{"id":15728,"date":"2025-03-09T00:03:18","date_gmt":"2025-03-08T22:03:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/?p=15728"},"modified":"2025-05-21T15:26:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T13:26:17","slug":"add-value-to-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/en\/useful\/articles\/add-value-to-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How to add value to your home"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"15728\" class=\"elementor elementor-15728\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d7efb58 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5d7efb58\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32d40bf6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"32d40bf6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><nav aria-label=\"breadcrumbs\" class=\"rank-math-breadcrumb\"><p><\/p><\/nav><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e4750ba e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1e4750ba\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a047e75 ddddf e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a047e75\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-20c9d99a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"20c9d99a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Our MoneyHub guide to improving rather than moving home. Read how to add value to your home.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18b94166 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"18b94166\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13e8adb2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"13e8adb2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/world-habitat-day-close-up-picture-pile-coins-model-house-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-18901\" alt=\"add value to your home\" srcset=\"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/world-habitat-day-close-up-picture-pile-coins-model-house-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/world-habitat-day-close-up-picture-pile-coins-model-house-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/world-habitat-day-close-up-picture-pile-coins-model-house-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/world-habitat-day-close-up-picture-pile-coins-model-house-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/world-habitat-day-close-up-picture-pile-coins-model-house-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/world-habitat-day-close-up-picture-pile-coins-model-house-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19d502c4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"19d502c4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-175f64b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"175f64b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1><b>How to add value to your home<\/b><\/h1><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moving home can be complicated due to all the moving parts, from those first tentative glances in estate agents\u2019 windows to that moment six months after you get the keys and finally unpack the last box\u2026the whole process is fraught with potential anxiety. Add to that the average cost of moving house currently stands in the thousands and it\u2019s clear why many families are finding it makes sense for their sanity and their finances to stay put and improve, rather than move.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Planning is key in the property market, with all home improvements, as one in four projects ends up going over budget.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve all seen those TV home improvement shows where the hapless homeowner bemoans their overspend, so it\u2019s worth doing a little extra planning work upfront to avoid this.<\/span><\/p><h2><b>Beware of the &#8216;ceiling price&#8217;<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you spend large sums on adapting your home to suit your current needs, it\u2019s wise to make the changes after carefully considering your chances of recouping the value of your improvements for your home\u2019s potential future sale price.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every home has a \u2018ceiling price\u2019 \u2013 the maximum price you can expect to achieve based on similar properties in your area. Even if you turn your house into Kadriog Palace, there\u2019s a limit to how much people will pay for it. It can be worth discussing the options with an estate agent to understand your home\u2019s threshold. If you live in a house worth \u00a3\u20ac350,000 and spend \u20ac25,000 on a new kitchen, you may be unable to recoup the full value when you sell up if you\u2019re already near the ceiling.<\/span><\/p><h2><b>Funding improvements<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you use savings to fund the improvements, you could find that the increase in value you achieve could be more than the interest you would have earned in a savings account, mainly while interest rates are low.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you don\u2019t have savings, you could consider taking out a loan \u2013 or, for more considerable improvements, increasing your mortgage borrowing with your current lender or re-mortgaging your property to a new lender will free up some equity. Before considering these steps, you must check whether you can afford the monthly payments and whether your existing lender would impose an early repayment charge. Contact your lender or financial advisor via phone for more information on funding options.<\/span><\/p><h2><b>Things to bear in mind<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The suggestions below will add value to your home if done well. However, the costs and potential impact on your home\u2019s sale value indicated here are only intended as guides \u2013 the actual figures could vary significantly. And of course, for any home improvements you should take necessary precautions to help ensure the work is completed to satisfactory quality, to time and budget:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take the time to plan exactly what you want to achieve \u2013 consulting structural engineers and architects if necessary, and obtaining at least three quotes from builders. Additionally, contact multiple professionals to understand the costs involved comprehensively.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agree on the cost beforehand \u2013 set aside a strict budget but allow for contingency in case of overspending.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agree on a realistic time frame upfront, but remember there may be unavoidable delays, caused by bad weather, for example.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep up regular communication with the builders.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have a contract to cover both parties and never hand over payment upfront.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check your builder has the right insurance in place before any work begins.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h2><b>1. Convert your garage<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have off-road parking, and depending on where you live, converting a garage can significantly increase your home\u2019s value\u2014by as much as 10 to 15 percent. Getting a kinnisvara (real estate) appraisal is important to understand the potential value increase from such a conversion.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your garage is attached to your house, you should be able to convert it into another room for between \u20ac10,000 and \u20ac20,000. But if that doesn\u2019t suit your home or your needs, you could turn it into a playroom, a home office or a<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/en\/news\/special-reports\/comparing-estonian-gyms\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">gym.<\/span><\/a><\/p><h2><b>2. Knock down walls<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have many smaller reception rooms divided by walls that aren\u2019t load-bearing, knocking one or more of them through could transform the \u2018flow\u2019 of your living space at a relatively low cost. Nowadays, most people\u2019s lifestyles suit a large kitchen\/diner better than a smaller kitchen and separate dining room.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Equally, if you have two small living rooms, knocking them together could create a more attractive space. These changes will likely appeal to potential buyers too, so you could add value to your home. Meie innovative solutions ensure the new space&#8217;s structural integrity and aesthetic appeal.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s difficult to calculate the potential increase in value this may bring to your home, but the cost is minimal compared to many other home improvements: knocking down a load-bearing wall costs around \u20ac1,500.<\/span><\/p><h2><b>3. Update your kitchen<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The popularity of open-plan kitchens and dining spaces means kitchens are increasingly the focal point of a home, providing everything from the dinner table to the place where kids do their homework. To increase home value, a basic makeover, focusing on changing fixtures and fittings such as door and drawer handles and adding energy-efficient appliances, can make a surprising difference at minimal cost.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research shows that if you want to fit a completely new kitchen, including appliances, you can expect to pay around \u20ac8,000, which could add 3 to 10 percent to the value of your home.<\/span><\/p><h2><b>4. Convert your loft<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the only way is up, extending skywards is one of the easiest ways to gain an extra bedroom and bathroom. The most successful loft conversions appear to be an integral part of the existing property, both inside and out, and the home retains a balanced ratio of living space to sleeping space.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll need to ensure the pitch of your roof is steep enough to allow the necessary headroom, and remember that you will have to sacrifice space on the floor below to install access. You must consult a structural engineer to ensure your floor joists can support the extra weight. You may also want to hire an architect to bring your ideas to life and act as an agent to guide you through the required planning permissions and building regulations. If certain conditions are met, you may not need planning permission.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A basic loft conversion costs around \u20ac20,000-\u20ac30,000 and can add up to 20 percent to your property\u2019s market value. Loft conversions can significantly enhance the real estate value of your home, making it a<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/en\/news\/special-reports\/property-investing\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">wise property investment.<\/span><\/a><\/p><h2><b>5. Add another bathroom<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adding an extra bathroom or an en suite can make life with a growing family easier in the mornings (no more queues of grumpy, sleepy people in pyjamas) and be a selling point in the future. However, if you are converting an existing bedroom into a bathroom, it could end up devaluing your home.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Downsizing two rooms would be a mistake in a street of three-room properties. A better choice may be to carve out an en suite in a large master bedroom. A new bathroom can cost around \u20ac6,500 on average \u2013 depending on the types of fixtures and fittings you want \u2013 and could add about 4 or 5 percent to your home\u2019s value.<\/span><\/p><h2><b>6. Create a driveway &#8211; add up to 10 percent value<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some areas of the country, the ability to park close to your front door comes at a considerable premium. If you have the room to add parking tastefully, you will surely increase value. Make sure your driveway materials complement existing paths and patios for maximum added value.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perhaps planning permission is a consideration if you build or replace an existing driveway. To avoid the need for it, use porous substances such as gravel, block paving and certain types of asphalt. It is also helpful to consider areas of natural drainage. It\u2019s estimated that an attractive driveway can add between 5 and 10 percent to the value of your home. Additionally, creating a driveway can positively impact your real estate value by enhancing your property&#8217;s overall appeal and functionality.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hopefully this article has given you some food for thought. Before you step inside that estate agent\u2019s and embark on<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/en\/news\/special-reports\/good-time-buy-property\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">selling your property<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, maybe you\u2019ll stop and consider whether some highly targeted home improvements might make more sense for you.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Always do research or talk to a financial adviser before making financial decisions. Views expressed here are those of our experts and customers and do not constitute financial advice.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our guide to improving rather than moving home. Read how to add value to your home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":18901,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"acf":[],"blog_post_layout_featured_media_urls":{"thumbnail":["https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/world-habitat-day-close-up-picture-pile-coins-model-house-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"full":["https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/world-habitat-day-close-up-picture-pile-coins-model-house-scaled.jpg",2560,1707,false]},"categories_names":{"21":{"name":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/en\/category\/useful\/articles\/"}},"tags_names":[],"comments_number":"0","rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/world-habitat-day-close-up-picture-pile-coins-model-house-scaled.jpg",2560,1707,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/world-habitat-day-close-up-picture-pile-coins-model-house-scaled.jpg",2560,1707,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/world-habitat-day-close-up-picture-pile-coins-model-house-scaled.jpg",2560,1707,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/world-habitat-day-close-up-picture-pile-coins-model-house-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/world-habitat-day-close-up-picture-pile-coins-model-house-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"large":["https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/world-habitat-day-close-up-picture-pile-coins-model-house-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/world-habitat-day-close-up-picture-pile-coins-model-house-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/world-habitat-day-close-up-picture-pile-coins-model-house-2048x1365.jpg",2048,1365,true]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"David Bailey","author_link":"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/en\/author\/davidbailey\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/en\/category\/useful\/articles\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Articles<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Our guide to improving rather than moving home. Read how to add value to your home.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15728"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15728\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15728"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moneyhub.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}