Don't knock DIYers

EASTER is the busiest time of year for home improvements with an estimated eight million people expected to visit a DIY store during the four days over the Easter Weekend. But, if you are going to do it, make sure it pays say Britain's top estate agents.

A recent survey commissioned by B&Q asked estate agents nationwide which projects added the most value to the price of a property and which netted the best return on outlay if you DIY.

The survey revealed that although the agents feel `big' home improvement projects, such as fitting a new kitchen or bathroom, add the most value to a property, the overall way a property looked was considered to be the most important thing if you are considering selling a house.

Virtually all the agents interviews said that decorating and improving the whole presentation of a house added equally as much to the value of a property as fitting a new kitchen or bathroom. "People decide within eight seconds if they are going to buy a property or not," say the agents, so first impressions count.

Another revelation is that kitchens and bathrooms are the rooms that appeal the most to women. The agents commented "if a kitchen is nice and the wife falls in love with it, it will sell the house. "Kitchens and bathrooms are vital - women love their kitchens - they sell houses to women."

The survey also revealed that the smaller projects such as decorating not only added value to the price of the property, but are the ones that give the highest return on investment for the DIYer.

Summary of findings:

The Projects That Add The Most Value To A Property:

Extending with an extra reception room: average value added £9,500

Adding a garage: average value added £8,000

A kitchen refit: average value added £5,000

A bathroom refit: average value added £3,000

Decorating the whole house: average value added £3,000

The Projects That Give The Highest Return On Outlay if you DIY:

Decorating the whole house, giving a net gain of 220 per cent.

Adding a garage, a net gain of 124 per cent.

Piecemeal decoration, a net gain of 124 per cent.

Refitting a bathroom, a net gain of 116 per cent.

Refitting a kitchen, a net gain of 101 per cent.

Adding wood/laminate flooring, a net gain of 50 per cent.

DIY vs Professional
On average, it costs twice as much to get a tradesman to do most projects as to DIY. The return on outlay if you DIY can be as high as 220 per cent for some projects such as decorating. For certain projects getting a professional in could even result in a loss. For example, DIYing piecemeal decoration could give you a return of 124 per cent, as opposed to a loss of 37 per cent if you get a professional in. And fixing up a wood floor or laying laminate flooring yourself could give you a return on outlay of 50 per cent against a loss of 33 per cent if a professional does it.

The `Eight Second Test' and `Kerb Appeal'
First impressions count enormously. Giving your house "kerb appeal" - making it look as attractive as possible - is vital. Agents reported viewings being cancelled because the buyer didn't like the look of the property from the outside - remember people decide within eight seconds if they are going to buy a property or not so make sure your house passes the test.

If You're Going To Do It, Do It Right
Estate agents were unanimous in one major piece of advice - if you DIY, make sure it is done well. "Failing to recognise his or her limitations, the DIYer can find themselves with either a botched job that will detract from the value of their property, or worse still a job that has been inadequately and dangerously done".

The brand new `You Can Do It - The Complete B&Q Step-By-Step Book Of Home Improvement' is a fully illustrated, easy to follow guide to home improvements containing expert advice on 234 projects and over 200 safety tips and tricks of the trade. Priced at £16.98, the book is available from B&Q stores nationwide. 

Adding a garage
The average cost of adding a garage DIY is fairly modest at around £3,500, yet agents believe it would enhance the value of the property by more than double this giving a 124 per cent return. Even using a contractor would see the property owner making a 10 per cent gain on their investment.

Most agents felt adding a garage was a wise move although some thought that off-street parking was just as, if not more, important. Either way, the advice was, if you set about adding a garage DIY, make sure you know what you are letting yourself in for, plan properly and make sure you do a good job. If you are not confident in your DIY skills, get an expert in.

Piecemeal decoration
Piecemeal decorating is unlikely to add very much to property prices although it can be done very cheaply and effectively by the DIYer. Based on the average spend of £113 DIY and £400 on getting a professional to do it, the DIYer can look at netting a gain of 124 per cent on outlay as opposed to a 37 per cent loss if done by a professional.

Some agents felt that doing the odd room her and there would make little impression - "No good having one tidy room and the rest awful. You should do all or none at all." Others felt that it would add to the overall saleability of the property and some suggested making a good impression by doing the entrance hallway first "We recommend that people decorate the entrance hall to create a good first impression."

Refitting the Bathroom
The average new bathroom is thought to add £3,000 to the value of a house. Doing it will cost an average £1,300 DIY or £3,250 if done by a professional. It therefore will cost on average a third of the tradesman price if you DIY - an average 116 per cent gain on outlay - against a loss of 14 per cent if a professional does it.

The agents had mixed views on a bathroom refit, although it was generally considered a very important room. Quotes include "If you can sell the bathroom and the kitchen to the wife, you would sell the house" and "It is probably the most essential room for a buyer." to "As long as it is all clean and presentable, then there isn't much point getting a brand new one." So, if a total refit is not an option, replacing an avocado suite with a simple, white one and giving the whole room a repaint could still make a lot of difference for not too much cost.

Refitting the Kitchen
The average new kitchen is thought to add on an average £5,000 to the value of a property. Fitting the new kitchen yourself is likely to result in a gain in the value of the property of twice what it cost you to do Using a builder on the other hand could leave you out of pocket by 18 per cent. When asked about the merits of a kitchen refit some of our agents commented "Women are in control and they like a decent kitchen.", it is "A main selling point." "The most important thing you can do."

Even improving the look of an existing kitchen by replacing doors and worktops and repainting walls can reap a big return for very little investment.

Adding Wood/Laminate Flooring
Adding wood or laminate flooring is likely to add, on average £1,300 to the price of a property. Agents said it would cost nearly £2,000 to get this done by a tradesman vs around £850 by DIYing. The DIYer would therefore make a 50 per cent return on investment, but be 33 per cent down if it was done by a professional.

The consensus was that this would add to the saleability of the property though not necessarily make a big impact on the price of the property.

B&Q has a vast selection of laminate flooring including the traditional wood finishes such as beech, oak and ash and also new finishes including Blue Denim. Flooring is also available from B&Q in laminate Slate effect in blue and grey, Antico Limestone and Natural Terracotta effect. Virtually all agents said that adding value to your property is all about presentation - both internally and externally.