insideKENT Magazine Issue 97 - April 2020 | Page 105

HOME+GARDEN
DON’T MOVE,
IMPROVE
IF YOUR HOME IS FEELING TOO SMALL, TOO CLUTTERED, TOO MUCH LIKE HARD WORK, IT
CAN DEFINITELY BE TEMPTING TO LOOK ELSEWHERE. YET MOVING IS HARD WORK TOO.
IT’S EXPENSIVE AND MESSY AND IT ISN’T ALWAYS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. IN FACT,
STAYING PUT BUT MAKING SOME CHANGES CAN ACTUALLY BE A MUCH BETTER OPTION.
As Barclays Mortgages suggests, “you need to think
about your needs as a family. Every family is
completely unique, and we all need different
things. For example, are you frustrated that your
teenagers are always holed up in their rooms on
their tablets or smartphones? By making some small
changes to a communal area, you can make it feel
more like their own space and hopefully see a bit
more of them!”
Jonathan Moss, South East regional director of Yopa,
the online estate agency, has some more advice;
“Since the changes in stamp duty legislation forced
many people to improve instead of move, once
neglected lofts are enjoying a new lease of life in
conversions which transform them into extra living
space, be that bedrooms, studies or playrooms. The
average loft conversion – usually adding a bedroom
with an en suite – costs around £40,000 but can
increase your property value by an estimated 21%.”
“The addition of a conservatory typically costs around
£5,000 and can increase the value of a property of
around 10% when done well. They are a relatively
easy way of adding light to a property and providing
a sense of the outdoors without having to go outside
and brave the temperamental British weather. To
add real value, make sure your conservatory is fully
glazed and blends in with the style of the rest of the
property. If you already have a small garden, don't
risk the addition of a conservatory as the smaller
garden space will put off buyers.
“According to NAEA Propertymark, if your budget
can only stretch to renovating one room, that room
should be the kitchen. You can cut costs by painting
cupboard doors yourself and adding new, fashionable
handles. When renovating a kitchen, it pays to keep
it simple, stylish and uncluttered. Integrated
appliances can also boost appeal.”
“You can add up to 5% value to your property by
adding a second bathroom. An average bathroom
costs £4,500 and 70% of estate agents say an
additional loo helps to sell a house, according to
NAEA Propertymark. An en suite is no longer a
luxury and a four-bedroom home should have a
minimum of two bathrooms."
So what are the key considerations before
embarking on a renovation?
At the outset, the all important consideration is
budget. Some people oversee the importance of
setting aside an adequate amount of budget for an
experienced and qualified installer.
Secondly, it is a good idea to work out what you
want from the space based on your lifestyle.
Inspiration from magazine cuttings, Instagram
or Pinterest is a great start to give more of an
indication of your preferences in terms of styles and
functions for the space, there are now so many
advancements in products and technology, the
possibilities are endless!
It is also worth paying a little extra to go to a specialist,
such as bathroom specialist West One Bathrooms,
who are able to offer the whole package from a full
design service to unparalleled access to suppliers
globally for the supply of the bathroom, they also
have experts on hand to offer advice from start to
finish. As Louise Ashdown, head of design at West
One explains; “We have a vast portfolio of products
enabling us to guide every client not only through
the physical displays but brochures too, ensuring
everything is tailored for clients. We ask clients about
things before they even knew they existed!”
“When visiting a showroom, we always suggest clients
bring as much information with them as possible.
This includes dimensions of the space, including
ceiling heights, window and door heights and
positions. If they can also accompany this with photos
of the current space, it assists with understanding
any restrictions with the space, as well as identifying
factors that the client currently dislikes about their
existing home.”
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