WHAT ADDS VALUE TO YOUR HOME?
Investing in your home can make it look the most attractive in the road, which will get it the most attention from buyers when you decide to move. These houses will also usually sell more quickly and for more money. Some improvement projects will offer a more clear-cut return than others, for example, central heating almost always pays for itself and is nearly always guaranteed to leave you with a profit when you sell. Here are a few more suggestions for good, sound investments in your property (the percentage increases in the value of your property come from the mortgage lender GE Money, who surveyed 110 estate agents):

Loft conversion
Converting a loft to make an extra room is the most popular home improvement project and can add a whopping 12.5% to your selling price.

Extension
This is the second most popular project, adding an extra 11%.

A Conservatory - 6%

New Kitchen - 4.6%

Central Heating - 3.4%

New bathroom - 2.8%

Redecorating - 2.6%

New Driveway - 2.2%

Decking or Patio - 2%


…AND WHAT TO AVOID

Knocking down walls to make bigger bedrooms
It’s not size that matters in the UK housing market, it is the number of bedrooms that really counts, not the square footage.

Home gyms
As most gym membership fees are paid religiously, enthusiasm for the actual work-out soon wanes. Likewise a home gym.