Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer have spent the past 20 years helping prospective homeowners to find their dream properties on their hit shows, Location, Location Location, and Love It or List It, so it's fair to say they know their stuff when it comes to buying and selling houses.
While you may think extensive renovations are the key to giving your house price a boost, the pair have previously revealed tips that could add thousands of pounds to your property's value without even costing a penny – and we've compiled them all below…
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It's all about the kerb appeal
First impressions matter, and when you're trying to sell your house, that means the exterior of the property is just as important as what is inside. Make sure potential buyers get a good first impression (and add as much as £5,000 to the value of your home) by giving it a fresh update before listing.
It could be as simple as a fresh coat of paint or cleaning your windows, and tidying up any outside space. According to Phil, it will help to make your house look well-maintained and "reassure buyers" about the overall condition of the property. It's a no-brainer.
Think about decluttering, and keeping your house clean and tidy
While extensive renovations and re-configuring your home may help to add significant value when you're trying to sell, don't carry out work for the sake of it. Instead, Kirstie encourages homeowners to have a decluttering session first.
"Quite often doing a bit of a chuck out and tidy up will have the same impact as knocking down walls. So many people are selling their homes because they've outgrown them, but they're hoarding stuff – so be really tough with yourself," Kirstie told British Gas.
"What absolutely adds value to property is keeping everything super clean and finished. Never try and sell anything half-finished: if you can't finish it, don't start it. If you haven't used it or worn it in a year then sell it, give it away, recycle it...do something positive with it. Somebody will want it."
Give your bathroom a makeover
According to Phil, some low-cost updates to a dated bathroom can add as much as £7,000 to the value of your home. From a new set of taps to a fresh glass screen or a power shower, spending just a few hundred pounds can have a big return.
You don't need to splash out on a new kitchen to add value to your home
Don't think that you have to speculate to accumulate; while it may be tempting to think that spending thousands on a new kitchen will add the same value to your home, Kirstie says it doesn't always work that way. "It is almost irrelevant how much you spend on your kitchen," she toldDaily Mail. "Layout and functionality is key."
An unexpected way of boosting your property value by as much as £5,000 could beas simple as giving it a name, and better still, it is free to do. "Regal-sounding names such as 'Crown Cottage' or 'Clarence Estate' are popular with buyers, while pastoral names such as 'Harvest Lodge' or 'Owl Corner' evoke a rural setting," Phil told This is Money.
Keen to give your house a name? You must contact Royal Mail and your local council to formalise the change, and ensure it is locally unique. Phil advises that it is best to keep a house number as well.
A lick of paint can refresh tired decor and increase the value of your home
Phil and Kirstie helped one couple on Love It or List It to add £20,000 to the value of their property by giving their tired décor a fresh update with a new lick of paint. However, if you're deliberating about opting for a shade of grey, think again. Kirstie said that painting a room grey can impact the light, and instead recommended paler tones and off-white for the best effect.
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© Photo: iStock
© Photo: iStock
© Photo: iStock
