Lifestyle
The projects that add the most value to your home when selling – and the ones that don’t

Research by the estate agent comparison site, GetAgent.co.uk, has revealed which household renovations will add the most value to your home once you’ve accounted for the cost of the job itself.
The housing market looks set to keep sizzling this summer, as the latest Nationwide house price index revealed yet another month of double-digit house price growth last week.
But if you’re looking to boost the asking price of your home even further, it’s important to know which projects will add value in the eyes of a potential buyer. However, it’s also important to think about the cost of a project and if it will actually add value once the dust has settled.
GetAgent analysed 11 common renovation projects, the value they add and the cost of the job to reveal which will actually boost the price you achieve for your home.

What to avoid
In terms of the most valued added, landscaping your garden may add an average of £3,565 to your home but with the average cost of the job coming in at £5,000, it could also leave you £1,435 out of pocket.
Solar panels are the only other renovation that could cost you money on a sale, with the average fitting cost totalling £2,727 but adding just £1,273 in value.
What’s worth it?
The best way to add value to your home is with a loft conversion. Effectively adding an additional level to your home, this additional space could boost your property’s value by 20%. That’s an increase of nearly £51,000 and while the work will set you back just over £33,000 on average, you’re still left with more than £17,000 in added value.
A downstairs toilet is thought to add 5% in value, that’s £12,731, while costing just £3,000 on average – a profit of £9,731.
Similarly, a new kitchen could add £14,000 to the value of your home, requiring an average budget of £8,000 and adding £6,000 once the cost of the work has been accounted for.

(Image: Wikimedia / NuProjects.co)
A simple but extensive lick of paint is the third best way to add value to your home. On average it will set you back just £2,900 but could add as much as £7,893, a £4,993 boost to the value of your home.
Other projects that will add value once the cost of the work is accounted for include a new boiler or central heating (£2,463), a new roof (£2,393), a conservatory (£2,206), a revamped bathroom (£1,195) and double glazing (£1,389).
Founder and CEO of GetAgent.co.uk, Colby Short, commented: “All too often we plough money into our homes without considering whether it will add real value in the eyes of a buyer, as well as the cost of the job in relation to the potential return.
“The best plan of attack is to focus on what appeals to a buyer and this is always going to be more space, particularly in the post-pandemic property market. A loft conversion, extension, conservatory or additional toilet will all help increase the appeal of your home and potentially the price you will achieve when selling.
“Providing further solid foundations such as a new boiler, roof or windows is also a safe bet as they will save a potential buyer the hassle of organising the work themselves.
“Of course, it’s important to have a clear plan and budget when carrying out renovations to your home. The value added will differ from one property to the next and so there’s no guarantee you will see a return on your investment just because you’ve ploughed a sizable amount of money into renovations.”
If you want to know how much a particular renovation could add to the value of your home, GetAgent has a handy online tool that can help you plan.
Table shows the value added by each renovation project, the increase in £, the average cost of each job and the value added once this has been accounted for.
Home area % value added Potential increase £ Average costs to renovate Added value minus cost Loft conversion 20% £50,925 £33,444 £17,481 Adding a downstairs toilet 5% £12,731 £3,000 £9,731 Kitchen renovation 5.5% £14,004 £8,000 £6,004 Full basic re-decoration (bedrooms and living room) 3.1% £7,893 £2,900 £4,993 New Boiler and/or central heating 1.9% £4,838 £2,375 £2,463 Roof renovation 3.1% £7,893 £5,500 £2,393 Adding a conservatory 6.0% £15,277 £13,071 £2,206 Bathroom renovation 2.6% £6,620 £4,625 £1,995 adding double glazing 3.0% £7,639 £6,250 £1,389 Garden landscaping/renovation 1.4% £3,565 £5,000 -£1,435 Fitting solar panels 0.5% £1,273 £4,000 -£2,727
Education
“Stuck in a catch-22”: parents drive their children to school because they are concerned about traffic

New polling data released for Living Streets’ Walk to School Week (16-20 May 2022) finds that traffic is one of the biggest barriers to children walking to school, with 17 per cent of parents in Wales naming it as a reason their child doesn’t walk.
With over 460,000 pupils in Wales, it would mean tens of thousands of them are being denied the physical and social health benefits of being more active.
Schools being too far away from home (18%) and cars parked on pavements (17%) were also barriers for Welsh parents.
The latest data suggests just 50 per cent of primary school aged children in Wales walk to school.
Stephen Edwards, Chief Executive, Living Streets said: “We’re stuck in a catch-22 where families see driving to school as the safest way to protect their children from traffic.
“Leaving the car at home will reduce chaos and road danger around the school gates. It’s also a great way for children to learn about road safety in a real life setting and build their confidence in managing risk.
“Walk to School Week is an excellent opportunity for families to give walking to school a go and reap the health and social benefits of moving more.”
Living Streets works with schools, local authorities and parent groups to help improve the walk to school.
Stephen Edwards continues: “We want to enable as well as encourage more families to walk to school. We’re here to help parents who are worried about safety around their child’s school. Car-free zones, 20mph limits and better crossings can all help make the walk to school safer and we’re here to help people campaign for them in their area.”
For more information on Living Streets’ walk to school campaign, visit livingstreets.org.uk/WalkToSchool
(Lead image: Shutterstock)
Food & Drink
Chicken products recalled at a dozen national retailers due to salmonella fears

The Food Safety Authority (FSA) has issued a recall notice for cooked chicken sandwiches, wraps and other products sold at TWELVE major retailers due to salmonella fears.
The products were supplied by food producer Cranswick Country Foods who manufacture own-brand products for a number of supermarkets and food outlets.
In a statement the FSA said: “Cranswick Country Foods are recalling several products containing chicken because salmonella has been found in some of the chicken used to manufacture these products.
“As a precaution additional products are also being recalled whilst investigations continue.”
Products sold by Aldi, Waitrose, Amazon, Sainsbury’s, Co-op, Costa, Cafe Nero, M&S, Starbucks, Shell, One Stop and Tesco are all affected by the warning.
Aldi Chicken & Stuffing Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Aldi Chicken & Sweetcorn Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Aldi Chicken and Bacon Caesar Wraps Mixed Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Waitrose Chicken & Bacon Caesar Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Waitrose Deep Filled Roast Chicken & Bacon Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Waitrose Deep Filled Roast Chicken & Stuffing Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Waitrose Entertaining Meat Roulade Wrap Selection Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Waitrose Essential Chicken Mayo Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Waitrose Roast Chicken & Bacon Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Waitrose Roast Chicken & Stuffing Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Waitrose Roast Chicken & Sweetcorn Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Waitrose Roast Chicken Salad with Salad Cream Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Aldi Chicken and Bacon Caesar Wrap Triple Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Use by Amazon Arabiatta Chicken Pasta Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon BBQ Chicken Hot wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Chicken and Bacon Caesar Baguette Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Chicken and Spinach Protein Pot Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Chicken Caesar Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Chicken Tikka Bites Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Chicken Triple Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Harissa Chicken and Grain Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Aldi Chicken Fajita Triple Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Amazon Katsu Chicken and Coconut Slaw Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Lemongrass Chicken Grain Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Mexican Chicken Mini Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Sweet Chilli Chicken Noodle Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Thai Chicken Hot Box Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Tikka Chicken & Masala Potato Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Sage & Onion Chicken Breast Slice 180g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Café Chicken & Bacon Topped Toastie Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Cajun Chicken Grills 180g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chargrilled Chicken Slices 160g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 Aldi Chicken Beechwood Smoked Bacon and Stuffing Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chargrilled Chicken Slices 300g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chargrilled Salt & Chilli Thigh Fillets 150g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chicken & Sweetcorn Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chicken and Bacon Sub Roll Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chicken Fajita Triple Wrap Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chicken Salad Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chicken Triple Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chicken with Pork, Sage & Onion Stuffing Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chicken, Bacon & Caesar Wrap Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Classic Sandwich Platter Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 12 May 2022 Aldi Eat & Go Chicken and Bacon Club with Mayo Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Classic Triple Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Coronation Chicken Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Firecracker Chicken Slices 160g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Flamegrilled Chicken Grills 180g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Flamegrilled Chicken Mini Fillets 170g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Garlic & Herb Chicken Breast Slices 180g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Gluten Free Chicken Caesar Wrap Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Gluten Free Sandwich Platter Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 12 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Grilled Tandoori Chicken Thigh Fillets 150g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Jerk Chicken Wrap Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 Aldi Eat & Go Classic Selection Chicken Salad, Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato Prawn Mayonnaise Sandwiches Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Kansas City BBQ Wings 486g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Meat Sandwich Platter Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 12 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Mexican Chicken Mini Fillets 170g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Piri Piri Chicken Mini Fillets 170g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Spring on the Lemon Chicken Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Thai Red Chicken Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Wrap Platter Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 12 May 2022 By Sainsburys Chicken & Bacon Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s TTD Greek Chicken & Tzatziki Premium Wrap Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 Caffé Nero Chargrilled Chicken Salad Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 Aldi Flavoured Mini Chicken Fillets; Mango Curry & Shwarma Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022 Co-op Chicken & Bacon Caesar Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Co-op Chicken & Sweetcorn Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Co-op Chicken and Stuffing Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Co-op Chicken Mayo Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Co-op Coronation Chicken Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Co-op Oriental Chicken Curry with Egg Fried Rice 400g Use by All use by dates up to and including 20 May 2022 Co-op Oriental Chow Mein 375g Use by All use by dates up to and including 20 May 2022 Co-op Oriental Sweet and Sour Chicken with Egg Fried Rice 400g Use by All use by dates up to and including 20 May 2022 Costa British Chicken Fajita Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Costa British Roast Chicken & Bacon Classic Toastie Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Aldi Roast Chicken & Bacon Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Costa Chicken & Chorizo Stonebaked Panini Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 ‘Jamie Oliver deli by Shell’ Spicy Chipotle BBQ Chicken Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 M&S 14 Piece Classic Sandwich Platter Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 M&S Chicken & Bacon Caesar Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 M&S Classic Mini Roll Selection Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 M&S Deli Filler Coronation Chicken Use by All use by dates up to and including 17 May 2022 M&S Made Without Wheat Gluten Free Chicken & Bacon Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 M&S Roast Chicken & Bacon Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 M&S Roast Chicken & Salad Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 M&S The Café Classic Selection Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 Aldi Roast Chicken Salad Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 M&S The Café Gluten Free Chicken Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 M&S Honey and Mustard Chicken Pasta Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 M&S Chicken and Bacon Layered Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 M&S Chicken Caesar Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 One Stop BBQ Chicken Chunks 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022 One Stop Sliced Roast Chicken Breast 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022 Starbucks Coronation Chicken Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 Tesco BBQ Chicken Breast Pieces 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022 Tesco Chicken Breast Slices 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 20 May 2022 Tesco Chicken Breast Slices 180g (Express) Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022 Aldi Sweet Chilli Chicken Triple Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Tesco Chicken Breast Slices 360g Use by All use by dates up to and including 20 May 2022 Tesco Coronation Chicken Pieces 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 18 May 2022 Tesco Fajita Chicken Breast Mini Fillets 170g Use by All use by dates up to and including 18 May 2022 Tesco Flame Grilled Chicken Breast Mini Fillets 170g Use by All use by dates up to and including 20 May 2022 Tesco Flame Grilled Chicken Thins 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 18 May 2022 Tesco Garlic & Herb Chicken Breast Mini Fillets 170g Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022 Tesco Piri Piri Chicken Breast Mini Fillets 170g Use by All use by dates up to and including 18 May 2022 Tesco Piri Piri Chicken Breast Pieces 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022 Tesco Sliced Chicken Breast with Sage & Onion 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022 Tesco Tandoori Chicken Pieces 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022
A full list of products affected is available on the FSA website.
The FSA added: “Our advice to consumers If you have bought the above products, do not eat them. Instead, return them to the store from where they were bought for a full refund.”
(Lead image: Lara604 / CC BY-SA 2.0)
Food & Drink
Supermarket Aldi to stock Ukrainian beer with profits going to humanitarian relief

Supermarket Aldi has announced it will sell Chernigivske, Ukraine’s most popular beer brand, in stores nationwide.
Priced at £9.99 for a pack of ten 440ml cans, all profits from sales will go towards humanitarian relief in Ukraine.
Brand-owner AB InBev is guaranteeing at least $5m from the initiative, with funds distributed across designated NGOs.
Chernigivske, also known locally as “Che”, is considered a national treasure in Ukraine.
Originally brewed as a gift to celebrate the 1,300-year anniversary of the city from which it got its name, Chernigiv, it remains the number one beer brand in Ukraine.

Like many Ukrainian businesses, the Chernigiv brewery closed its doors at the end of February. However, the brand has since started producing its lager in three breweries across Europe, with plans to open additional locations across the globe. Aldi proudly stands in partnership with Chernigivske, stocking the beer across stores nationwide, making every can count.
“Che” is a crisp and refreshing lager, originally brewed with character that perfectly balances strength and spirit; fruity aromas highlighted with light hoppy notes. It is a traditional Ukrainian lager loved and shared by generations of Ukrainians.
Chernigivske lager is available in Aldi stores from 1st May, £9.99 for 10 x440ml and available as a pack of 4 from mid-May, while stocks last.
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