The 9 Best Ways To Add Value To A Terraced House

If you’re looking for the best ways to add value to your Georgian, Victorian or Edwardian terraced house then you’re in the right place as this post will provide you with the best tips to help you invest wisely and add value to your terraced house.

The good news is that period terrace properties continue to be a house type that is high in demand due to the typical convenience of their locations, and their characterful and quality construction.

In addition, there are numerous changes that you can make to your terraced house that will result in the property being even more attractive to potential buyers.

The 9 best ways to add value to a terraced house are:

Exterior repairs
Interior repairs and restoration
Improving energy efficiency
Kitchen upgrade
Bathroom upgrade
Side-return or rear extension
Loft conversion
Interior refresh
Adding storage

However, it’s important to have an understanding that some of these changes have a spectrum of options within them and that these options have different costs. Spending a large amount may not always translate into more profit potential so these tips and practical advice will help you to add value to your terrace house.

1. Exterior Repairs

Firstly, fixing any structural defects is the ultimate way of adding value to your home, not doing so will have the biggest impact due to it being a major deterrent to prospective buyers, and for buyers willing to take on any issues they’ll want this factored into the price resulting in lower offers. More severe defects include things like structural subsidence to issues like damp.

Ensuring that the fundamental exterior elements, such as the chimneys, roof, bay roof and windows are in a good condition, plus checking that gutters are not damaged, will help. As will ensuring the appropriate drainage is in place and that ground levels are not too high and above an effective damp proofing course.

Secondly, if you’re fortunate to have any original features on the exterior of your terrace house it’s always worth retaining and restoring them if possible. Original features could include a decorative fascia or stained-glass window which will add to the appeal of your terrace house.

Also, it’s worth noting that you shouldn’t underestimate the power of kerb appeal and how it can help to evoke a positive feeling towards your house, even before the prospective buyer has walked through the door.

Whilst a refresh of tired looking paint and a trim of the garden won’t warrant a drastically higher value, small things like this will help contribute towards making that all important good first impression.

2. Interior Repairs and Restoration

As briefly mentioned above, the authentic charm and period character of terrace houses plays a big part in why this house type continues to be attractive to buyers.

The high ceilings, cast-iron fireplaces, decorative corbels, and historic floor tiles are just some of the many beautiful architectural features that are highly desirable amongst prospective home buyers. Therefore, to add value to your terrace home, it’s always advisable to restore rather than remove original features.

If your terrace house has had its original features removed you can find some bargains in reclamation or salvage yards, as well as eBay and Facebook Marketplace. Of all the features to add back into a room, to make the most impact, it would be a cast-iron fire surround. It will draw attention when viewers walk into the room, helping to create a beautiful focal point in the space.

3. Improving energy efficiency

You may have noticed when viewing houses online that each house has a rating on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This rating is essentially a review of the property’s energy efficiency and provides an indication to prospective buyers on how much energy bills will cost in comparison to other houses.

*Low Energy House by Architecture for London.*

This is a factor that will be considered in a buyer’s decision-making process so to help improve this rating and help increase your home’s appeal and value there are numerous budget-friendly alterations that can be made to a terraced house. Changes such as installing loft insulation to help retain heat in the house, and swapping to energy-saving bulbs which are cheaper to run and last longer.

There are also more expensive yet substantial changes that can make a huge difference such as upgrading the boiler and installing double or triple glazed windows.

If the windows need replacing there are some great double-glazed sash window options available that will enable you to retain the period charm of a terrace house whilst making it more energy efficient - both are factors that will be considered during the valuation. And whilst the traditional approach to windows would be a timber frame there are more budget-friendly plain or “wood grain dupes” made from uPVC that will help you to achieve the traditional look for less.

However, it’s worth stating that if you’re in a terrace house where the windows have been replaced with double or triple-glazed windows that aren’t a sash style but work perfectly fine and are in a good condition, then there’s usually no need to replace them.

The cost to do so would probably outweigh the value difference of replacing windows that are already in a good condition, therefore those precious pennies are more likely to be better spent elsewhere.

4. Kitchen upgrade

You’ve most likely heard the saying that ‘kitchens and bathrooms sell houses’ and it’s with good reason. In a recent survey, Royal London asked homeowners in the UK how much more they would offer on their next home if a property had certain improvements. The results revealed that a new kitchen added the most value, followed closely by a new bathroom. So, it’s worth giving the kitchen your attention when trying to increase the value of your terraced house.

A complete overhaul of a kitchen can create a modern space with the wow factor but depending on the size of the kitchen, this can also quickly become an expensive project.

Therefore, if you’re working within a budget the three main priorities to focus on are the cabinet doors, kitchen worktop and floor. It can be as simple as giving cabinets a new lease of life with a fresh coat of paint and opting for some of the great worktop wrap options that are now available.

*Image courtesy of Future PLC/ Brett Charles*

If you are planning on completely renovating the kitchen it’s advisable to spend an amount that’s in proportion to the potential value of your home. Speak to local estate agents and do your research so as to see what the anticipated added value would be, otherwise you may spend too much on a kitchen and forfeit any profit potential.

5. Bathroom Upgrade

In a period terrace the layout of the house usually contains a downstairs bathroom or a small upstairs bathroom.

With a downstairs bathroom, a good approach is to invest in moving the bathroom upstairs to fit with modern living and it will usually provide the potential to create a larger downstairs kitchen and dining area. However, be mindful of whether the move can be done without the expense of completely losing a bedroom, as this has the potential to reduce your house’s value.

In this scenario, it’s worth considering whether a room could be slightly reduced in size to accommodate a study room, nursery or walk in wardrobe, for example, and also provide the space to create a perfectly formed small bathroom.

When updating or remodelling your bathroom to increase your house’s value it’s always best to consider the lifestyle that will appeal to most of your prospective buyers.

As an example, if you have a small bathroom and prefer to have a shower over a bath then the temptation to allocate more space to a walk-in shower will be there. However, if you know that your home is likely to appeal to growing families with young children then the practicality of having a bath as well as a shower will be desirable for their lifestyle, and therefore add value.

Two additional features that are likely to add to the value of a bathroom are underfloor heating and good water pressure. The practicality of freeing up wall space with underfloor heating and still providing a comfortable BTU output for the room will be a definite positive selling feature. So too is a shower that provides a luxurious experience rather than providing the sensation of being dripped on.

And whilst there is the more expensive route of a complete renovation, which can be great when a new suite is needed alongside a new layout, a relatively inexpensive modernisation with new tiles and fixtures can also help to increase the value of a home.

6. Side-return or rear extension

As previously mentioned, the typical layout of a terraced house means that the kitchen may be relatively small and is usually detached from the dining room.

Modern living tends to lean towards the kitchen being the hub of the home so a larger and more connected space between the kitchen and dining room will be extremely appealing to today’s prospective buyers, and subsequently increase the value of your home.

Whilst the upfront cost to do a side return extension is likely to be one of the more expensive options on this list, it can also be one of the most lucrative.

If it’s a change that’s being done purely for a quick sale of the property then it’s essential that you’re aware of the total cost of work (plus the 10-20% contingency fund) and know what similar, nearby properties are selling for – you may realise that it’s not as profitable as first thought, especially if you’re planning on selling within a short timeframe.

However, the flip side to this is that if a side return extension has the potential to increase the property’s value over time whilst you are living there, then it can be argued that the value of your home and the return that you’ll personally receive from the change is almost unquantifiable - as the new space can better support your lifestyle, wellbeing, and enjoyment whilst you live there.

Take a look at these must see small house extension ideas and these single storey rear extension ideas.

7. Loft Conversion

Again, this is high on the list as one of the more expensive routes to take but converting the loft into an additional bedroom can result in increasing the value of your terraced home.

As is the case with the layout of many conventional terrace houses, a lot of the added value sits in being able to optimise the space for more rooms, storage, and light. Therefore, fully utilising redundant loft space provides the potential to increase the house’s value.

As it is one of the more expensive routes to take it’s again essential to be clear on final costs (plus contingency fund!) and consult with local estate agents to have a greater understanding as to whether the expense is worth it.

Due to building regulations, most lofts can’t be simply altered into a habitable room without the required structural work that then qualifies the space to be identified as a bedroom.

There are four main types of loft conversions and according to MyBuilder costs in 2022 range from the following depending on the location, size and finish:

Costs £15,000 to £20,000 for a loft room conversion. This is the least disruptive option as it involves adding a staircase, adding skylight windows, reinforcing the floor, adding insulation and final fittings.
Costs £31,000 to £58,000 for a dormer loft conversion. This is the most common style of loft conversion in terraced houses. This structural loft conversion involves the existing roof being extended and built up with a vertical wall, to add more floor space and room for windows.
Costs £42,000 to £65,000 for a hip to gable conversion. This approach is more applicable for detached and semi-detached houses where the roof has at least three slanting sides. A vertical end wall is built out from one side of the roof and on a double hip to gable conversion that can be done on detached houses, two vertical end walls are built out from either side of the roof.
Costs £45,000 to £70,000 for a mansard roof conversion. This involves a complete restructure of the entire roof that results in a room with a flat part of the roof in the middle with walls either side sloping at a 72-degree angle down to a vertical wall.

8. Interior Refresh

Decorating your home in a light and fresh neutral colour is always advisable due to it acting as a blank canvas that helps potential buyers envision how they’d put their own personal mark on the property. Plus it will help to make the space feel roomy and modern. To support this approach, it’s also important to declutter as much as possible so that you can easily showcase the true potential of the space.

Many individuals are willing to pay more for the luxury of being able to move into a house that doesn’t need any work doing to it, therefore any outdated elements such as artex ceilings, old wallpaper and patterned carpets can act towards devaluing your home.

Therefore, investing a little into a good plasterer or decorator, and updating carpets or flooring with some of the durable and easily maintained options available on the market (including many that are extremely budget-friendly) can help with achieving a higher house value.

If you’re fortunate to have original floorboards in good condition, then a sand and protective coating is a great option as prospective buyers can then see and appreciate the original feature that is part of your terraced house.

Also, it’s worth being mindful that although it’s true that a gloss paint can help reflect light which can help in darker spaces, it’s also true that a gloss paint isn’t in keeping with period properties and can therefore diminish the original character of period features such as coving and corbels.

9. Adding Storage

When it comes to areas of space that tend to be underutilised, the irregular shaped space underneath the stairs can provide an opportune area to create a unique room that supports different homeowners’ lifestyles and is a great way to add value.

Under the stairs is a great space for creating more storage for coats, shoes or cleaning devices, supporting working from home with a small desk, or nurturing family fun at home by creating a pantry. Take a look at these 7 stylish under stairs storage ideas that showcase what’s possible and provide inspiration for your own under stair transformation.

If you still have chimney breasts in your terraced house, then the alcoves either side are also a great space to utilise for storage. Particularly in living rooms and bedrooms, where adding cupboards and wardrobes is a practical and aesthetically pleasing option.

However, these are not the only options or the only types of alcoves in terrace properties. There are all sorts of diagonal angles in loft conversions to irregular alcoves created by old renovations, so in this post on clever chimney breast alcove ideas I’ve provided inspiration for all scenarios to help you make the most of your available living space.

I hope you have found this article useful. If you’d like to see what approach I take with my own terraced house then take a look at my renovation videos.