The home improvement divide�

Consumers and estate agents are breeds apart in their views on the type of home improvements that will add value to a property. Whether considering extra space, a hot tub, removing period features or paving over the garden, they find it almost impossible to agree.

To add value, estate agents are more likely to favour improvements that create space or improve decoration, whereas consumers are more likely to support �leisure add-ons� such as garden makeovers or hot tubs, showed research from Alliance & Leicester.

Seven out of ten estate agents say by far the best improvement to increase the value of your home is to add extra living space downstairs, yet only 50% of UK adults see the value of this work. According to agents, the next best improvements are a new kitchen (65%), extra bedroom/study (57%), and garage (42%), but far fewer consumers agree (at 58%, 42%, 38% respectively).

Consumers are also less likely to agree that internal, external decoration or replacing period features will add value.

More consumers than estate agents believe their property value will soar if they add a conservatory, have a garden makeover or even install a hot tub or swimming pool.

Around 5% of adults believe .....continued below

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a hot tub or a swimming pool would add value to their property, particularly in younger age groups (19% of under-25s), while less than 1% of estate agents agree.

Estate agent vs. UK adult view of what adds value to a property

Alteration

Estate
Agents

Rank

Difference from UK adults� view

Extension to provide extra living space downstairs

70%

-19%

New kitchen

65%

- 7%

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Consumers are also less likely to agree that internal, external decoration or replacing period features will add value.

More consumers than estate agents believe their property value will soar if they add a conservatory, have a garden makeover or even install a hot tub or swimming pool.

Around 5% of adults believe a hot tub or a swimming pool would add value to their property, particularly in younger age groups (19% of under-25s), while less than 1% of estate agents agree.

Estate agent vs. UK adult view of what adds value to a property
Alteration	Estate Agents	Rank	Difference from UK adults� view
Extension to provide extra living space downstairs	70%	1	-19%
New kitchen	65%	2	- 7%
Extra bedroom / study	57%	3	- 15%
Garage	42%	4	- 4%
Conservatory	38%	5	+3%
New bathroom	36%	6=	Nil
Adding a new ensuite/shower room / WC	36%	6=	- 5%
Internal redecoration	33%	8	-11%
New windows / double glazing	30%	9	-1%
Driveway / additional parking space	26%	10	Nil
External redecoration	21%	11=	-8%
Adding back 'original features'	21%	11=	-8%
Garden makeover / Garden pond	12%	13	+7%
Update / redecorate existing bathroom	9%	14=	+1%
New flooring (e.g. wooden floor / carpet)	9%	14=	+2%
Hot tub / swimming pool	1%	16	+4%

Detracting value

According to estate agents, the �improvements� that are a sure-fire way to send a property�s value falling are poorly fitted cupboards and kitchens (65%), �loud� external decoration (65%), polystyrene ceiling tiles (63%), and the removal of period features. Yet far fewer consumers agree (at 58%, 51%, 59% respectively). While 55% of agents say removing classic features will harm value, only 34% of consumers agree.

Most UK adults are more concerned about the damage that poorly fitted tiling, cheap laminate flooring, paved over gardens and woodchip walls might do to value, whereas many estate agents feel these to be the least important.

Perhaps influenced by the plethora of home makeover shows, consumers are least concerned by loud internal decoration � only 29% say it would detract value, compared to 36% of estate agents. (See Table for full details).

Estate agent vs. UK adult view of what detracts value from a property
Alteration	Estate Agents	Rank	Difference from UK adults� view
Obviously home made cupboards or kitchen fitting	65%	1=	-7%
Non-neutral external decoration	65%	1=	-14%
Polystyrene tiles on the ceiling	63%	3	-5%
All period features removed	55%	4	-21%
Patterned carpets	41%	5	-6%
Cheap and poorly fitted laminated floor	38%	6	+5%
Poorly executed tiling on walls / floors	37%	7	+14%
Non-neutral/brightly coloured internal decoration	36%	8	-7%
Woodchip wallpaper on the walls	26%	9	+9%
Garden been paved over	22%	10	+15%

Men and women also disagree

Men value the quality of workmanship, while women worry about d�cor. Among the worst features for men are homemade cupboards (60% vs. 56% for women), bad tiling (55% vs. 49% for women) and cheap, badly fitted laminate floors (50% vs. 40% for women). Women are more concerned about the effects on value of patterned carpets (39% women, 27% men), removed period features (37% women, 28% men) and non-neutral external decoration (53% women, 46% men).

Richard Al-Dabbagh, senior marketing manager for loans at Alliance & Leicester, commented: �Whatever we may think of them, estate agents are the experts when it comes to what helps or harms a sale. They conduct valuations of properties on a daily basis so they know that, while you may be proud of your carpentry attempts in the kitchen, they will deter most potential buyers.�

�A personal loan can be one of the most cost effective ways to enable �home improvements� but when considering borrowing money for home improvements it is vital that your planned alterations really do count as improvements!�