Improvements offering the greatest return on investment:
According to the research, which was organised by Sainsbury's Bank Home Insurance, 57% of estate agents polled named improvements to the kitchen as the number one way to add the greatest return on investment, new bathrooms were cited as the next greatest return (33%), followed by a loft extension to create an extra room (31%). The top five home improvements offering the greatest return on investment also include a single storey extension (29%) and a double storey extension (24%).
Improvements offering the greatest increase in property value:
According to the research, estate agents believe that a double storey extension could add on average around 20% to a property’s value, a single storey extension would add 16%, as would a loft. Estate agents surveyed said that a new kitchen could add 15% to the value of a property and a basement conversion to create an extra room could add 14%.
Scott Gorman of Sainsbury’s Bank said: “It’s important to tell your home insurer about any renovations to ensure the additional value of your property and contents are covered by your policy. Make sure you’re also covered for any mishaps by notifying them before the work is carried out. If you’re making substantial renovations where you have to move out of your home, check how long your policy will cover you while it’s unoccupied, as some providers will specify a limit on this.”
Estate agents polled predict that the biggest growth(3) in home improvements will be new kitchens (named as one of the biggest growth areas by 56% of respondents); loft conversions (34%) and bathrooms (33%) – mirroring the areas where they felt there would be the best return, indicating that today’s home-improvers are a savvy bunch.
