How to design your London home and add value to your property

If you own a property in London, in light of recent reports that suggest the values of properties may drop in the London area, you may want to consider ways in which you can adding value to your property. There are a number of ways in which value can be added to a property, although these need to be thought out thoroughly in line with your budget and the area you live in. So, what are buyers in the London area looking for?

What can a good design do for the value of your home?

It’s been well cited that a efficiently and elegantly designed house can add value to your property although it’s hard to prove this without the relevant statistical data. However, a report by The Modern House shows that design-led houses in the London area are selling for a higher percentage than other properties. Properties that were valued over £1 million were selling for almost 19% more if they were design-led, whilst design-led houses on the lower end of the market were being upsold for nearly 10% more.

What’s a good design?

There are many features that make a house ‘well designed’. In a world of climate consciousness, energy efficiency is key in making your house attractive to buyers. By replacing the thickness of your curtains, insulating your loft, upgrading your boiler and installing a water-saving shower system, you can lower your home’s carbon footprint and raise the value of your property. Homebuyers are often looking for open-plan kitchens and living rooms, as well as furniture and decor design that’s modern, sleek and elegant.

By using lighter paints and allowing more natural light into your property, you can make it appear much larger than it is. This ideal can also be achieved by using mirrors to reflect natural light from other areas of the home. In London, garden space is limited, so it’s important to make the most of this by designing garden and kerb spaces that look modern, homely, and are able to entertain guests.

Other ways to increase value to your home

There are a plethora of ways in which you can increase the value of your London home, but you will be expected to invest a significant amount of money yourself if you wish to do so. Kitchen and bathroom designs are constantly evolving in their shape and styles, as well as their awareness of energy efficiency. By renewing your bathroom and kitchen, you could add up to 10% of value onto your property. Another common but worthwhile way to increase your house value is by converting your attic and cellars. Although costly at first, the conversions could yield returns of up to a 30% value increase for your property – if done right. The demand for housing is constantly increasing in London, whilst the amount of housing available is limited, so maybe you could convert your bigger property into flats? By multiplying the residences in your property, you should be able to see a much higher return on your investment.

Need any property advice, or are you looking for recommendations for renovators and good builders in London? If so, Westcolt Surveyors are property experts in the Capital, and we’ll be happy to answer any of your questions. Get in touch today!