How to Add Value to Your Home: Complete Guide 2025
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How to Add Value to Your Home: Complete Guide 2025

Discover proven ways to add value to your home, from low-cost improvements like decorating to major renovations. Learn which projects offer the best return on investment.

Lily Woods - Property Expert at Homemove
Lily Woods

Property Expert

Updated April 24, 2025 5 min read

If you're selling your home, you may want to try adding value to increase your selling price and attract more buyers. There are numerous ways you can do this—some are more expensive than others, but there are many ways to improve your home that won't cost you a lot. In this guide, we'll go through all the different ways you can add value to your home, from simple cosmetic changes to major renovations.

Value-Adding Strategy Overview

Low Cost

Under £1,000

Medium Investment

£1,000 - £10,000

Major Projects

£10,000+

Redecorate & Refresh

This is something most people selling their home will do. Painting your home will make it look fresh, clean, and new. It's best to paint in neutral colours so that it appeals to a range of buyers. To save money, you could try doing the painting yourself or with the help of family and friends.

Redecorating Tips

Best Neutral Colours
  • • Warm whites and off-whites
  • • Light greys and beiges
  • • Soft creams and magnolias
  • • Avoid bold or personal colours
Cost-Saving Tips
  • • DIY where possible
  • • Buy paint during sales
  • • Focus on high-impact rooms first
  • • Use good quality brushes for better finish

Expected Value Increase: 2-5% for complete interior redecoration

Declutter & Deep Clean

Decluttering is something you can do that won't cost you anything. Remove anything you don't use anymore and tidy away your belongings. This will make the place look clean and more spacious, helping potential buyers envision where their belongings would go.

Decluttering Checklist

Remove personal photos and memorabilia
Clear all surfaces and worktops
Organise wardrobes and cupboards
Remove excess furniture to create space
Deep clean all rooms thoroughly
Ensure natural light flows freely

Boost Your Curb Appeal

The exterior of your home is the first thing potential buyers will see when they view your property, and first impressions count. If the outside of your home looks dirty and cluttered, buyers might dismiss it immediately without wanting to see inside.

Front of House Improvements

Essential Updates
  • • New or refreshed front door
  • • Clean and clear pathways
  • • Fresh house numbers and letterbox
  • • Power wash exterior walls
Garden & Landscaping
  • • Mow lawn and trim hedges
  • • Add colourful flowers and plants
  • • Repair and paint fences
  • • Clear gutters and drains

Cost: £200-£2,000 | Value Increase: 3-10%

Quick & Easy Fixes That Won't Cost Much

Low-Cost High-Impact Improvements

Interior Quick Fixes
  • • Replace broken lightbulbs with LED alternatives
  • • Fix or replace dripping taps
  • • Oil squeaky doors and floorboards
  • • Touch up peeling paint
  • • Remove limescale and stains
Window & Cleaning
  • • Clean all windows inside and out
  • • Replace worn or damaged blinds/curtains
  • • Deep clean carpets and upholstery
  • • Polish all surfaces and mirrors
  • • Ensure all rooms smell fresh

Improve Energy Efficiency

Improving your home's energy efficiency is an excellent way to add value. By installing double-glazed windows, insulating walls and loft spaces, and draught-proofing doors and windows, you can make your home more energy-efficient. This will not only add value to your property but also help reduce energy bills for the new owners.

Update Your Heating System

Ensure the central heating in your home works properly and, if possible, update it. Buyers want to know the heating system is reliable and safe. A buyer won't want to deal with boiler problems after moving in, so updating it will be attractive to potential buyers.

Address Structural Issues

One crucial way to add value to your home is to sort out any structural issues. This could involve fixing cracks in walls, sorting out a leaky roof, replacing broken roof tiles, making sure you don't have an unstable chimney, or addressing rising damp. Not only will this add value, but it will also make your property much more appealing to potential buyers.

Update Your Kitchen

Kitchens are one of the main focal points in a home, and having a good kitchen is very popular with buyers. A quality kitchen can increase your home's value by 5-10%. You may want to completely update your kitchen, but if budget is a concern, you can replace cupboards or paint them, get new handles, ensure worktops are clean and clutter-free, repaint walls, and install better lighting.

Update Your Bathroom

You want your bathroom to look fresh and clean. Like the kitchen, if you have the money, you could do a complete makeover. However, if this isn't possible, you can paint walls or replace old tiles, add a new glass screen or replace your old shower curtain, replace taps, and do a deep clean to remove limescale and dirt. By doing this, you can add around 5% to your home's value.

Add an Extra Bedroom

One major project you can undertake if you have the budget is to add an extra bedroom to your home. This can be quite expensive if you're getting an extension built. However, if you have a room being used as a study or playroom, you could convert it into a bedroom. Having an extra bedroom can increase your home's value by up to 15%.

Summary

By following these tips, you should be able to add significant value to your home and have it in the best condition to sell. Remember to focus on improvements that offer the best return on investment and appeal to the widest range of potential buyers. Start with low-cost, high-impact changes before considering major renovations.

Before going ahead with any home improvements, you might want to read about the complete selling process in our comprehensive guide to selling your home. For expert guidance on property matters, explore our property services to get professional support throughout your journey.

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