Our Patch summer 2017 party wall surveyor
Richard Hourican , Chartered Building Consultant , Hourican & Associates info @ houricanassociates . com Tel : 07769 869 799
Building 3 , Chiswick Park 566 Chiswick High Road W4 5YA Tel : 020 8849 8390
www . houricanassociates . com builder
Jason Briggs , Managing Director , The Kitchen & Loft Company info @ thekitchenandloftcompany . co . uk Tel : 07581 193 333
27 Old Gloucester Street WC1N 3AX Tel : 0800 046 7268
www . thekitchenandloftcompany . co . uk architect
Ivan Lazzaroni , Design Principal , Omnide ilazzaroni @ omnide . com Tel : 07726 729 043
N . 2 Durham Yard Teesdale Street E2 6QF Tel : 020 7613 3833
www . omnide . com
Mention the words ‘ party ’ and ‘ award ’ in the same sentence and you could be forgiven for thinking it ’ s a cause for celebration . However , without a party wall award , you could be left crying into your champers when it comes to selling your home , says surveyor , Richard Hourican .
Why would I need to prove I have a party wall award if I ’ m selling up ? If you have adjoining properties or your home is within three metres of your neighbours ’ and structural changes have been made eg an extension , loft or basement has been added , or a chimney has been removed , the first thing a solicitor will want to know is whether or not you have a party wall award .
“ we make sure everything is done legally from the start so there are no nasty surprises ”
What happens if I don ’ t ? You have a problem . It can ’ t be done retrospectively . It will hold things up and could cost you thousands in solicitors and surveyors fees – and lose you potential buyers .
How can a surveyor help ? As party wall specialists we make sure everything is done legally from the start so there are no nasty surprises , unnecessary delays or unexpected costs . We also act as a mediator in any dispute and an arbitrator to agree compensation or damages .
It ’ s all very well living in the present , but to maximise your home ’ s potential , you need to think about the future too , says builder Jason Briggs .
What should a client think of first when they are looking to improve their home ? Whether they are single , extending their home to accommodate a larger family , or looking towards retirement , we always work with them to futureproof their home according to their individual requirements and to maximise resale value .
Which rooms are best to improve ? Past clients have often said that it was a special bathroom or impressive kitchen that helped close the sale on their homes . With so many affordable finishes available that were once considered an out-of-reach luxury , clients can usually achieve the look they want .
What is permitted development ? If well managed , PD can present opportunities for building say a higher roof or gaining more floor space than might normally be the case .
What should a client bear in mind ? Don ’ t spend more than you can expect to get back from a property .
Any other advice ? Always do as much work as possible in one go – it will be more cost effective . If you do have to hold off on part of an extension works , for instance , at least get approval for what you want in the future . You are adding value just by having planning approval in hand .
Potential homebuyers need to also be able to see the potential your property has to offer , argues architect Ivan Lazzaroni .
What can people do to make their property more attractive to buyers ? Low effort measures like painting a dark wall in white or staging the space with contemporary furniture for open day viewings can show it in a new light . There are specialist companies that rent contemporary furniture for short-let periods and we can help with the arrangements .
How can a homeowner increase the value of their property without a huge financial investment ? Properties are often marketed with ‘ potential to extend ’ but we believe that the development of a design scheme showing how this can be realised , and the inclusion of planning permission for an extension , can help immensely in boosting sale values .
“ AN INNOVATIVE DESIGN SOLUTION REMAINS THE TOP PRIORITY FOR MOST ”
What is usually top of your clients ’ priority list ? An innovative design solution remains the top priority for most of our clients in Hammersmith and Chiswick . We provide them with design options as part of our process to fully explore their project ’ s potential . Balancing good design with a realistic budget that can be delivered in a realistic time frame comes a close next .