Home improvements that increase home value by £26K and only cost £6K

With many Brits expecting to move in 2024 thanks to falling interest rates, this will bring the demand for home improvements. Home improvements can add tens of thousands of pounds to the value of your property – the catch-22 for homeowners is that these can also cost a pretty penny upfront. 

According to calculations conducted by property experts from PriceYourJob, you can save up to £18,000 (£17,966.23) on kitchen, bathroom and bedroom renovations. 

Not only that, but by renovating rooms in your home on a budget, you can increase the average value of your home by 9%. On the average house price in the UK, that’s an extra £26K (£25,900) of value that you’ll be adding to your home. 

To save you money on your next home renovation, PriceYourJob’s in-house construction expert Gregory Smith shares his top tips to refresh your home without breaking the bank. 

How to save 18 GRAND on home renovations in 2024

1. Save £12,270 by sourcing second-hand materials for your kitchen reno

You can revitalise your kitchen by replacing a full kitchen with a second-hand carcass. According to PriceYourJob’s research, full kitchens are available on preloved marketplaces such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree for as little as £300 or an average cost of £730. PriceYourJob found that sourcing a brand new, professional kitchen can cost up to £13,000 – giving you a saving of 96%. 

2. Create a mixed bathroom suite with quality materials to save £3,500

To save money, Greg recommends curating your own mixed suite, combining value materials with more expensive fittings. While it may be tempting to opt for a trend-led and therefore expensive premium suite, these may not stand the test of time and home trends may dictate a new bathroom renovation in a matter of a few years. 

By investing in a premium bath but going for a better value – but still beautiful – toilet and sink, you can make a saving of approximately £3,500 and still give you the statement and luxury bathroom renovation you’re looking for. 

3. Replace your tap, not the full sink to change the look and still save £175

The cost of replacing a full sink can set you back £275, yet if your sink is in decent condition, you can save money by replacing the sink. This refreshes the look of the overall area without breaking the bank. The cost of replacing a tap, including labour, can cost just £100 and gives you a saving of nearly 40%. 

4. Refresh your bedroom by making small changes that cost just £300 

Smith explains that you don’t need to make structural changes or invest in new furniture to refresh the overall look of your bedroom. “Updated rooms can make all the difference when selling your home. Well furnished and decorated bedrooms can not only make the difference between a viewing and a sale, should it come down to it, but it can also encourage higher offers on your home should you wish to sell.”

Consider adding a large rug instead of replacing any flooring, invest in some budget ambient lighting, and add some well-made bedding that can make all of the difference without touching a tin of paint. Not only that, it’ll save you £1,200 against the cost of the average bedroom renovation of £1,500. 

5. Swap kitchen cabinet doors instead of replacing entire units and save £820

If a full refresh isn’t needed and you’re happy with your worktops, you can swap out cabinet doors and handles with barely any effort. Replacing five kitchen units costs approximately £1,000 but by only replacing doors and handles, you’ll be paying less than £180 if you shop around for the right retailer. 

Room	Factor	Cost	Source	Saving
	Average house cost of UK Kitchen renovations add 5% value to total cost to homes Bathroom renovations add 4% value of total cost to homes	£287,782 5% = £14,389.10 4% = 11,511.28	https://landregistry.data.gov.uk/app/ukhpi https://www.magnet.co.uk/kitchens/value-of-a-kitchen/ https://www.thepropertycentres.co.uk/blog/tips/3070-could-an-updated-bathroom-add-value-to-your-home	Increases house value by £25,900.30
Kitchen	Average cost of sourcing kitchen worktops and cupboards from professionals	£13,000	https://www.myjobquote.co.uk/costs/remodel-a-kitchen	£12,270
	Second hand materials for kitchen worktops and cupboard	Five second-hand kitchens on Gumtree:  2nd hand kitchen cupboards and quartz worktop – £450 Used kitchen for sale including appliances – £1,400Kitchen – Almost a complete Kitchen for sale – Used – £300Used wooden Symphony kitchen – good condition – £1,000Used Ikea kitchen for sale, including appliances – £500 Average cost: £730	https://www.gumtree.com/p/other-household-goods
	Professional cost of replacing entire kitchen units	£1,000 for five new units	https://www.myjobquote.co.uk/costs/replacing-kitchen-cupboards	£821.23
	Cost of replacing doors and handles	Custom cupboard door costs:  Non-gloss finish: £27.58 True-matt finish: £31.73 High gloss finish: £35.87 Average cost: £31.72 per cupboard door £158.60 per five  Cost of handles: IKEA – £15 for 6Amazon – £11.98 for 12Wayfair – £17.10The Handle Studio – £26.85 for 5B&Q – £29.95 for 6 Average cost: 20.17	https://kitchenandbedroomdoors.co.uk/Price_list.asp
	Professional cost of replacing a full sink	£275	https://www.myjobquote.co.uk/costs/replace-kitchen-sink	£175 (including labour and materials)
	Professional cost of replacing a tap	£100	https://www.myjobquote.co.uk/costs/replacing-bath-sink-tap
Bathroom	Premium bathroom suite	£7,000 for a medium sized bathroom	https://www.myjobquote.co.uk/costs/full-bathroom-cost	£3,500
	Mixed bathroom suite	£4,500 for a medium sized bathroom	https://www.myjobquote.co.uk/costs/full-bathroom-cost
Bedroom	Cost of bedroom renovation	£1,500	https://www.proficiencyltd.co.uk/house-renovation-london/costs/room.html
	Cost of ambient budget lighting	From £30 for numerous lights	https://www.diy.com/departments/lighting/indoor-lights/table-desk-lamps/DIY579451.cat	£1,470
	New bedding	Approximately £70 for luxury bedding sets	https://www.dunelm.com/category/home-and-furniture/bedding/duvet-covers#orderBy=price_desc	£1,430
	Rug	£200 for mid-range rugs	https://www.landofrugs.com/blog/how-much-do-rugs-cost#Average_Rug_Prices	£1,300

Money-saving hacks to kickstart your new year