- A new report by mutual insurer, Royal London, asked homeowners how much more they would offer on their next home if the property had certain home improvements
- New kitchens and bathrooms add the most value to your home in 2021
- The influences that drive home improvements revealed
With more time spent inside than ever before, over the past 18 months, it may come as no surprise that home upgrades and improvements are now top of many homeowners’ agenda. One of the reasons why people take out equity from their house is for home improvements.
From adding new kitchens to converting unused loft space, there are many upgrades that can be made to make the most of the place we call home.
These changes may be invaluable to our day to day lives, but it’s no secret they can also increase the monetary value of a property too – but which upgrades add the most value?
A new report by Royal London reveals which upgrades will increase your home’s value the most in 2021 (along with the real reason we renovate), according to UK homeowners.
THE VALUE OF HOME IMPROVEMENTS
Royal London asked homeowners in the UK how much more they would offer on their next home if the property had certain improvements.
The report reveals adding a new kitchen and a bathroom to a house will add the most value, in 2021.
The full list can be seen in the table below:
| Rank | Improvement | Value added to property |
| 1 | Modern kitchen | £11,159.95 |
| 2 | Modern bathroom | £10,915.12 |
| 3 | Loft conversion | £10,845.17 |
| 4 | Spare bedroom | £10,744.35 |
| 5 | New boiler/heating system | £9,647.50 |
| 6 | Modern windows | £9,597.93 |
| 7 | Garage conversion | £9,503.32 |
| 8 | Landscaped garden | £9,502.17 |
| 9 | Conservatory | £9,390.26 |
| 10 | Modern doors | £8,601.15 |
THE VALUE OF HOME IMPROVEMENTS
Royal London asked homeowners in the UK how much more they would offer on their next home if the property had certain improvements.
The report reveals adding a new kitchen and a bathroom to a house will add the most value, in 2021.
The full list can be seen in the table below:
| Rank | Influencing factor for renovating | Score (1-10) |
| 1 | The need for more space for myself or partner | 7.0 |
| 2 | Selling the property | 6.6 |
| 3 | The need for space for kids or pets | 6.3 |
| 4 | A need for more space to work from home | 6.3 |
| 5 | A desire to hold more social events in the home | 6.2 |
| 6 | Seeing upgrades to family members property | 6.0 |
| 7 | Seeing upgrades on a neighbours’ property | 5.8 |
| 8 | Viewing images of celebrity homes online | 5.3 |
WHAT HOME IMPROVEMENTS DO BRITS MAKE WITHIN THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF OWNING A PROPERTY?
The report also asked UK homeowners what home improvements they have made within the first two years of living in their property.
Nearly half (48%) of homeowners invested in a new kitchen within the first 24 months of ownership, while 39% improved their bathrooms.
The full list of most popular upgrades to be made within the first two years can be seen below:
| Rank | Improvement | % of respondents who've made this improvement to their home |
| 1 | Modern kitchen | 47.9% |
| 2 | Modern bathroom | 39.3% |
| 3 | Landscaped garden | 27.3% |
| 4 | New doors | 24.3% |
| 5 | New boiler/heating system | 23.1% |
| 6 | Modern windows | 20.8% |
| 7 | Decking | 14.7% |
| 8 | Home office | 14.5% |
| 9 | Loft conversion | 14.2% |
| 10 | Conservatory | 14% |
Full information can be seen at https://www.royallondon.com/articles-guides/equity-release/value-of-home-improvements-renovations
Methodology
- Survey conducted by Royal London to 1,000 UK homeowners.
- Home improvement value calculated by asking respondents what percentage they would increase a home offer by if the property hosted different features. This percentage was then calculated against the average UK house price £274,6151
Sources:
1. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-house-price-index-for-march-2021
About Royal London
Royal London is the largest mutual life, pensions and investment company in the UK, with assets under management of £147 billion, 8.7 million policies in force and 4,232 employees. Figures quoted are as at 31 December 2022.
Learn more at royallondon.com