Advice on improvements to add value to home?

stevie_wonder

HI,

I was wondering what people thought we the home improvements that added the most to a propertys value?
I'm planning on staying in my current place for 2 years, but will probably sell then. Its a 1900's 3 bed terraced, with loft room in Portsmouth.

Possible improvements are:
-loft conversion (room for bedroom and bathroom)
-bathroom refit
-kitchen refit
-garden redesign/makeover
-makeover front of house (new door, remove crazypaving, paint etc)
-laminate/floorboarding hallway/entrance

I've got £30k to do any work, but would like to see a return on it when I sell in two years.

Any thoughts what I could do to improve the value and still recoup the cash in a couple of years time?
Thanks

mjfusent

It would probably help if you described the current condition of the areas you're considering.

stevie_wonder

OKay
-loft is accessed via loft ladder but already boarded velux window in.
Would need new staircase adding plus bathroom, building regs etc
-bathroom is currently tiled okay, but bit a diy job, would need a complete refit IMO although sink and toilet could be reused.
-kitchen in good state, potentially could just replace units (or doors)and worktops,then lift lino as think original tiles are still down,
-garden is not overgrown but about 30 X 50 foot with brick shed across bottom, with paved area mainly grassed and outside loo attached to house - i personally think this is the place we could make the most improvement on and get a return on??
-front door his a hideous plastic double glazed effort with similar small window to side, others down the road have original wooden doors with stain glassed, crazy paving could be taken up and new ground laid.
-hallway, good condition, just a case of lifting carpets, checking floorboards going with them if okay or perhaps using laminate?

What you think?

steve700

I'm pondering a move and although mine is fairly up together, as it was pained 18 months ago, I am getting a couple of things done:

Had fitted wardrobes in the main 2 (of 3) bedrooms about 12 months ago.

Geting a quote this evening to have the current 20 year old PEACH bathroom suite replaced with a new plain white one (nno frills, just a like for like swap)

I've been in the house 11 years and managed okay with it but it does have a long crack in the sink, although it hasn't started leaking ....yet!

I'm also going to get the worktop and kitchen doors replaced on the (also 20 year old) kitchen. The cupboards themselves aren't too bad so I don't see the point in a whole new kitchen.

After this, 'll see if it's enough to convince me to stay put.

Just one question: how much is a Power Shower, are they expensive to run and are they gorgeous?

Cheers

stevie_wonder

Not a plumbing expert but found this on another site from a plumber - hope it helps

You must have a copper storage cylinder, usually in a hot-press.
You must get the shower plumbed on its own circuit, its probably not at the moment, as the builder likes to economise..
!. A new fitting is installed in the storage tank in the attic, this is the COLD and fitted with a gate valve.(for servicing)
2. A fitting is installed at the top of the copper cylinder, and fitted with a gate valve..(for servicing) this is the HOT
3. A switched spur is taken from a ring main.
4. A shower pump is fitted, and the two pipes go DIRECTLY to the shower,
5. Any existing pipes are "capped-off"
If the shower is installed in this manner, there will not be any problems, i,e, Another person using a handbasin, A washing machine coming on,someone using a hose, filling a kettle.
If you don't have a stored water supply you cannot have a power shower. PERIOD

stevie_wonder

also cost and amount of water are bad!

Normal shower, 7 days a week, average 35 litres used per shower, costs 7p per use
Power shower, 7 days a week, average 80 litres used per shower, costs 15p per use

steve700

Thanks alot, Stevie.

The 15p a shower, I could cope with....

masses of upheaval and cost to install one, I can do without!

Have to see what the plumber says later.

Back On Topic

Mrs_pbradley936

About the only advice I can give you is not to spend more on the place than you could ever get back. The house we live in now had too much spent on it – fancy taps and bathrooms, real wood (not laminate) floor, landscaped gardens and brick pavier driveway. In short the previous owners spent more on the house than they could hope to get for it because when a place is valued for a mortgage those things do not count. They are cosmetic, nice to have, makes the house sell quicker, but not for as much as you might think it ought to.

Doozergirl

A loft conversion is the most expensive type of extension. You'd have to be very sure that you would improve the value of the house as sometimes you may not even recoup what you pay out. I would never be the first to try it in a street. It will need to be a tall building already to pull it off, IMO.

Most important is kerb appeal, I'd get the house looking pretty as soon as you can. The crazy paving must go straight away! It will devalue the property.

£30,000 is a lot of money to spend. I'd be trying to do the entire list with that money! Just do what makes you happy to live there, but if you're trying to improve value, don't go crazy on the personalisation. If you think the garden needs doing most, do it first!

Laminate will not increase the value of a property.

As far as a 'power shower' is concerned, the description of what you need above is that of a true power shower which I think would be appropriate in flats in London that aren't supplied with gas. With gas, I would definately install a decent combination boiler which will allow you good water pressure from the taps/showers but also hot water as and when you need it. It means you don't heat too much water or heat it for longer than it needs. Water heaters on timers or switches drive me nuts and I know they cost more than they should.

Tassotti

Is Sarah Beeney onboard?

Jesus...use your common sense

Sorry !!!!ed off woman just dumped me

Doozergirl

Tassotti wrote:

Sorry !!!!ed off woman just dumped me

Need some grammar in there Tass, sounds like she was angry, not you iyswim.

I am sorry to hear that, though. Anybody out there want a property magnate boyfriend? I'm sure we can get references! :A