Wealden Times | WT231 | August 2021 | Adding value to your property supplement inside

Adding Value to your Property Supplement
Squaring up
Boost your square footage with garden buildings and orangeries.
Square footage is tightly linked to the value of your property. While many other factors are subjective, this one
all boils down to cold, hard numbers and those numbers are one of the first things estate agents and mortgage
advisors alike will look at when working out an estimated value. So how do you boost it? Generally your square
footage calculations will add up all areas that are heated and cooled, and are over 7 foot tall (so a standard garage, loft
or cellar may not be included but converting these spaces can add them into the equation). Obviously extensions,
conservatories and orangeries will also help and additional separate buildings will often also be measured and added
separately to be taken into account. The whole thing is complicated but highly effective for increasing your property
value so we’ve asked some experts for advice to start you squaring up to the challenge.
Spending so much time in our homes has made us want to improve
how they work for us, to make them happy, functional places that
give us the ability to (in the words of a chocolate bar ) ‘work rest and play’.
We are helping many clients achieve their homes’ best potential and multiuse
garden rooms are one of the most popular ideas. Perfect for working
from home, they are a little space away from the main house that give you
uninterrupted zoom calls and the coveted ability to leave your place of work
and switch off over a short commute across the lawn. These great structures
can be a place for TVs, pool tables, dart boards, fitness equipment or (my
favourite) your very own bar. Imagine Friday evenings in your own pub with
no mask, no annoying tables next to you and no queuing for your favourite
tipple only to find out that they have run out of it. One client is currently
transforming their garden into their very own holiday retreat complete
with hot tub, changing area, spa-like shower room, Tuscan style stone clad
walls, seating and entertaining spaces, and screening behind for a children’s
play area. On another project, we are creating a fun teenager’s retreat –
an open plan media and gaming room with an American diner themed
milkshake bar, and a snug seating area with a fire pit. We love creating
bespoke spaces for individuals or families with clever designs
to make great use of space and tailor the project to the client.
–Richard Barnes , Just Worx justworx.co.uk
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