DIY improvements can 'generate market value'

Many homeowners are attempting to higher the price of their properties before putting them on the market, it has been claimed.

Alliance & Leicester (A&L) polled potential sellers and found that 19 per cent will look to generate more cash via home improvements.

And of those who have successfully sold homes in the past, 38 per cent admitted that they altered sections in a bid to raise the profile of these places.

Head of mortgage products at A&L Richard Taylor remarked that DIY is a crucial element for many, even during the present financial era.

"It is clear that DIY and home improvements remain important to all homeowners, both to those looking to add value to their house in order to sell, and to those who are looking to stay put and benefit from these improvements personally," he commented.

He added that sellers must also realise that any alterations must fit in with the desires of people wanting to purchase.

Gleeson Homes recently stated that changes to gardens can be one way in which properties are made more noticeable to buyers, citing research from Halifax.