The 7 Deadly Home Improvement Sins

If you’re planning to sell your home in Chichester, Bognor Regis or a surrounding village, but are worried by its condition, the temptation will be to make improvements ahead of instructing an agent.

Not all improvements, however, are created equal. There’s a fine balance between splashing the cash to increase value and appeal, and making bad decisions that leave you out of pocket.

Handily, Telegraph Money has done the hard work and flagged up the seven most deadly home improvement sins: the ones it says you shouldn’t bother wasting your money on.

Before we tell you what they are, our estate agents at White & Brooks will caveat the below. If your home is in a really poor state of repair, a genuine valuation will reflect this.

After visiting and valuing 1,000s of homes across West Sussex, we find basic repairs, a thorough declutter and a good clean often have the biggest impact on property presentation and price.

1. Keep your existing kitchen

It’s rarely worth ripping out your kitchen and replacing it with a new one. As one of the most expensive property improvements you can undertake, you’re unlikely to recoup the cost when you sell. You could try freshening up the look by painting the cabinet doors or replacing the worktop. Keeping surfaces clutter free and cleaning any build-up of grease will also make a positive impact.

2. Hold fire on an extension or conversion

It’s true that larger properties with more bedrooms are worth more than their smaller counterparts but a loft conversion or side extension can easily cost 5 or even 6-figure sums. Speak to the estate agents at White & Brooks before starting a conversion or extension. They’ll be able to tell you if your plans will add enough value to cover your outlay. Getting planning permission to make your property bigger, but not starting the work, is a lower cost way of improving your home’s appeal.

3. Love your garden but don’t landscape it

Outdoor space continues to be a must-have among home movers in Chichester and Bognor Regis but your garden doesn’t have to be a Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winner. Additionally, past surveys have found hot tubs, outdoor kitchens and swimming pools can actually harm your home’s value. Instead, focus on lawn care, prune overgrown plants, jetwash surfaces, keep flower beds weed free and add smart pots with colourful blooms.

4. Stick with the white goods you have

There’s no need to install a top-of-the-range American fridge freezer or washing machine. If your white goods are in working order, that’s usually good enough for a buyer. If an appliance is broken, do get it repaired or buy a second-hand replacement to keep costs in check. Also fix any integrated doors that are hanging off as this will improve the overall aesthetic of your kitchen.

5. Fix and freshen your bathroom

Bathrooms are like kitchens – costly to install and not worth replacing unless you absolutely have to. What will need your attention are niggling issues, such as dripping taps, leaking shower cubicles and WC flush mechanisms that don’t work as well as they should. Your bathroom – and buyers – will also thank you for removing mould, stains and limescale.

6. Avoid over personalised redecoration

White & Brooks fully supports a fresh lick of paint before you sell, both inside and out. No matter how boring it feels, sticking to safe, light colours will keep buyers onside. Yes, that means white, pale pastels, cream or even magnolia. For a polished look, make sure you fill in any dents and cracks. Save your pennies for a new property by avoiding expensive wallpaper, lavish tiles and expensive fittings, such as light switches and plug sockets.

7. Feel the love for your original floor coverings

There’s no need to remove your current floor coverings unless they are a real hazard or they harbour an odour that’s impossible to shift (such as cat urine). You can breathe new life into your carpets by having them professionally cleaned or if you’re on a budget, hire the equipment and do it yourself. Hoover and mop before viewings, and replace any loose grout and missing tiles if your floor covering is stone or porcelain.

Our teams in Chichester and Bognor Regis would be happy to share their presentation advice with you. Tell White & Brooks your home improvement plans before you decide to sell, and we can establish if they’re cost effective. Contact us today.