A new tool lets homeowners estimate the added value of renovations. The handy online calculator by Towergate Property Insurance allows Britons to input the dwelling’s market price to find out which renovations to pursue based on their budget, local average price increases and build costs. Calculations show adding a garage could see value increase by 20%, while opting for enviromentally-friendly standards could up it by 14%. “Adding more square footage will normally always come out on top,” says Claire Gardner from TPI.
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Can be knocked off the average household bill with the right insulation and appliances, new findings show. In preparation for the recently announced Clean Growth Plan, the UK Energy Research Centre published a report into the country’s wasted energy. Britain squanders the output of six power stations a year by not promoting more energy-efficient attitudes. Climate change charity 10:10 has also warned that people in the UK’s draughtiest properties risk paying an extra £1bn in bills in the next five years.