If you are a homeowner it really is worth looking after your property. With the right care and attention, when it is time to downsize you can end up with a nice little nest egg. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to enhance your home and make it more valuable at the same time. As you will see, some of them are extremely easy and affordable to do. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Plant a tree
This is by far my favourite idea and it is one of the cheapest ones. You can easily buy a nice tree from somewhere like The Tree Center for under £100 or $100.
If you buy it online, all you have to do is to dig the hole and plant it. Once it is established it won’t even need to be watered.
In a few years time, when it has matured, it will start to add value to your home and make it easier to sell. People like trees. So, provided you have chosen a nice one that does not overwhelm the garden it will help you to sell your home. It is estimated that a mature Chinese Magnolia can add up to £8,500 to the value of the right property.
But, you need to be careful and do your research. You do not want to make a mistake and plant a tree that takes over too much of the garden. If you do that, you could inadvertently end up reducing the value of your property.
Convert Your Garage into Living Space
If your garage is currently being used primarily for storage, consider converting it into living space. It has the potential to add up to 15% to the value of the average home. Yet, typically, a garage conversion will only cost between £5,000 and £7,500. Less if you do all of the work yourself. Plus, you will be able to benefit from being able to use the extra space for your family until you put your home up for sale.
Apply for Planning Permission
If you do not have the budget to build an extension, install a garden room or convert your loft, it might be worth your while seeking planning permission for one or all of these changes. In particular, if you are close to putting your house on the market. It will cost you money to get the planning permission, but in most areas, that cost can be covered by the value it adds to your property. You can find out more about how to get planning permission in the UK and the costs involved, by clicking here.
Look After Your Home
Taking good care of your home is a great way to maintain its value. Don’t let things go too long before you get them repaired. In the long run, your home will be worth more and it will be much easier to sell it for a good price.
Photo credits: FlickrCC/tree, FlickrCC/garage, FlickrCC/brooms
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