Home extensions

Not only can extensions give us spatial advantages and interior style gains, they can also add value to the property when you do decide to sell.

To make the ‘extend or move’ decision process easier, we asked property experts to determine which extensions are worth it and how much value they can add to your home.

THE BEST EXTENSIONS FOR IMPROVING YOUR PROPERTY’S VALUE:

We found that adding an extra bedroom to a property could add an extra 20% to the value, meaning that you could add £46,400 to the average UK home.

The top five value-adding extensions emerged as:

  1. Extra Bedroom – 20% increase in value
  2. Bigger Kitchen – 15-20% increase in value
  3. Loft Conversion – 15% increase in value
  4. More Living Space – 10% increase in value
  5. Extra bathroom – 5% increase in value

AN EXTRA BEDROOM CAN ADD 20% TO YOUR HOME’S VALUE

According to a survey by NAEA Propertymark, half of estate agents believe that adding a bedroom adds the most value to your home. But, how much exactly can an additional bedroom add?

Well, the research shows that an added bedroom to a three-bed home could add a staggering 20% to a property’s value. You are guaranteed to add 20% or more to the house value if the additional bedroom is a master with an en-suite. Meaning you could add £46,400 to the average UK house.

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR KITCHEN SPACE AND PROPERTY VALUE

With open-plan living becoming increasingly popular and the need for a separate dining room feeling outdated, it’s little surprise that kitchen extensions are so popular. Robert Ciuraru, director of the company Robert’s 21st Century Design LTD, says a kitchen extension is one of the most popular home improvement projects architects carry out.

Evidently, a bigger kitchen is desirable to new and existing homeowners, but how much value can they add through an extension?

This is all dependent on the size of the current kitchen, if you’re opening up a narrow kitchen you can expect to add £35,000 – £46,400 (15%-20%) to the average UK house.

LOFT CONVERSIONS CAN MAKE A £15,000 PROFIT

Despite an extension with an additional bedroom or bigger kitchen adding the most value, these are costly, so you may need to wait a couple of years to see a return on investment. However, if you’re looking to sell in a hurry, a loft conversion may be your best bet as it can give you a far bigger return on investment.

The average loft conversion costs £20,000 to build but can add £35,000 (15%) to the average house value – giving you an astonishing £15,000 profit.

Robert explained that to maximise your profit potential, it’s best to use the loft conversion to create a master bedroom with dormer windows to increase the floor space area.