National estate agent Strutt & Parker reveals its top 10 tips to help you increase the value of your home.

1. Extension - Adding an extension is the most costly outlay but could increase the value of your home by up to 20% by expanding the living area.

2. Kitchen improvements - The hub of the home – creating a real asset by modernising or making the kitchen more open-plan can be hugely beneficial and help you achieve your target asking price.

3. Bathroom upgrades - The prospect of upgrading a bathroom may deter some buyers. A new bathroom that needs no work can be prized asset.

James Mackenzie from the Strutt & Parker’s National Country House Department says: “Whether you’re planning an extension or something less ambitious, one thing you’ll need to consider is how much value you can realistically add to your home. If the most expensive home in your street sold for £500,000, it is unlikely that you will surpass it.”

4. Adding a bath/shower room - Gone are the days of having one big family bathroom for the whole house. The number of en-suites and bath/shower rooms are key for most buyers. Installing an en-suite or wet room, even in a small space, will increase the appeal of your property.

5. Landscaping the garden - Many potential buyers have green fingers, so an attractive garden can make a difference when it comes to valuing a property.

6. Think about flow - Don’t underestimate the flow of a house: if this means knocking down a wall or removing narrow corridors to make it more light and flexible to a potential buyer, it may be worth doing.

Mackenzie advises: “The cost of renovating often runs over budget and can even spiral out of control, so be prepared. The phrase most heard when doing up a wreck is: "It cost twice as much as I thought it would." Set yourself a budget and build in some contingency funding - 15 per cent of the total cost is a good guideline.”

7. Loft conversion - Expanding into the roof space could turn your two bed into a three bed and open up your property to a host of new buyers with higher budgets.

8. Go green - For an average home in the country, improving its EPC from the bottom band G up to E, or from band D to B, could add more than 14% to the value of your home.

9. Use your outbuildings - A shed in the garden can be turned into a useful addition, such as a home office or a playroom, which may be practical for buyers.

10. Upgrade windows - There is no point having a marvellous home if the basics aren’t done properly, clean windows and replace old or broken ones to help achieve the maximum price for your home.

Mackenzie concludes: “Altering your home can add value for a future move - especially improving the layout and flow. My advice would be to ask yourself what you really want - is it a lack of space, or are there other reasons for a change? If so it may be the right time to start looking.”

If you would like further advice on adding value to your home, contact an agent in your local Strutt & Parker office.