Change is great but think carefully about the impact

With the property market on the upturn, more and more of our clients are asking if some changes to their homes would add value.

The plus side of the property crash at our end was that remodelling homes for buyers, rather than residents, came to an end. People started making changes to their homes based on what they needed and with the objective of improving their quality of life.

This was really liberating as it allowed us to get to the crux of a design dilemma and come up with a solution to a real problem rather than simply follow a formula that would in theory increase the sale price of the house by appealing to a virtual buyer.

Hopefully we have learned a few lessons in the last couple of years. An estate agent recently told us they still articulate the value of a property to clients according to the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, rather than any meaningful representation of how the house functions.

We converted an apartment a number of years ago which at the time was a two-bed. However, there was no space for a good-sized sofa in the living space and the second bedroom was too small for a double bed and had no storage.

So we advised that our client incorporate the second bedroom into the living space to create a dining area, freeing up space in the livingroom for a good-sized sofa and two arm chairs and recommended that they reconfigure the master bedroom to get a wall of floor-to-ceiling storage.

The apartment went from being a very poor two-bed to a really well functioning and desirable one-bed. When people are viewing a potential home they don’t look at a check-list of attributes, they test the experience of living in the home.

Real value comes down to quality and quality of living space is achieved not with vast square footage or expensive finishes but with well-functioning spaces that work and make the occupants’ lives as comfortable and pleasant as possible. A large house with a small kitchen that has no connection to the garden or living space, for example, will have less value than a much smaller home with a fantastic kitchen and living space.

Outdoor space is important now too. It is important to make sure that the main living space integrates well with the garden and not to compromise your garden if you are planning to build an extension.

If you are adding extra space, think about the impact it will have and make sure it does not compromise the existing layout or the amount of natural light coming into your home. Think about whether you need the additional space – do you need a fifth bedroom? Should you prioritise living space over multiple empty guest bedrooms?

As with any investment, make sure that whatever you do, you love it, and it works for you. That way you will be adding to your quality of life – and to the house’s appeal for prospective buyers when the time comes to sell.

Denise O’Connor is an architect and design specialist