Your home is your castle, which is why it’s so easy to look at your property and constantly think “that needs improving”.
Home renovation projects never cease – there’s always something to knock down, remove, re-vamp or add. It’s why many home owners opt to invest in their current property rather than move; the cost for the latter can quickly spiral out of control, along with the upheaval of relocating. And, while an extension, loft conversion or conservatory can be a pain to live through, you at least never have to up-sticks and get used to somewhere else entirely.
Many home improvements will add value, too, and even if they don’t, could present an easier selling process if the property is ever put on the market. After all, if you were presented with a house that had clearly been dealt very little love by the current owner and one which had recently been treated to a smart extension, which would you choose as the buyer?
As you scroll down this page, you’ll see that we’ve picked out thirteen of the most popular home improvements and offered an idea of the average cost for each. Many will surprise you and may just inspire that next home renovation project!
1. Garage
Average cost: £18,000
There’s nothing quite like tucking your car away for the night or having a space in which you can indulge in a hobby – particularly if that hobby involves tools, grease or a particularly loud musical instrument.
If your house didn’t come complete with its own garage, or if the integral one has been converted by the previous owner, you can always build one yourself (with the help of a builder, of course!). Providing you have the space to play with, expect to pay in the region of £18,000 for a garage that could become your car’s bedroom, a home gym or hobbyist room.
2. Fireplace
Average cost: £500 – £2000
Fireplaces remain one of the most cherished, traditional features that can be added to any home. They bring warmth, efficiency and a striking focal point to what may otherwise be a soulless living room, kitchen or bedroom.
When looking for a new fireplace, don’t forget to ask for the installation costs, too – as this is certainly one home improvement you don’t want to attempt yourself. It has to be done by qualified professionals.
3. Conservatory
Average cost: £6,000 – £20,000
Conservatories have long been a convenient, cost-effective way of adding additional space to a home without having to fork out for a full extension. Granted, you’ll lose some garden space, but you’ll gain a bright, elegant room that puts you closer to nature than ever before and which you can enjoy all year round.
A small conservatory will usually set you back around £6,000, while the larger variants will be closer to £20,000
4. New/remodelled Bathroom
Average cost: £4000 – £4,500
Bathrooms should be the ideal place to unwind in the bath after a long day or take that long, hot shower you’ve been looking forward to following a particularly wet and muddy trip to the park with the kids.
Bathroom suites vary wildly in price and style, but if you don’t go too overboard in terms of high-cost units and fancy shower systems, you can expect to pay around £4,000.
5. Garden landscaping
Average cost: £4,000
Although we’re not blessed with the greatest of weather all year round in the UK, come the spring, summer and increasingly balmy autumn, BBQs inevitably emerge from the garage and kids start demanding that the paddling pool be inflated.
Britain’s love for the garden has pushed landscaping to the top of many a home owner’s wish list. Typically comprising a new patio, lawn remodelling and the introduction of decking, ponds and fancy bed work, the average garden landscaping project will come in at somewhere around the £4,000 mark.
6. Loft conversion
Average cost: £20,000
Financial and property experts will often tell you that converting the loft will add significant value to a property. True or not, there’s no doubting the benefits of creating a brand new space out of what would otherwise have been used to store board games, cardboard boxes and all of the stuff you forgot to unpack on move day.
Loft conversions of course vary wildly depending on the space and the home owner’s intentions, but they’re not cheap, so expect to budget around £20,000 for yours.
7. Double glazing
Average cost: £4,000
Windows do an awful lot more than shield your house from the outside elements. They retain heat, keep external noise to a minimum and can be the crowning glory in terms of house style and curb appeal.
Double glazing became a common fixture in new home builds during the 80s, but that leaves an awful lot of homes that will still have original, single-pane glass. If yours falls under that bracket, expect to pay around £300 on average for each window, with ten to twelve window homes equalling approximately £4,000 in total, including installation.
8. New carpets throughout
Average cost: £4,000
Nothing beats the feel of a freshly-laid new carpet. It’ll remain pleasingly spongy and warm for many years, and benefit from modern materials that ensure wine spills, filthy dogs and carefree children won’t damage it irrevocably.
For the average sized family home, expect to pay around £4,000 for good quality new carpet throughout the house.
9. Extension
Average cost: £20,000
One way to add value (or, at the very least, unavoidable curb appeal) to your property is to add an extension.
The great thing about extensions is that they can be tuned to fit the house perfectly. You can go outwards, upwards or even sideways – providing building planning and regulations are all passed. They’re not cheap, and with so many constituent elements involved, you should budget for at least £20,000, with a bit on the side for any unforeseen issues.
10. New kitchen
Average cost: £9,000
Home is where the heart is, and few would disagree that most of the heart resides in the engine room of the house – the kitchen. It’s where we cook, eat and entertain and, almost without fail, is the one place in which everyone congregates at parties.
There’s quite a bit to take into account when choosing a new kitchen; along with the units, flooring and surfaces, you’ll also need to purchase utilities such as a cooker, dishwasher and hob. Expect the final bill to be around £9,000 for the best quality kitchen, fully installed.
11. Central heating
Average cost: £3,000 – £4,000
Choosing the right heating system for your home will mean the difference between colossal utility bills and a property that retains heat cost-effectively.
For a modern combi boiler and the appropriate number of radiators in an average sized family home, the cost is likely to be anywhere between £3,000 to £4,000.
12. Solar panels
Average cost: £6,000
Fast becoming a standard addition to new home builds, solar panels can also be retrofitted to older properties.
Although you’ll have to fork out around £6,000 for the privilege, the common rule of thumb is that you’ll start to see significant benefits in energy savings as the years progress.
13. Cavity wall insulation
Average cost: £370 – £720
Sometimes, it’s the stuff you can’t see in a home that makes it extra special, and cavity wall insulation is one of those elements that silently does a very impressive job indeed.
Filling the gap between external and internal brickwork, cavity wall insulation adds significant heat retention to the home, working in tandem with your windows and central heating to create the most efficient building possible.
Finally, we should reiterate that the costs listed above are purely estimations based on market averages and the information we could find on various websites. There are many things that dictate the cost of a renovation project, from the size of the home to the materials used, therefore we recommend sourcing a few quotes from local, reputable companies in order to find the best price.