‘Adding value’ to your home has always been a staple manoeuvre for any astute homeowner – but it is proving more popular now than ever.
This is due to a number of reasons: record numbers of homeowners staying put, the increasing costs of moving home and a general loss of confidence in the UK housing market (one in five British adults surveyed by the Halifax bank expect house prices will fall in the next year).
According to a new study by Gocompare.com, 43% of homeowners have carried out major work on their properties in the last 5 years, from updating bathrooms and kitchens, investing in energy efficient measures such as new central heating systems, to building an extension.
Top 10 home improvements carried out in the last 5 years | ||
1 | Installed a new bathroom | 39% |
2 | Fitted a new kitchen | 38% |
3 | Installed a new boiler or central heating system | 34% |
4 | A garden make-over | 26% |
5 | Installed double glazing | 26% |
6 | Built an extension | 17% |
7 | Knocked through rooms | 12% |
8 | Fitted solar panels | 12% |
9 | Created an attic conversion | 10% |
10 | Added an extra bedroom | 9% |
Source: Gocompare.com
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