I’m a property expert – my cheap and easy DIY hacks will add £7,000 to the value of your house with basically no effort
PROPERTY prices are tumbling, with the average seller seeing the value of their home drop by £4,159.
And with interest rates at their highest in almost 50 years, the market doesn’t look set to settle any time soon.
But all hope is not lost.
Property expert Jonathan Rolande, from the National Association of Property Buyers, tells Kirsten Jones home hacks – all of which you can do yourself for under £15 – that together will boost the value of your house by nearly £7,000.
UPGRADE YOUR SOCKETS
REPLACING your old plug sockets with USB ports will make your home more modern, tidy up surface space and banish excessive cables.
Jonathan says: “USB sockets are hugely attractive, especially if they’re in the kitchen or by the beds where people generally charge their tech.
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“Plus they look much nicer than a big blocky three-pin plug.”
DIY cost: Around £10 each
Value added: £500
LIGHT UP YOUR ROOM
AS well as moving heavy furniture away from windows and hanging mirrors in dark rooms, LED bulbs will brighten up your space and make it more appealing, and they’re often more energy efficient, too.
“People are so worried about electricity costs,” says Jonathan.
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“Installing LEDs could push you up to a B Energy Performance Rating (EPC) which is extremely attractive to potential buyers, especially in the current climate.”
DIY Cost: From £5
Value added: £1,000
FILL IN WALL CRACKS
EVEN the smallest cracks and crevices can make your home look tired and scruffy.
Arm yourself with a tube of filler to cover blemishes and brush over a quick layer of paint to finish.
“If potential buyers see cracks, they might assume there’s a structural problem or begrudge the idea of spending money on decorating,” explains Jonathan.
“If you’re worried they’re more than shrinkage cracks, get them checked out first.”
DIY Cost: £5
Value added: £2,000
DO UP YOUR DRIVEWAY
THE first thing buyers see is your driveway (if you have one), so make sure it’s weed-free.
Rent out a jet-washer and blast away the dirt.
“First impressions matter, and if there’s oil spills, weeds and scrapes out front, it can be enough to make people walk away without even looking inside your home,” warns Jonathan.
DIY Cost: £5 a day to rent jet-washer
Value added: £500
PAINT KITCHEN TILES
SHELLING out on wall tiles can cost over £500.
Instead, pop to your local hardware store for a pot of tile paint.
Use a roller to apply three or four coats and make sure to sand between each layer to ensure any dust or hairs have been removed.
“This is a great idea if your tiles are in a very bad condition,” says Jonathan. “The improvement is really surprising. But make sure you do it well or they’ll see it’s just a cover-up.”
DIY Cost: £15
Value added: £500
REPLACE YOUR HANDLES
WHETHER it’s wardrobes, drawers or cupboard doors, investing a few pounds in some new knobs can transform furnishings from drab to designer-looking in seconds.
“Tired kitchens can look really drab but add a brass handle and it’s transformed into a retro space,” shares Jonathan.
“It’s such a small change but can really improve the feel of the house.”
DIY Cost: From £10
Value added: £250
VINYL-WRAP WORKTOPS
COVER up tatty worktops with cheap vinyl wrap. It looks like the real deal but for a fraction of the price.
Measure carefully before you begin and be sure to avoid setting hot pans on the surface.
Jonathan says: “This is the perfect opportunity to create a blank canvas for potential buyers.
“Seeing a clean and tidy surface that can be used straight away is a fuss-free positive.”
DIY Cost: From £10
Value added: £500
COVER YOUR CUPBOARDS
IT’S definitely not worth spending £10,000 on a kitchen or even replacing cupboards.
But there are ways to refresh them without renewing. A few rolls of self-adhesive film will spruce up your doors.
“If a good scrub up doesn’t work, filming doors is a clever option. But again, make sure you do it well or they’ll notice,” advises Jonathan.
DIY Cost: About £10 a roll
Value added: £500
CLEAN YOUR WINDOWS
DON’T forget about the outside of your home.
Dirty windows can be a real turn-off. They can age the property and look like too much hard work for prospective buyers.
Jonathan says: “This is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to add value if you’re able to do it yourself.
“Clean windows mean less hassle and another job buyers won’t have to do when they move in.”
DIY Cost: From £10
Value added: £500
HIDE YOUR BOILER
EVEN modern boilers are an eye-sore in an otherwise immaculate home.
Use a few strips of medium-density fibreboard to make an accessible cupboard to cover up your boiler.
You can also paint the outside of the boarding to match its surroundings.
Jonathan says: “Boxing your boiler, if it’s in view, is a perfect way to distract the eye.
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“Just make sure you get a safety check to ensure it won’t cause any problems.”
DIY Cost: About £15
Value added: £500