recently moved into a new build property, you may well be wondering: "How do I add value to my home?". In this first section, we'll look at four of the most popular ways that homeowners look to add value to their home:
A new bathroom
A new kitchen
New windows
Solar panels
We'll look at the average cost of undertaking these home improvements and the potential value they could add to your home, before exploring other ways to add value to your new build home.
How much value does a new bathroom add?
Adding an extra bathroom to your home can be massively convenient, especially if you entertain a lot or you have an expanding family. With that in mind, creating an additional bathroom can help you to add value to your new build.
However, even upgrading your existing bathroom has the potential to add value if it's in real need of improvement. If budget is an issue, you could simply give your bathroom a deep clean, refresh the grout, hang a new shower curtain or screen, and give the walls a lick of paint.
A new bathroom typically costs in the region of £7,000 and has the potential to add between4-5% to your home's value.
Related content: How much does it cost to fit a new bathroom?
How much does a new kitchen add to your house value?
A new kitchen is one of the most common improvements carried out by homeowners, but does a new kitchen add value to your home?
A new kitchen could add up to 10% to your home's value and will set you back in the region of £4,000 - £10,000 depending on the size, design, and quality of the new setup.
Related content: Read our post on How much value does a new kitchen add to your home to find out more - including ten ways to upgrade your kitchen without a full refit.
Do new windows add value to your home?
Double or triple glazing is often a non-negotiable for buyers, with security, energy efficiency and noise reduction high on the agenda. But how much value does double glazing add to your home?
The average cost of double glazing for eight windows and two uPVC doors is £6,000 - £15,000 but has the potential to increase your property value up to 10%.
Related content: Find out how much your new windows might cost with our handy double glazing cost guide.
How much does solar add to your home value?
Now more than ever, buyers are tuned in to the green credentials of a property they're considering buying. Therefore a new boiler, improved insulation, or energy-saving additions will help to add value to your home.
The average cost to install solar panels is £6,000 - £10,000 for a PV system. This eco-upgrade has the potential to add between 14-38% to the value of your home, depending on where in the UK you live.
Related content: Learn about other types of environmentally friendly home upgrades in our post on green home energy solutions.
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10 more ways to add value to a new build home
Looking to squeeze every last penny out of your home's value? We don't blame you. Here are ten additional ways for how to add more value to your home.
1. Build an extension
Homes are valued and priced by the liveable square feet they contain; the more you have, the more valuable your home.
An extension can also help to set your property apart from similar homes on the market, providing extra functional space.
How much value could an extension add to your home?
A double-storey extension could add up to 12%
A single-storey extension could add between 5-8%
An annexe could add between 20-30%
A new conservatory could add up to 7%
Some buyers are happy to pay for the opportunity to add an extension, so sometimes simply getting planning permission is enough to add value to your home in preparation for listing it for sale.
It's crucial to do your research before making plans for an extension if you wish to add value to your home. Speak to local estate agents to find out what features are desirable to buyers in your area.
If you choose to go ahead with the work, reach out to experienced local builders to obtain a selection of quotes for the work. You can do this easily through our request a quote feature.
Related content: To help crunch the numbers, check out our complete guide to how much an extension adds to the value of your home.
2. Convert the garage or loft
Loft conversion
Many agents agree that adding an extra bedroom will add value to a property. One of the most popular ways to do this is with a loft conversion, which has the potential to add up to 20% to the value of your home.
Garage conversion
A garage conversion also has the potential to increase the value of your home, but this depends on the functional space this creates.
A garage conversion that creates an extra bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, for example, could add up to 20% to the value of your home.
Related content: How much does a garage conversion cost?
3. Make structural changes
Improvements that create a greater sense of space in a property will typically add value when you sell your property.
Open-plan living has become much more popular, being better suited to our modern, flexible lives.
Research from the Federation of Master Builders and the HomeOwners Alliance states that an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area could add anywhere between £5,000-£50,000 to the value of your home.
The cost of transforming your new build home into an open-plan setup will depend on the amount of work required.
Our post on the cost of open-plan living will help you get an idea of how much this work could set you back
Our guide to creating an open-plan living space will give you plenty of creative ideas
4. Improve your lighting
Buyers will be more attracted to your home if it feels light, bright, cosy, and safe.
Make sure all lightbulbs in your home are working
Ensure you have suitable lighting in all parts of your home - a floor lamp to light up a naturally dark corner, for example - and turn them on for viewings on a drab day
Check your outside lights work and turn them on for viewings after dark
Related content: Check out our electrician hourly rate guide to help price up any necessary tweaks to your home's lighting.
5. Redecorate
Even new build homes can start to look a bit tired after a few years. Discoloured paintwork, peeling wallpaper, or chipped woodwork will all work to deter potential buyers, bringing down your home's value.
A fresh coat of paint in neutral tones will allow buyers to easily visualise themself living in your property.
Get the job done quicker by hiring a professional painter and decorator. The average cost of repainting is around £400for a medium-sized room. Refer to ourcost guide to redecoration for more information.
6. Fix superficial defects
A home that looks tired and tatty, has a dripping tap, or has mouldy grout gives the impression that the property is perhaps not well-cared for.
However, these types of things are normally quite straightforward to fix - and you'll reap the rewards when you come to sell.
You could add between 3-5% to your home's value depending on the extent of the repairs needed. Make life easier for yourself by handing these niggly tasks over to an experienced handyperson.
7. Fit a new front door
Kerb appeal matters because first impressions count - never more so when viewing a house you might want to move into!
By sprucing up the exterior of your home - for example, with a new front door, doormat, and potted plant - your home will instantly become more attractive.
Replacing a front doorcomes at an average cost of £1,100 - £1,400 for a composite door. Upgrades such as this have the potential to add up to10% to the value of your home.
8. Create a driveway/off-road parking
A driveway can add 5-10% to the value of a property. Depending on the finish you choose - block paving, poured concrete, gravel, etc. - expect it to cost anywhere between £60 per m2.
If a new driveway is beyond your budget, consider cost-effective ways to spruce up your existing one. Jet wash a concrete driveway, resand a block paving driveway, and deweed a gravel driveway. It'll make a world of difference to the exterior of your home.
9. Upgrade the outside space
A garden that shows its potential to be an additional, enjoyable part of the home as opposed to a basic patch of lawn edged with borders, will add value to your home.
Hard landscaping such as decking or a summerhouse are attractive features for buyers. In fact, spending around £2,750 on garden landscaping could add 77% to the value of your house, according to the Post Office.
If you're considering installing a decked area, you'll be keen to learn that the average cost of a non-elevated softwood deck with no railing or stairs is £2,300 (24m²) or £7,500 (80m²).
It goes without saying, make sure the grass is cut, the borders are neat, and shrubs and plants are looking their best before your home is valued.
Not got the time? Contact a local gardener to help with your garden maintenance.
10. Declutter, clean, and dress your home
Declutter
A home full of clutter signals a lack of useful storage space to prospective buyers, reducing its attractiveness. One of the easiest ways to add value to your home is to therefore have a good clearout.
This includes furniture. Too much furniture in a room can make a property feel smaller, which will devalue it.
Clean
Follow this stage with a deep clean - including carpets, upholstery, and windows - to make your home feel fresh and new, helping prospective buyers see its full potential.
A house deep clean could cost as little as £14.50/hour depending on where you live in the UK; well worth the investment to help add value to your home.
Property staging
Lastly, make sure your home is appropriately dressed and that each area has a designated purpose. This is known as 'house dressing' or 'property staging'. Essentially, it makes your home look its best.
Think about the way show homes are dressed so the buyer can visualise themself in the property. Some fresh linen and plump cushions can help get the look.
Place some inviting-smelling room diffusers around the house and replace generic hand soap containers with more chic options to give a luxury feel.
Pop a vase of fresh flowers on the dining room table alongside a wide bowl of fruit to make the place feel homely.
Lastly, if you have a working-from-home area, dress it as such so it looks like a credible workstation rather than a dumping ground!
Find an approved tradesperson
However you decide to add value to your home, quality finishes are key. So for those items that can be undertaken with a DIY approach, only do so if you're confident you can complete them to a high standard.
Otherwise, tap into our directory to find an experienced, professional tradesperson to help.
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
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