Improve saleability with a new kitchen

Installing a new kitchen is the most cost-effective way of increasing the saleability of your home.

Most estate agents think a new kitchen and improving the décor are the most worthwhile home improvements to help sell your property.

While adding a new bedroom will add the most value to your property, the expense of doing so means it is unlikely to be the most cost-effective.

According to a survey by Spicerhaart estate agents, a new bedroom would add £20,000 to the value of a typical house, while a loft conversion would add £18,000.

A new conservatory adds £10,000 to the value of a property and a new kitchen £6,000.

Building a swimming pool or a home gym, on the other hand, are very expensive and unlikely to add much value to your property.

Russell Jervis, managing director of Haart estate agents, said: "With the average value of a property soaring over the past five or so years homeowners are finding it difficult to get a foot on the next rung of the property ladder.

"Adding a room, particularly a bedroom to your property can increase the value significantly and help you move up the rungs to a larger property. However adding a bedroom that is not in proportion or makes a home feel smaller may not add much value at all."

Seventy per cent of estate agents think a new kitchen and new décor will most increase the saleability of a property.

Sixty per cent of estate agents think a new bathroom adds to the saleability of a property, while 50 per cent think a garage and parking would do so.

Mr Jervis added: "Although the housing market is currently a lot more buoyant, homeowners that want to achieve the full asking price on their properties still need to pull out all the stops as buyers remain very price sensitive.

"An experienced property developer will always have at the forefront of their mind what type of feature will appeal to the mass market and consequently add the most value to their home.

"The results from this survey should be a useful guide for homeowners to cash in as much as possible from their renovations.

"However the old adage, ‘if a job's worth doing it’s worth doing properly’, really does apply here. A botch DIY job will not help improve the saleability of a home and could even devalue it."

The average house used in the survey was a three-bedroom semi-detached property in Warwick, worth about £250,000. XXX