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If you are planning to sell your house in 2022, you need to make home improvements that align with the current expectations of home buyers and estate agents. Here are some of the features most home buyers typically consider before purchasing a house:
Energy Efficiency
This is a hot topic if you pardon the pun with energy bills increasing which is impacting the housing market. Most home buyers will pay more for a house that will save them money and require minimal maintenance. Though installing modern features is not cheap, updating as many as possible will maximise the resale value of your home.
Any first time buyers will likely be limited on budget, so any potential future savings are a useful enticer. Some energy-efficient installations include double-glazing windows and doors, and energy-saving bulbs.
Extra Space for a Home Office, Gym or Playroom
Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, the number of people working from home has increased. According to Statista, 38% of Great British workers reported having worked remotely at least once a week in May and many more delving into small business start-ups.
Due to this increasing number, many people are willing to pay an extra cost for houses with any extra space that can be used for working from home, but also that flexible space can also be used as a gym, playroom, cinema room, man cave, she shed or anything. The space alone is the desirable feature that increases the house value.
While the working from home is a relatively new phenomena, having a library or study is not so really just a modern twist on this. The usual issue will be available internal space with losing a bedroom impacting possible house value. A common solution being a garage conversion, which is not as practical for a dedicated bedroom as downstairs.
The great thing about small external buildings are that they rarely need planning permission if single story, so can be built without lengthy delays. Or even bought and delivered ready to construct as a modular building to sit independently in the garden or outdoor space.
Spacious Kitchen
The gallery kitchen is a style of the past. Most buyers want a modern and spacious kitchen with a focus on entertaining and with the latest energy efficient appliances that save on utility bills. A modern trend is a marketing induced clamour for air-fryers over conventional ovens, but I’m not personally sure you should remodel your kitchen around that.
I know you are likely thinking you don’t have the space, an it often means sacrificing the dining room or outside space for an extension. But simply your kitchen will resell higher if it has a double sink, water filtration system, and central island.
The kitchen has, in recent times become the place for entertaining where we have parties and conversations with friends and family. Open plan with bi-fold doors into a patio and even a snug area are in trend, making the kitchen the social focal point of the house over the living room. Using the kitchen in this dual-purpose gives more living space which is an appeal to any prospective buyers.
Additionally, people prefer a walk-in pantry that is accessible and spacious enough to store their supplies and extra points for having a laundry room to close away the noise of a washing machine or tumble drier and any unsightly hanging clothes.
Laundry Room
On that point a whopping 87% of homebuyers in 2022 reported that a separate laundry room should be a must-have or desired feature when making the buying decision. What’s more interesting is that about 63% of the homebuyers suggested that the seller should install the laundry room on the ground floor although there is logic to say if it’s upstairs then it’s a quicker route for dirty laundry and bedding.
The ideal laundry room should have energy efficient appliances, a second sink, cabinetry, and an ironing board. You can heat with underfloor heating or even towel radiators which can be useful for drying. The room then becomes the perfect place for excess storage space too. And potentially even the boiler, which can free up a hallway cupboard which leads us nicely to the next point.
Easily Accessible Bathroom for Guests
Many homes have downstairs bathrooms only containing a sink and toilet that one can access easily from the main living area, commonly called a washroom, water closet or sometimes cloakroom.
However, if you don’t, it’s worth thinking about as homebuyers in 2022 prefer this than expecting guests to go upstairs to the family bathroom. You can go full hog and have an extra shower in there, but in my opinion you are better off having an en suite in the master bedroom for a secondary washing facility. The plus side is this is not used as often so easier to keep clean for any unexpected visitors.
Adding a brand-new downstairs toilet will always add the extra wow factor that estate agents and potential buyers are looking for but if your budget does not stretch that far you can make simple improvements with smaller touches like a feature cabinet using retro furniture, new taps and accessories or new hardwood flooring and none of this has to be too costly if the plumbing is in place.
Patio
Though patios have been popular for a long time, the Covid-19 pandemic boosted their value. People are now looking for an outside space to enjoy themselves, entertain, drink a morning coffee, or work on DIY projects without stepping out to the street. It is easily one of the best ways to add more space to your layout without it becoming too expensive.
A recent survey indicates that 82% of the respondents felt that hardscaping was the most important exterior project in 2021. Hardscaping entails expanding your outdoor life through patios, decks, porches, etc. Having new spaces created outside gives you room for extra seating and outdoor cooking, which appeals no many buyers.
Again, if you already have this are then simply updating it by adding a few new touches such as planted borders, screening to improve privacy will add worth to your property’s value. It’s also one of the home improvement projects that can be undertaken without impacting you living at home.
