Investing in changes to your home may not add as much as you would like to its value, and some alterations could wipe thousands from the sale price.

According to website GoCompare.com, half of interior redecoration projects, four out of ten kitchen refits and a third of flooring, bathroom and garden makeovers are intended to enhance a property’s worth. But not all succeed.

The most profitable enhancements for homeowners are linked to energy efficiency, security and parking. Redecoration, new floor coverings and bathrooms tend to cost more than they add, while garden work is frequently cost neutral.

TV property expert Henry Pryor said: “Most people who are thinking of selling their home or looking to improve it to add value will consider the merits of a trip to the DIY store. Some will even consider doing some building work.”

However, he cautioned: “Not all buyers will be prepared to pay for your idea of improvements or good taste. Some would even prefer to be able to put their own mark on a property and install the bathroom or kitchen of their choosing and may even pay for the chance to do so.

“It is, therefore, essential that you think why you are spending extra money and who will benefit. My advice is usually to spend on the things that you want and leave other improvements to the next person who may not share your taste.”

GoCompare.com has created an online calculator to give homeowners an indication of the typical profit from a range of improvements.

Energy efficiency is one of the top priorities for buyers and almost half say cavity wall insulation is a must-have.

As a result, someone spending £2,000 to replace the boiler in the average Scottish home, worth £150,000, could enhance its value by £6,000, giving a £4,000 profit.

Spending around £500 on insulation or a new security system could add £3,000 to the sale price, meaning a profit in the region of £2,500, while an investment of £4,250 on central heating could realise a net gain of £1,750.

Mr Pryor said: “Improving the green credentials of a house usually pays. A new boiler, insulation or energy saving measures along with security improvements will usually pay off, but some additions like solar panels will be hard to get a payback on immediately.”

GoCompare calculates that spending £5,000 on panels could slash the value of a £150,000 house by £3,000, making an overall loss of £8,000, while spending £7,000 on a new kitchen might add only £3,000 to the sale price, meaning a loss of £4,000.

Although eight out of ten buyers say double glazing is a must have, it may not be worth installing simply to sell either. With a typical cost of £8,500 for a £150,000 home compared to a likely price uplift of just £6,000, it could leave you £2,500 out of pocket.

Doing major building work can backfire even more spectacularly. The average bill for extending a £150,000 house is £48,000, but with a likely gain in value of just £22,500, it could wipe £25,500 off your profit.

Adding an extra bedroom can be costly too, with a potential profit dip of £18,000 once expenses are taken into account, while creating an attic conversion or new garage can be equivalent to burning around £12,500.

When it comes to large projects, Mr Pryor advised: “Getting planning permission to do the work is frequently the best investment you can make, leaving the actual choice of layout, decoration and equipment to the next owner.”

Smaller scale enhancements are more likely to pay off. Investing £2,000 to create off-street parking could achieve a £2,500 profit uplift, and knocking through rooms at a price of £1,750 could gain you £1,250 after costs.

Mr Pryor added: “My advice to most people is that the wisest investment they can make is to buy a bucket, sponge and some cleaning materials.

“There is always value in giving the right first impressions, and letting buyers go away discussing the potential of the property rather than the ring around the bath can add pounds to your price.”

According to Lloyds Bank, having a supermarket nearby can also be lucrative, with houses close to a Waitrose selling for £21,500 above their town average.

However, living in proximity to a budget retailer may have even greater benefits. The bank says the value of homes beside supermarkets has increased 10 per cent over the past four years, but the rise for those near Lidl, Aldi, Morrisons and Asda branches is 15 per cent.