Expanding your home by building an extension is one of the more expensive options when it comes to making home improvements. This choice allows you to make improvements both internally and externally, however.

Whether you use the added space inside to add additional bedrooms, an office space, a gym, or even a home cinema. You could also utilise the extension as a garage, creating a valuable safe space to store your vehicles overnight.

Not only does adding an extension provide you with more internal space and an alternative method of accessing your outdoor space, the added value can be significant if done correctly. We would recommend reaching out to a realtor to discuss the impact an extension could have on your property value to get a better understanding.

A cheaper alternative to building an extension is to create a pergola or covered porch that offers shade. These types of improvements not only offer benefits in the spring and summer months but can also offer use in the winter.

If your outdoor spaces lacks any shade options, having a pergola provides a cool place to retire to in the heat of the sun. A range of different ceilings can be added to increase the effectiveness of a pergola, whilst you can also customize the visual aspect by adding lights and decorative items. Mounted fans can help to keep cool in the summer, whilst heaters (mounted or freestanding) also help to make the structures useable in the winter.

According to the Homeowner’s Most Wanted survey by Porch, a new outdoor porch/deck/patio was ranked as the most desirable feature for prospective home buyers.

This improvement has a versatile range of usages, providing a designated area for relaxing and soaking up the sun, through to entertaining or hosting an outdoor kitchen / hot tub area. It’s no wonder that an upgraded/new decking/patio is one of the most popular improvements during the spring and summer periods.

In addition, they are also great for increasing the value of your home and generating a return on investment. Wooden decking typically tends to recoup costs slightly better than the composite materials, but you have to be sure it is given the correct TLC with wood staining. This also applies to any wooden decking you may already have.

One of the most cost-effective methods of improving the external appearance of your home is to replace your doors and windows; particularly your front entry door if you are looking to make a bold statement; a stylish and modern front door creates a strong first impression of your home.

New doors, particularly of a steel or fibreglass composition, are much easier to maintain than older wooden doors, making them a cheaper investment in the long run. Not only are they easier to maintain, but they offer better security and also energy efficiency. This is great in the winter for excluding draughts and keeping the heat in, which in turn contributes to reduced energy bills.

Window replacements can offer the same in security and energy saving, but also give you the chance to allow more natural light into the property. Larger windows with more glass than an older windows with timber frames can make all the difference in making rooms feel more vibrant.

When was the last time you took a look up at the roof of your property? Your roof plays a huge part in protecting you from the elements, keeping you safe and warm over the winter months, and also contributes to the kerb appeal of your property.

If your shingles/tiles are curling, buckling, or missing entirely, then a roof replacement is the ideal solution. Choosing your material correctly is important, with both security and potential weather damage needing to be factored in.

In addition to roof amendments, another home improvement to consider is the addition of solar panels. Whilst a costly investment at the outset, they can help to reduce the cost of energy bills down the line.

For home buyers looking to keep costs down when purchasing a new home, this is also an attractive sweetener to close the deal. Installing solar panels at the same time as a roof replacement means that they can also be replaced together at the same time in many years to come, as opposed to doing one then the other. And of course, a brand new roof and solar panels will help to increase the overall value of your home.