Does building a conservatory add value to properties, or make them easier to sell?

Question

I live in a fairly small 3 bedroom house with my husband and 3 children. We could really do with more space, and we intend to try and buy a larger property in the nest 12 months. So i am wondering whether or not building a conservatory, while it would be fab for us to have some more living space now, would be a good or bad investment in a property we will be selling.

Any ideas from anyone who has had a conservatory built and then sold their home??

Answer 1

One bit of advice, check the ceiling for house prices in your area, it may be that you can't add further value by adding a conservatory. You can increase the living space if the design and planning is well thought out and it will always be a sellingg feature in the future. Lo xxx

Answer 2

Does A Conservatory Add Value

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Does building a conservatory add value to properties, or make them easier to sell?
I live in a fairly small 3 bedroom house with my husband and 3 children. We could really do with more space, and we intend to try and buy a larger property in the nest 12 months. So i am wondering whether or not building a conservatory, while it would be fab for us to have some more living space...

Answer 4

You may also need planning permission (English law - I don't know about other countries). Some people think that you can add on a conservatory without permission. If you (or a previous occupant) have already extended the house by a certain amount, then you may require pp. I once lived in a grade II listed house and we needed listed building consent too.
One of my friends recently put her new house (under 5 years old) on the market to sell it, and found that although her house was new and she had not made any other alterations to it, the size of the added conservatory came under planning regulations. She had to apply for retrospective planning permission before she could sell her house, which put the sale back by three months.
Check the regulations with your local council. depending on size (in proportion to existing house), you may not need pp. Local councils give you guides on how much more you can increase a house size by. Stay within those guidelines and you are usually ok.

I personally hate plastic windows, doors and conservatories, but that is completely to do with personal taste. However, now I'm looking to buy another property, I am not prepared to look at houses etc, that have lots of plastic, unless I have sufficient funds to 're-instate' windows etc in keeping with their period (I'd have them double/triple glazed).

So if I looked at a house with a plastic conservatory, I would not buy it unless I knew I could change it. That's maybe because I've lived in victorian, jacobean, tudor and georgian houses mainly.

If a conservatory adds valuable space and can been seen to work doing just that, then it's a possible advantage.

Several people here have already mentioned the risks of going over the locality ceiling price. It's important to keep that in mind. If you are thinking of adding one purely to add value (as your intention is to move anyway) I'd think carefully on that.

Answer 5

A conservatory is unlikely to add value to your property, although it may make your house more likely to sell. Generally speaking, adding a conservatory should be done in a manner that is tasteful, i.e. it should not clash with the house. An old house with a modern, white plastic conservatory simply would not look right. If you're going to use the conservatory, that's fine, but do not expect to recoup the expense when you sell.

Answer 6

yeah it would add value, if its a decent size and if its used as a purpose. Ive seen them been built so small, theres not really much point in it. also check with you council first to see whether you can actually build one, depending on where you live you some councils wont let you build one with out planning permission. be careful on who you get to do the work, don't have one done if a company phones or knocks your door and asks YOU if you want one (because there a right rip off!), look in your local directory and get a company that just does conservatories. try emailing an estate agent in your area and ask them about the value.

Answer 7

I added a conservatory onto my house about 5 years ago. It was the best thing I ever did, the extra room at a fraction of the cost of an extention.

I had my house valued at about 9-10 thousand higher than a similar property in my road.

Everyone who comes in comments on how great it is.

For me it gives a very versatile space eg dining room, playroom and an extra room to talk to friends.
We always have our family Christmas lunch in there, looks great all lit up !!

Answer 8

Yes it is an added feature that helps sell the house, but may not add as much to the value as it cost. I spent 8000 on a conservatory.. At most it added £5000 to the value,. But it may well be worth it in the short term for the extra room.

Answer 9

Very much depends on the price of houses in your area, have a look what other houses in your area are up for sale for and if they have made this improvement.

Your looking at between 8-15k for a conservatory, have you got the money for this investment? Or would you be better using this money and just moving house.

We have built a conservtory on our house and it has added 15k to the value of the house but it cost, after fittings fixtures decorating etc, approx 16k!! It doesn't matter to us as we have no intention of moving. It was a great investment for us as we now have a seperate dining room on what was a mediam sized 3 bed house.

Hope this helps

Answer 10

apart from acting property renovating is so interesting to me!! Like someone already said the ceiling price is very important to know, you dont want to be spending money for nothing!! It will also depend on what kind of area you live in eg if you live in an area with people who are never home then adding a conservatory will be useless whereas if you live in a family poulated area then maybe its a good move!! Asd with all decisions to do with propertyprices i suggest that you go nd see your local realestate agent!! Try and go to at least two different ones and find out the ceiling price of youre house in your area and also ask what adding a conservatory will do money wise!! they are the ones with the real answers!! Also seen as though ou are moving in the next 12 months mayve you can hold out from bulding it unless your in real need of space, then again maybe its just something you can live without!! good luck hope it helps