Making the most of a small 2 bed house?

[chosenone]

Just wondered if anyone had any ideas or experience of home improvements? we are resigned to the fact that we have that little equity in the house we were going to sell we need to stay put for at least 3 years depending on the market . Just wondering what is worth doing interms of making it more sellable in the future along with nicer for us. We have a small cellar we fancy converting into a Utility type room, and a loft we could convert? Would adding a porch make any difference? and what about french doors out onto the garden and a new kitchen? We have a reasonable size garden for a house this size with decking and lawn. Is it worth borrowing to do any work or is it better to save?

Loft conversion definitely worth doing - get up into the attic space and check that the roof at its tallest point is more than 2.4m otherwise you won't get head clearance once steels and insulation are in. Depends where you live and how complicated staircase will need to be but you won't get change from £20k for build costs (plus more for decoration/tiling/flooring) for normal extra bedroom plus shower room combo. An estate agent will be able to tell you whether or not you will add that in value but it may be worth it just to give you the extra space.

With cellar conversions, it very much depends on clearance heights (again). Can you stand up down there with an extra foot or so above? Where is cellar in relation to kitchen (to bring water etc down)? If you need to dig down it will cost a lot and is much harder; if it is a just a question of tanking it, then it will be a few thousand (depends on size). I think utility rooms are great but, if it were my space, I might be more ambitious and try to make study area or some such down there as well (depends on size of course) - if it is an old coal cellar with a chute down to it, that can be converted into a window/escape route and it can become a habitable room.

French doors definitely make a house nicer and more sellable and not a difficult job if you already have a large window there anyway. Unless your kitchen is very scuzzy, I would leave it be and let the new people change it if and when you sell. Gardens can be tarted up quite cheaply - keeping them neat and well-planted will make the biggest difference come the sale. Can't see a porch making a big difference either way (I think they are generally pretty ugly and get used as a dumping ground).

Ultimately, if you are going to be there for at least three years, you should do improvements that will enhance the quality of the space for you, obviously with an eye on selling eventually but not as a be all and end all. That should help you decide whether you borrow or not.

Totally agree with lalalonglegs.

Personally, I don't see the point in porches and sometimes putting them on hides an original door which is far more attractive.

Re kitchens, do a good job for yourselves or leave it for the buyer to do what they want. Kitchens can make the house more saleable if, for example, a small kitchen is knocked through to make a lovely kitchen/diner/family space.

Re saving vs borrowing... well, borrowing is still more expensive than saving, so you need to make the decision based on how much it would benefit your lives to do the work now (borrow) vs improvements purely for a better sale (save).

thank you so much for that.

We're going to start with the cellar and work up I think and de clutter a bit and sort some nice storage spaces out at least!

I love loft conversions, it would definitely appeal to me if I was buying.

I think anything which links the inside and outside space will also add appeal. Sliding doors are nice.

Godd idea to convert loft and to make a downstairs utility room.

Adding a porch with a nice pitched roof can make the external appearance of the house much more attractive and boosts kerb appeal.

A well tended, mature garden is also a good investment. Not so sure about decking though. You either love it or hate it.

Good

Do you come straight into a room or a hall from the front door? If straight into a room then a porch can make a big difference and be a selling point it certainly was on my last house