Page 34 - ESPC_Jun24

PROPERTY ADVICE
Open it up Tony Knight, Property Surveyor at MOV8, Knocking through is

agrees, explaining: “The most popular alteration
is to knock through from the kitchen to create
a large kitchen/diner. This area then becomes not necessarily going to
the hub of the home and creates a more social increase the value of your
environment for families to congregate. If done
properly it also adds a bit of a wow factor, property, but it certainly
especially when you add in French or bi-fold
It’s a popular renovation trend – but does doors to bring the outdoor and indoor areas may well make a property
together. This will add value, despite losing a bit
knocking down walls actually add value more attractive.
of the versatility that having a separate room
to your home? might add.”
Robbie Horn, Property Manager at
Gillespie Macandrew
But what if your plans don’t involve the dining
area? Some homeowners may feel tempted to
make changes upstairs, especially if bedrooms
feel cramped – but is this something you should
consider if you want to add value?
overall £psqm is the same, but increasing appeal
It all depends on the individual circumstances, can help them add value, as long as the costs
according to Robbie: “Knocking through walls of doing work are controlled. Knocking brick
f you ask a househunter what their ideal and flexibility in your home by losing separate to create a bigger bedroom may not add any walls and adding supports etc., in line with build
home looks like, there’s a high chance that rooms, although many might counter that these value, as in the process you could be taking control today, can be very expensive, so won’t
Ithe majority would say at least one element open, versatile spaces actually make a property away another bedroom. It really depends on the produce a positive net result.”
of the property would be ‘open plan’. In fact, more appealing. functionality and shape of those rooms. It may
you can even search for properties with an be the case you are gaining a lovely principal Robbie agrees, explaining “Ultimately, when
open plan layout on espc.com, with a specific It can be a bit of a minefield, so before you pick bedroom out of the works, instead of having two you are knocking through walls the square
search filter available. up a sledgehammer, we spoke to some of our very small bedrooms, so this could add value.” meterage of the property remains the same, so
property experts across ESPC’s member firms it’s unlikely to increase in value by much, but it
Whether it’s a kitchen-diner, a lounge-diner, to find out their thoughts... However, according to Scott Grieve, Senior may be that it’s right for how you want to live.”
or a fully free-flowing ground floor, today’s Surveyor at MOV8, knocking through bedrooms
homeowners certainly seem to love the relaxed Robbie Horn, Property Manager at Gillespie is not recommended: “Knocking through walls
atmosphere, sociable feel, and flexibility that an Macandrew, says: “Knocking through is not where you lose bedrooms is not cool for adding
open-plan layout brings to the home. This style necessarily going to increase the value of value, ever!”
is ideal for those who like to entertain regularly your property, but it certainly may well make
and for families who want to spend more time a property more attractive. If the kitchen is Essentially, the choice to create open-plan
together (even while doing different activities), small, knocking through to the dining room rooms in your home is very personal, and you
as well as assisting with the juggle of daily life, to open the room up, would not only give the may not be too bothered by the opinions of
when you need to have one eye on the hob and feeling of more space but also make the space future hypothetical buyers, especially if you plan
the other on your little ones! more functional.” to live there for a long time. However, as Scott
explains, it’s still sensible to consider the costs
But does knocking two rooms into one, or even Indeed, knocking through a kitchen into a of the work versus the predicted value of your
three rooms into one, actually add value to a dining room is among the most popular styles finished home: “Some changes can add value
property? Some may argue that by knocking of open-plan living, with many new-build as simply, they add appeal. The approach a
through, you’re actually reducing the space developers choosing this design as default. surveyor carries out with the size of the property

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