Scandi lifestyle expert shares simple tips and tricks for increasing the value of your home.
Now that spring – a season synonymous with the annual ‘spring clean’ and an interior refresh – has arrived, many Brits might find themselves inspired to embark on a home makeover. And for those thinking of selling up, there’s no better time to start considering simple ways to boost the value of their home.
Catharina Björkman, Scandi lifestyle expert at Contura, says: “Given the time and effort that it often takes to spruce up your home, it is a natural desire to want the changes to be effective not only in making your home a haven that you’ll enjoy spending time in but also in maximising its value should you be planning on selling in the future.
“From fresh coats of paint to rearranging the furniture and larger scale renovations, there are a number of actions that you can take which will help you boost your home’s value all the while ensuring it is a functional and aesthetically pleasing space.”
Read on for Catharina’s guide to maximising your home’s value this spring…
First impressions
We all know that first impressions are key, and it is no different when it comes to your home.
The front door is the very first aspect of your home that guests will come face-to-face with, so it’s a good place to start. In some cases, a simple scrub to remove any scuff marks, sticky fingerprints or build-ups of dirt might be all that is needed to leave it looking fresh and inviting. Where there has been more prolonged and permanent wear, a new coat or two of paint can help rejuvenate its appearance and choosing a statement colour can help make your home stand out. Consider a bold and bright colour such as ruby red or emerald green. For something likely to appeal to a wider range of potential buyers opt for a more neutral hue – stone grey, sage green or eggshell white.
Whilst kerb appeal won’t necessarily add value to your home, it will ensure it stands out from the crowd.
Invest money to make money
Don’t rule out a larger renovation project – whilst it will cost you more in the short-term, a well-considered renovation can pay dividends, adding serious value to your home.
To create space, more significant structural changes such as knocking through walls to create open-living spaces, building an extension, embarking on a loft conversion or even digging down to create a basement can all be solid investments. In all such cases, seek professional guidance.
For those considering a greener energy source, solar panels are a popular option with over 1.3 million installations on UK homes. Further to this, installing solar panels could increase a home’s value by as much as 14% .
Similarly, when it comes to heating your home, a woodburning stove provides an efficient, cost effective and sustainable domestic heating solution, minimising particulate emissions, reducing heating costs and maximising heat output. In fact, installing a woodburning stove could increase the value of your home by 5% .
Be sure to choose a woodburning stove that is best suited to the given space, with particular attention to the room’s size. For a 25 metre squared room for instance, you would need to go for a stove with an output of approximately 5kw, whilst for a space of 120sqm, you’ll need a model with a bigger chamber that provides an output of 7kw.
Tick-list tasks
Make sure you that you are on top of all general maintenance within your home. Unsurprisingly, overflowing bins, clogged gutters and unsightly cracks in the bathroom are unpleasant and even stress-inducing sights for those living in a home as well as for anyone considering buying it.
Start by checking your roof for any loose, damaged or missing tiles and call in the help of a professional roofer should you suspect any problems. This can be a costly job, but it is well worth it to prevent any leaks into your home and heat loss out of it.
Another cause of leaks are clogged gutters, so be sure to check these for debris on a frequent basis and remove any blockages should you find them – common culprits include leaves and twigs.
Inside your home, general maintenance should include checking that all windows and doors close properly with no gaps which might allow heat to escape or chilly draughts to enter in. If you do find any gaps, assess if the weather strips or sealant requires repairing or replacing entirely; you should be able to buy sealant solution and weather-proof adhesive strips in your local DIY store in either case.
Similarly, be sure to check the bathroom to make sure that all grouting is finished to a high standard and that there are no cracks or gaps between the tiles. A professional grouting job will contribute to keeping the bathroom looking well-maintained and polished as well as help to prevent future damage such as that caused by loose tiles or leaking water.
Fresh lick of paint
A fresh coat of paint can be used to rejuvenate the inside of your home too. If you’re not sure where to begin, start at the heart of the home in the kitchen; a space for cooking, eating, hosting and socialising. Neutral hues tend to be the safest option given their timeless appeal.
For any smaller rooms, repaint the walls using lighter shades – think cool ivory, pale blues, pistachio greens and light greys. This will help to enhance the feeling of space in the room by increasing the amount of light reflected into it. Decorating with large mirrors will have the same effect, while also adding a sense of depth to the room too.
Add personality and visual interest with splashes of colour that don’t overwhelm the space – purposeful soft furnishings, artwork and even a thoughtfully placed plant or vase of flowers.
Clear out clutter
Maximising the sense of space in your home can be a great way to boost value given that, as a rule, the more usable space there is in a home, the higher the value will be.
One of the easiest ways to create the illusion of more space and promote feelings of calm and peacefulness – exactly how every home should feel – is by ensuring that it is clean, tidy and clear of clutter. A basic rule is to go through and evaluate items based on whether they serve a practical function or bring you joy. If the answer is no, then it is time for it to go.
Home buyers will be more likely to imagine themselves in your property if there aren’t excessive amounts of personal items around. This doesn’t mean removing all traces of yourself though, just be mindful of having too many knick-knacks and personal photographs on display. Think a blank canvas with a few, easily changeable, personal touches.
Don’t forget the garden
It’s well known that an overgrown and unruly garden has the potential to reduce interest in your home, as well as negatively impacting its value, so it is well worth investing time and energy to transform it into, if not a green oasis, a tidy outdoor space.
Start by ensuring that the garden’s greenery is well under control, with the grass mowed, hedges trimmed, and pesky weeds removed. When it comes to dealing with any overbearing trees, be sure to call in your local tree surgeon.
If you are not able to regularly maintain your garden’s lawn, replace some or all of it with a lower maintenance alternative such as decking, gravel or paving stones.
Raised beds and large pots filled with easy to grow flowers such as multi-coloured sweet peas, deep orange calendulas and beautiful blue cornflowers – all hardy annuals – are the perfect way to add beautiful splashes of colour to your garden.
Investing in some durable yet sophisticated furniture to place in the sunniest spot of the garden and, come nighttime, solar-powered lanterns or wall lights will further maximise the potential of your garden’s outdoor living space and, more widely, of your home.
For more information, please visit www.contura.eu.
-Ends-
Notes to editors:
- Rooster PR will coordinate comment, interview and profile opportunities for Contura UK Country Manager, Phil Wood.
- The Contura PR team will also arrange visits to the nearest Contura Design Centre dealerships or the Contura showroom in Doncaster to see the product range.
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About Contura:
Contura is Europe’s leading manufacturer of wood burning stoves, offering an extensive range of classic and contemporary wood burners; from traditional insert stoves suitable for existing fireplaces, to freestanding statement models made with innovative materials such as soapstone.
Starting at £1,295, Contura stoves are premium yet affordable. Award winning, timeless Swedish design means the products complement or enhance any style of home, whilst also offering outstanding performance, maximum efficiency, practicality and ease of use.
Designed and assembled at the factory located in Markaryd, Sweden, and manufactured to the highest standards, Contura stoves are highly energy efficient, offering powerful convection, superior combustion technology and clean burning systems. All Contura stoves are DEFRA Clean Air Act exempt and thus approved for use in Smoke Control Areas.
Contura stoves can be purchased through a network of 165 independent retailers nationwide.
Contura is part of the NIBE group, a Swedish manufacturing company producing world class solutions in sustainable energy across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.
Contura is a founding member of the Stove Industry Association (SIA) in the UK.
Contura is a proud supporter of Eden: People+Planet’s efforts to restore and monitor over 241,150 hectares of land, creating jobs to support local communities and the environment in the long-term. Since 2018, Contura has funded the planting of over 170,000 trees.
For more information, please visit www.contura.eu
