A league table has been created compiling 10 of the cheapest home improvements that could add value to a property.
Component supplier Accu used DIY experts to prepare the list.
| Rank | Task | DIY Cost(£) | Potential Property Value Added (£) | Value Difference (£) |
| 1 | Tidy your garden | £112 | £58,000 | £57,888 |
| 2 | Clean your walls | £5 | £26,100 | £26,095 |
| 3 | Add strip lighting to cupboards | £9 | £10,000 | £9,991 |
| 4 | Paint kitchen cupboards | £18 | £10,000 | £9,982 |
| 5 | Update kitchen hardware | £55 | £10,000 | £9,945 |
| 6 | Freshen tiles | £2 | £5,000 | £4,998 |
| 7 | Replace basin plugs | £13 | £5,000 | £4,987 |
| 8 | Peel and stick tiles | £33 | £5,000 | £4,967 |
| 9 | Replace taps and showerheads | £52 | £5,000 | £4,948 |
| 10 | Repaint in neutrals | £53 | £5,000 | £4,947 |
Tidy your garden
Costs: from £112
Potential value added: up to £58,000
Tools needed: Trowel, Gardening gloves, Grass seed, Lawn mower, Pruning shears, Garden shears, Garden fork
When looking at the home improvements that can give you the most bang for your buck, tending to your garden comes out on top. It’s been revealed that homes that have an unkempt garden are likely to decrease home value by around 20%, and be valued at £57,888 less on average than those with a tidy garden.
Accu’s expert Arron Gordon states: “An easy way to tackle an unkempt garden is to first mow any overgrown grass that you have, and to trim any brushes that are needing to be tended to. You can then look to remove any weeds – dig these out manually with a trowel, making sure you remove roots to reduce the chances that they’ll grow back. If you have any patches of lawn where your grass is lacking, use a garden fork to prick the area and then use grass seed to eventually grow a luscious lawn.“
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Clean your walls
Costs: from £5
Potential value added: up to £26,100
Tools needed: Wall erasers, Paint testers, Sponges, Washing up liquid
In second place we have wall cleaning. Homes that haven’t had their walls deep-cleaned are likely to be valued at £26,100 less than those that have, according to the study
Arron Gordon comments: “Simply use washing up liquid and sponges to clean any marks and scuffs off of your walls without removing your paint. Alternatively, wall erasers can be a great way to rid your walls of any marks. For marks that prove harder to remove – you can spot paint using either leftover paints from when you first painted the wall, or if you need to rebuy the shade you can grab a tester and save on getting litres worth of paint that you don’t need.”
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Add strip lighting to your kitchen cabinets
Costs: £9
Potential value added: £10,000
Tools needed: Strip lighting
Improving your kitchen can reportedly add up to £10,000 onto your home’s value – but you don’t need to go for a full remodel to give your home an upgrade.
Arron Gordon advises: “Clever hacks such as adding strip lighting are a quick way to give your home a professional finish without breaking the bank.
“Simply buy your chosen strip lighting and measure out the amount you need to go underneath your cupboards. As strips are usually self-adhesive all you need to do is peel and stick to get the full effect of cabinet lighting. This also immediately adds a modern atmosphere to the space.”
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Paint your kitchen cabinets
Costs: £18
Potential value added: £10,000
Tools needed: Cabinet paint, Paint brushes, Sandpaper, Screwdriver
Another easy way to update your kitchen is to repaint your cabinet doors. It costs as little as only £19 but could potentially add £10,000 to your home.
Arron Gordon comments: “First, remove the handles from your kitchen cabinets, and then unscrew the hinges so you can remove the doors. Whilst resting the doors flat, clean them and remove any grease. You can then lightly sand them and wipe off any dust before painting them with your chosen colour.
“It’s also crucial to factor in the resale value when choosing the colour. Opting for light neutrals is advisable as they have a wider appeal and can help you sell. Using lighter colours doesn’t have to be mundane, consider pastel tones like powder yellow or baby blue to add vibrance to your kitchen.”
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Update your kitchen hardware
Costs: £55
Potential value added: £10,000
Tools needed: Handles, Screwdriver, Wood putty, Putty knife, Drill, Screws
Updating your kitchen hardware is an easy way to give your home an updated, modern look. Start by unscrewing and removing your old handles. If your new handles will be going in a different place on your cabinet door, you can then use wood putty and a putty knife to fill any holes in the door that you don’t need anymore.
Arron Gordon states: “When deciding where you want your new handles to sit, measure and mark this on the door with a pencil – hold up your handles to check this is where you really want them before you start drilling any holes. When determining how you want your handles to sit, think of your kitchen as a whole, rather than just one cabinet at a time. Once you’ve chosen your placement, you can go ahead and attach your new hardware!”