Making Improvements
It is your home to put your own stamp on it. You only need to contact us if you are thinking of making a structural change such as building a garage or extension.
When you come to sell your property or want to buy further shares it is important that you tell us the improvements that you have made to your home. Unlike your local estate agent who will carry out a market valuation, we carry out a buy out valuation. This means that we will exclude the value you have added to your home through carrying out improvements, and value it to the same standard that you bought it, but at the current market value.
| Home Improvements Example | |
|---|---|
| Market Valuation | £125,000 |
| Value attributed to installing a new kitchen | £3,000 |
| Co-Own Equity Valuation | £122,000 |
Please be aware that the cost of making improvements to your property is not the same as adding value. For example a new kitchen may cost you £7,000 but may only add £3,000 to the value of your home.
In order to help explain the difference between what is deemed a ‘Repair or Maintenance’ and what is deemed an ‘Improvement’, we have listed some examples below. This list is not exhaustive and if you require any further clarification please contact a member of the team on 028 9032 7276.
| Repairs & Maintenance | Improvements |
|---|---|
| Plumbing and electrical maintenance and upgrading | Installation of wood burning or multi fuel stove |
| Solid fuel, oil and gas central heating system maintenance and replacement (including replacement of boiler, radiators) | Conversion from Economy 7 heating system to natural gas central heating or conversion from oil central heating to natural gas central heating. Also a change from oil central heating to a more energy efficient oil central heating system will be considered an improvement while any other change will be considered a maintenance/repair. |
| Roof repairs e.g. replacing damaged/missing slates and/or tiles, re-pointing mortar at eaves. Repairing, replacing defective chimney flashing, replacing chimney pot. | Construction of a garage |
| Re-point brickwork or repair defective render | Loft conversion into habitable accommodation |
| Painting and decorating either internally or externally | Home extension increasing habitable accommodation e.g. additional bedroom or living area |
| Replacing damaged doors, door frames, locks and door hinges | Installation of renewable energy heating systems such as a heat pump |
| Replacing defective/damaged glass in windows, window catches, locks and hinges, rotted frames | Addition of a sunroom/conservatory/ porch |
| Overhauling rainwater goods, guttering, drains and gullies | Recently fitted kitchen/bathroom if it increases value |
| Overhaul/replacement of fascia and soffits | Solar panels/renewable energy if owned outright |
| Change/replacement of floor coverings which no longer impact on the value | Installation of fitted furniture e.g. wardrobes if it increases value |
| General maintenance/upkeep/landscaping of the external areas |
Please note any works to the home should have the appropriate planning, building control and other necessary permissions.