What adds more value to your house?

Duvaljones

Hi guys

Having moved in to our house just over a year ago, we have a list of improvements we want to get through, which we obviously need to prioritise due to budget restraints.

So, I was wondering which of the following people would say would add more value (monetary or desirability):

New kitchen - fairly small size and costing c.£4k
New driveway - had two quotes for £4.5k
Garden overhaul - no quotes yet but the garden's pretty basic and bland at the moment, small-medium size.

Neither of these are 'must-do urgently' - we've done those jobs and are now onto these more aesthetic ones.

That's it!

Cheers!

kinger101

It's a bit of an odd question TBH. It rather depends on the existing state of the kitchen/driveway/garden.

If you're not planning to sell the house, just do whatever you'll get most enjoyment from. It's a home, not an investment. If none of it is urgent, have you considered doing nothing? Or overpaying the mortgage?

Duvaljones

We are seeing this as a 3-4 year house and so there is an investment element to our plan, hence the question.

All of the above are in an ok state and aren't any more urgent than each other really, I just wondered what would make our house more attractive to potential future buyers.

kinger101

The driveway is probably the most durable, so will still lock as good in 4 years (with a pressure wash).

A garden can take a few years to establish.

You'll start getting wear on the kitchen from day one. The newer the better as far as buyers are concerned.

fairy_lights

You should be able to sort the garden out yourself if you're going to be there for a few years anyway, especially if it's just bland and not massively overgrown. As Kinger said, a garden can take a few years to establish so you can make a project of it, cut it back this year, do a bit more next etc.
A new kitchen now might be dated by the time you sell, plus your taste might not be the same as a potential buyers.
And I'm shocked at how much driveways cost, I had no idea! :eek:

princeofpounds

None of those things will add much value, probably not even the cost of their installation, unless the current state is rather terrible.

Things like nice kitchens improve saleability but generally speaking a buyer wants their new kitchen, not your nearly new one.

Value is added through things that are difficult and/or disruptive to do. Either that or work that solves major deficiencies. Planning permission, major building works etc.

Over the last 20yrs lots of DIYers convinced themselves their little updates added value when in fact house price appreciation was doing all the 'work' (cf homes under the hammer, sarah beeny etc)

Do them because you want to do them to improve your quality of life.

kinger101

With the garden too, laying a lawn and putting in shrubs takes time. But just tarting it up with a few bedding plants can be done just before if goes on the market. That way, at least stuff is in bloom.

But usually, I don't think a garden will do much to the value as princeofpounds suggests, unless its at one of the extremes (established cottage garden v dirty concrete yard full of dogsh1t).

AlexMac

With the possible exception of the kitchen, none of those things will automatically add what they cost to the sale price, so do whatever you will enjoy most; or put another way, do what you need to do to enhance your use and enjoyment of the house.

A new (or refurbished) kitchen won't wear out in 3-4 years as a poster above implies; but if you're into food and cooking it will give you a coupla grands' worth of pleasure if the present one is grotty and broken.

And if you ain't a gardener, a few grand's wasted on you as it will go to seed in 3-4 years; and if you are a gardener.... (DIY?)

Thank about selling strategies in the 6 months before you have really decided to sell. A lot can happen in 3-4 years.

And it also depends on the current value of your home; if it's currently a £150k semi, spending 10% on cosmetic improvements (most of which you could probably do- or enhance- yourself) won't add 10% to the value. They might make it more desirable and kerb-appealish, but then so would a good clean and de-clutter.

So DIFY; (do it for you) even if you're too inept or busy at work to DIY.

Good luck