When you are looking for a new home, what makes one stand out for you more than the others? Each person will have a different answer to this question; for some, moving in and living in it immediately is their primary goal, they want a home which is ready to move into – fully decorated and perfect for their needs. Others might prefer to buy a home upon which they can make their mark or a project home. It is very rare to find a property to perfectly fit your needs but that’s not to say it couldn’t eventually.
We take a look at how you can spot potential in a house, make it more comfortable and increase its value. Remember, if you are thinking of moving to the area make sure you take a look at our properties for sale in Virginia Water and the surrounding areas.
Extensions
Adding an extension not only increases the footprint of the habitable area (in most cases) but will also add value to your property. Some homes come to market with planning permission and approval for certain types of extensions. If you are looking at built up areas you may also be able to convert your loft space or even excavate a basement space.
Adding a storey
If the property has a single storey extension there may be potential to build on top of that, subject to planning permission. Do some research, if a neighbour has done the same then this will help with the planning permission as it sets a precedent; you will also need to find out if the foundations and new extension have been built to support a second storey.
Open Plan
Opening up and combining rooms in a property is a great way to create multi-functional living spaces. If you are interested in a home with separate kitchen and dining rooms, do a little research to see if there is the possibility of opening it up into a kitchen diner. This is a popular way of living, not only will you benefit from enjoying the space but it’ll also increase the value of the property.
Tiled Rooms
When we refer to ‘tiled rooms’ we are generally referring to kitchens and bathrooms. If you are looking at a property with old tiled rooms, a sure fire way of increasing the value of the property is to have these replaced. These are valuable rooms and can add tens of thousands to your property value.
Cloakroom
While rare in our local area, some older/smaller properties might not have a downstairs cloakroom (WC) and so you’ll need to think creatively about how you might be able to reconfigure the layout of the property in order to install one. A downstairs cloakroom will open up the pool of potential buyers to those with small children and the elderly who may struggle with stairs.
Aesthetically Challenged Houses
They need love too! Try to look beyond the exterior aesthetics of a property. You will likely be able to make some relatively small cosmetic changes to improve the appearance, and it’s not worth dismissing a property in the ideal location, with the perfect number of rooms just because it is a little visually unattractive. You can add climbing plants and cladding to make a dramatic difference.
Outdoor space
Unkempt garden areas can be a great area for potential. If the garden is out of control, a couple of weekends taming it can make a huge difference to the aesthetics of your property. There are a number of things you can do with outdoor space to increase the value of your property, including an outdoor studio which adds to the habitable square footage of your home.
These are just some things to look out for and consider when looking for your next property.
Get in Touch
Are you thinking of moving to the area? Make sure you take a look at our amazing catalogue of properties for sale in Virginia Water and the surrounding areas.
If you’d like to speak to someone about properties to let in Virginia Water, a member of our expert team would be happy to help. You can call us on 01344 843000 or email us. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
