The latest on the property market

How much value could these home improvements add?

When it comes to selling a home, it can be tempting for vendors to go ‘all out' to make their house stand out. But not every home improvement will add value.

New research from a popular property portal has revealed the top three home improvements which could add significantly more value to an asking price, than the cost incurred to do the work.*

Garden offices take the top spot

Not surprisingly, the surge in post-pandemic remote workers has placed a garden office in the top spot when it comes to adding value.

Research shows the average garden office costs almost £9,000 to install and will typically add 8.4% to the value of a home. Based on an average UK house price, a garden office could potentially add nearly £23,000 to the asking price, leaving a healthy profit just shy of £14,000.

Good news for garage conversions

A garage conversion follows in second place when looking at the most profitable improvements.

A standard garage conversion would set you back approximately £14,500. The research suggests that with the potential to add just over £27,000 to the asking price of an average home, converting your garage could provide an easy £12,500 profit when you sell.

A new kitchen is the third most profitable project

In recent years, our kitchens have transformed from a place to prepare a meal, to somewhere we host, socialise and come together as a family. Research has shown that updating a tired kitchen before you sell your home is the third most profitable thing you could do. On average, the cost of a new kitchen comes in at £8,500, with the potential to add nearly £15,000 to the value of a typical UK home.

Contact our team today for more expert advice on increasing the value of your home.

Ready to sell? Book your valuation here.

*Property Reporter

Number of homes on the market increases

The industry saw the busiest ever start to a year, and February proved to be even busier, with buyers and sellers determined to move ahead of the spring season.

The good news is, as valuations turn into instructions, more and more properties will come onto the market, giving buyers some fresh choice. In January, the seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex, 88% more sellers put their homes on the market than in January 2021. The borough of High Peak in Derbyshire came in at a close second, with an 82% year-on-year increase in new sellers coming to the market, followed by the city of Chelmsford in Essex, with a 58% rise in new properties for sale versus the same time last year. *

Tim Bannister, director of a well-known property portal, advises: "The market has picked up pace and it’s a really encouraging sign to see more properties starting to come to market for sale. To put yourself in the best possible position, you should become a ‘power-buyer’ by making sure your current home is on the market, or preferably sold subject to contract first, before starting the search for your new home."

Find out how much your home is worth here, or get in touch today to book your free, no-obligation valuation.

*Property Reporter

Could your rental property deliver a higher yield in 2022?

According to recent data, the combination of high tenant demand and low numbers of available properties has caused average UK rents to rise at the fastest rate ever recorded. *

Rental demand has been reported as 32% higher, while the number of available rental properties is 51% lower than this time last year.

Flats have seen the highest increase in competition compared to last year (+132%), followed by terraced houses (+40%) and semi-detached homes (+30%).

Data collected from a popular property portal suggests that the average rental yield across the UK is now 5.5%, which is the highest since 2016. Industry experts are hopeful that rents will increase further this year, with a well-known portal director explaining, "Tenant demand continues to be high entering the new year, meaning the imbalance between supply and demand is set to continue until there is more property choice for tenants, which has led to our prediction of a further 5% increase in average asking rents in 2022."

To find out if you could increase the rental income from your property, get in touch today to book a free lettings valuation.

*Rightmove

Three simple ways to speed up your sale

When it comes to selling a property, the small details can make all the difference. While it's easy to spend a lot of money staging your property for showings, you don't have to do so to make it look new.

You can make your home look more appealing to buyers and be on the right track to a faster sale by showcasing the features your property already has, and doing a few simple things to brighten up the overall appearance.

Make the most of natural light

One of the nicest features a home can have is natural light.

Make sure your window ledges are clear and your curtains are fully open when viewings are scheduled. If you have the time, clean your windows as well.

These changes may seem small, but they can make a big difference.

Vacuum rugs and upholstery

Give your rugs, upholstery, and sofa cushions a good cleaning if you want your home to look brighter.

These items can become dirty over time, even if you do not notice it. You can make your room look brand new with a fast clean of the necessities. Plus, when buyers walk in, your place will smell amazing!

Repaint walls

One of the first things potential buyers will notice is the walls. The rooms in your home can easily appear larger and cleaner by using a bright, neutral colour.

If you are limited on time, use a magic eraser to wipe the walls clean. Dirt and imperfections can be completely removed with a few quick scrubs!

Thinking of selling your home? Contact our team today or get your valuation here.

Bath fish and chip shop named among UK's best

The Oyster Shell in Bath has been named as one of the UK’s 50 best fish and chip takeaways. The accolade comes as the Fry Magazine publish their winners following months of sampling food, quizzing staff and hitting up social media.

Click here to read Bath fish and chip shop named among UK's best.

The Somerset farm which sells breath-taking flavoured milk

A dairy farm in Kingston Seymour is offering a variety of different flavoured milk and milkshakes through a huge vending machine.

Yew Tree Farm provide fresh milk that is produced by a herd of cows just meters from where you purchase it.

Click here to read The Somerset farm which sells breath-taking flavoured milk.