Poorly Built Conservatories Could Affect Property Value
How old is your conservatory? If it was built in the early 2000s, chances are it was a quick job that wasn’t done with care or consideration. These dated designs and energy inefficient add-ons could potentially reduce the value of your property by up to £15,000. Warnings from estate agents come as more people are realising how damaging an old conservatory can potentially be.
Conservatory Boom
There was an incredible boom in the conservatory era in the 2000s, and homeowners were eager to extend their homes for a fraction of the price of a proper extension. Without planning permission, conservatories are seen as a great investment for maximum payoff. However, 20 years on, these original builds are now considered extremely dated and energy inefficient.
Crunching the Numbers
The majority of homebuyers will turn their nose up at something so dated, and the number of people looking for a conservatory has fallen considerably. Rightmove revealed that the number of homes being sold with conservatories dropped by 52% between 2012 and 2022. With more younger buyers coming into the market, many of them are put off by conservatories.
The main issue with older, poorly built constructions is that they are often too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, which makes them virtually useless. This waste of space could then devalue your home by up to £15,000. Even dated designs can put buyers off, as first impressions count.
The Problem With Poor Conservatories
A lot of the time, buyers will have their own vision in mind for their new home. Seeing a conservatory that doesn’t complement the style of the home is enough to put a buyer off because they’ll want to get rid of it, which isn’t cheap. To demolish a conservatory, you’ll have to pay at least £2,000.
Homeowners and home buyers are more conscious than ever of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of a home. Energy inefficient extensions are not viewed upon well because they’ll end up costing a lot to heat and use. Without planning permission, proper heating cannot be installed, which causes prices of use to go up.
Chris Hodgkinson, Managing Director of House Buyer Bureau, believes there is an upside. While the pitfalls of a poorly built conservatory can be as damaging as causing the value of your home to plummet by £15,000, one that’s well-built can add 5%. On a £350,000 house, this can be £17,500.
Update Your Conservatory
More people are looking for extensions rather than conservatories, as they allow for better control over placement and what you can do with them. However, there are ways you can improve your existing conservatory if it doesn’t fit the bill. An energy efficient conservatory could only be a replacement roof away. By replacing glass panels with proper roof tiles, you can keep more heat inside during the winter and prevent as much coming in during the summer.
Remember, just because a poorly built conservatory can devalue a home, it doesn’t mean that a modern, energy efficient one will. As long as it doesn’t negatively impact heating costs, is a perfectly serviceable room throughout the year, and suits the style of your home, the value of your property can only go up.
Are you in the market for a conservatory, or are you looking to upgrade your existing version? Get a tailored quote by clicking on the button below to find out how much you’d pay.