I’m a property expert – small tweaks you can do to your house in under an hour that’ll add up to £10,000 to its value

SELLING your home can be a stressful experience – especially if you’re struggling to get what you think you deserve for the property.

But with a recent survey showing that having a blue bathroom can increase property value by 2%, there’s a whole host of quick and easy changes you can make to your house to up its price.

And the bathroom is the perfect place to start.

Bathroom

“Sprucing up your bathroom is probably one of the quickest and
simplest ways to make the most difference when it comes to increasing the value of your home,” property expert said.

“First of all, we all like a fresh, clean looking bathroom but it is easy for a
bathroom to look tired and grubby so start with a really good clean.”

It’s also worth using grout cleaner to get your grout sparkling, or re grouting if you have time.

There are a few items you can replace in the bathroom that can make it look more expensive too – such as the shower curtain and toilet seat.

And the addition of some plants, even if they are fake, can make a big difference too.

“Bathroom refurbishments typically add around 5% to the value of a property, but even if you do only have the time and budget for a quick spruce, you could be looking at adding around £5,000 to the value of your home and increasing the speed in which it sells,” Rachel added.

Kitchen

“The kitchen is the heart of the home and somewhere most people’s
property search and viewings start so it needs to make a good first impression,” Rachel said.

If you have the time, you can consider repainting or wrapping unit doors to give a dated kitchen an updated look.

But for a time-sensitive makeover, consider just replacing the handles.

Lighting is extremely important as well, as people love a light, bright kitchen.

You can pick up LED strip lighting at a purse-friendly price and adding under the units, including the base units, gives the kitchen a more expensive feel.

Completely replacing your kitchen can add up to 10% to your property value, but a quick freshen up could potentially add around £10,000 to its price tag.

Bedroom

“This is a tricky area as bedrooms are particularly personal, a new
buyer is likely to come in a redecorate to their own taste,” Rachel warned.

But there are a few things you can do to potentially add value to your house through its bedroom.

Pop in a light-coloured blind or curtain, and choose light fittings to compliment the room.

It’s also a good idea to replace the plug sockets if you can, to include USB ports to make the bedroom more technologically capable.

Soft furnishings is another way you can update your bedroom – and this can be a brilliant investment for your next home as well.

“It is said the average person spends between £500 and £1,500 decorating bedrooms,” Rachel added.

“So, you can expect bedroom refreshes to add around £1,000 to your property value.”

Living room

“Your main living area is all about making the space feel as luxurious as possible to command the highest price,” Rachel said.

A lot of the additions you can make to the living room can end up being costly, but there are a few things you can do for a quick update.

A large, luxurious rug can give the room a whole new aspect, while art work can make a big difference.

And you don’t have to splash out on originals – artfully-placed prints can have a big effect.

These changes can increase your property value by up to £10,000, so shouldn’t be dismissed.

Outside/office

Other alterations you can consider making to your home include “adding greenery and coloured plants to front and back gardens in pots to give
an easy to maintain feel”.

Consider giving any fences a fresh paint or stain, or add a stylish wall
mounted letterbox/number plaque to the front of the property.

“Adding an office space – any space or area of a larger room you can
section off and add amenities for working from home will add value to
your home,” Rachel added.

“Again, depending on the size and suitable usage this could add from £3,000, by adding a desk and units to a large under stair space, to £10,000 by insulating a garden room and making a separate office.”