Three ways to increase the value of your home

Three pieces of work do more for a London house than anything else. That is true whether you are selling soon or building equity to stay. Here is what each one gives you. Here is what each one asks of the building.

1. A basement conversion

A basement is the only direction left. That is when the plot is fixed and the roof is already converted. Converting or excavating one adds floor area without changing the elevations. It takes the rooms that do not need daylight. These include a cinema, a gym, a utility room, plant or storage. That frees the floors above for bedrooms and living space. That is the real gain.

It is also the most disruptive work you can do to an occupied house. It is the most technically demanding too. Read the ten checks worth making before appointing anybody.

2. A loft conversion

A loft gives you a whole floor without changing the footprint. That is usually a bedroom, a bathroom and sometimes a study. It is typically the least expensive way to add floor area. That is because the roof and the walls are already there.

Two decisions decide whether it works. One is where the new stair lands. It takes space from the floor below. The other is how much head height survives. That is once the insulation and the structure are allowed for.

3. A kitchen extension

The kitchen is the room the ground floor is planned around. Extending it changes how the whole floor works rather than just adding to it. Open-plan layouts with proper storage and good appliances are what most buyers want.

Where the glass goes matters more than how much of it there is. This is because a badly glazed extension makes the original kitchen darker.

Our own construction rates for all three are published. You will find them in the NU Build Cost Calculator. You can work out the number before you speak to anybody.

For more information, call us on 020 7731 6841. Or tell us about the house. We reply the same day.