Should I get a new driveway?

joflo_2

I remember reading a site that compared the cost of putting in a new driveway/kitchen/extension with the return on the value of the house when sold.

I want to invest in my house. I have replaced the bathroom and next is the horrible kitchen. However my driveway is a mix of concrete and tarmac that is wearing away, it a big driveway, you can get three cars on it from the road/path to the back of the house.

So my question is. Would replacing it with bricks which would cost quite a bit, (approx 2 or 3 plus thousand bricks) be worth the added value on the house. It would improve curb appeal but there is not a lot of competition anyway, not a lot of houses for sale in the locale.

I don't fancy doing this myself as its a big job, on a slope with the edge needing reinforcing as we are higher than neighbours.

Anyway, your opinions on what to spend on a tight budget would be helpful.

chickmug

A lot depends on the style of house - semi - detached - terrace and the price range/locational factors. Bricks would cost a lot of money and the cheapest I have seen is DIY gravel which can look good but I wouldn't want it as it spreads all over the path and road.

'Sods Law' is whatever you do the eventual buyer sill say they would of much preferred a different treatment.

As I say if you can give more information it may help get better replies?

joflo_2

The house is at the end of a small terrace, 1920's type where you get four houses together. Price is about 185,000 for a well presented house, they did go up to 200 ish at the top of the price boom. Location is the D/C end of the market, ex council. Next door did a concrete treatment on there's, I agree I would hate gravel being on a slight slope you would be sweeping it up all the time.

I was thinking of just making the part up to the house brick, but what to do with the next to the house bit is harder to visualise. I would guess just doing half the drive would cost. I just wondered if spending 2k on a drive would be better price wise when selling. I don't think it will make a huge difference in selling as there isn't a lot of choice for families near by within this price range.

chickmug

Do you not have a friendly agent who you can pop into and ask the question. We used to find this all the time and hope that people would think we deserved to get the business when they sold?

By the sounds of it spending too much will not be the right move.

If you ask on the house/DIY board on this forum you will probaly get some good tips on enhancing what you have at the cheapest price possible?

mlz1413

If your doing up the house to sell do the drive last so it still looks good before you sell.

If your planning on staying a while before you sell do what appeals to you.


Blockpaving and slabs will need jet washing at least once a year. Gravel is cheap and looks good longer if kept clear of weeds. Bark is a cheap alternative but same problems as gravel. Concrete well laid will be the cheapest and cleanest option.

Dinah93

You say it is on a slope, if the proposed driveway drains onto the highway as of October 2008 it now requires planning permission even though it is a replacement. Yes, this is madness and it costs £150 a go for something planners have been given almost no guidance on how to handle, so are generally just approving it all anyway given we have no idea how to tell if one driveway is going to cause an end of the world flooding scenario or not. But I just thought it was something you should be aware of.

Gorgeous_George

I had my driveway paved and paid more than £5K (it also takes three cars). I would not have spent this money if I had not intended to stay put.

As it was, I didn't intend to ever move home again so decided to have the work done as soon as possible so that I get to enjoy it for the longest possible time.

Why not take a photo of your drive and superimpose a new driveway onto it. You'll see the difference and this may help you decide.

GG

00ec25

You have very much got it sussed, driveways affect curb appeal not values

that said also depends on what is the average in the area. If you are the only one with a block paving driveway it will be pretty but you will not recover value, if you are the last house without you will get low offers because people may price in the job to their offer.

so not easy, don't be the first, certainly don't be the last - helpful huh! In your case it sounds like you would be leading the pack so I would not expect to recover driveway value unless you have also done a lot of other work to your house on the more traditional and better investments (2nd toilet, extra bedroom, en suite) and you are now the new high for your road, even then of course you may hit the ceiling for your road, ie no point being a 5 bed luxury in the midst of 3 bed council, those who can afford it don't want to live there