Kitchens top the charts for projects that add value to homes

A new survey has highlighted the home improvement projects that add most value to homes in the south of England.

Research from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and the Homeowners Alliance (HOA) showed that removing an internal wall to create an open-plan kitchen and diner could add £48,417 in seven days to an averagely priced home in London.

Building a garden room or outside playroom for the kids in an average-priced home in Surrey could add £35,611 to the value of a house in just 14 days.

Investing in kitchen improvements such as new flooring, a new worktop and new cabinet doors could add £26,838 in eight days to a home in Dorset.

And converting a cupboard under the stairs into a downstairs toilet could add £26,708 to the value of an average-priced home in Surrey in just seven days.

Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said: “By investing less than £3,500 on the creation of an open-plan kitchen and diner, homeowners in London can add a whopping £50,000 to the value of their home in just one week. If you’re looking to move up the property ladder, it’s obviously in your best interests to increase the value of your home as much as possible. By investing in low-cost, high-return projects, not only will you make your home a more pleasant place to live, you’ll also be increasing its value significantly. Better still, these projects take no time at all, so the hassle factor will be kept to an absolute minimum.

“As the weather starts to improve, now is the perfect time to commission the home-improvement projects you’ve been putting off all winter. Those who want to increase the value of their property in a matter of days will undoubtedly need to hire a quality builder to complete the project.”

Paula Higgins, chief executive of the HOA, commented: “This research is encouraging news for homeowners. Improving your home to make it more enjoyable to live in can also give you a big financial boost when it is time to sell.”

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