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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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