The housing market can go up or down, but there will always be an interest in properties that require renovation work. No matter the climate, enhancing an existing property can be a strong investment and the ROI can be far greater if renovations are completed professionally and to a high standard. This is especially true if you live in London where property and land is in ever higher demand.

Of course, buying a home that requires renovation work is a risk. But it’s sometimes a risk worth taking. Even if you just want to add a minimal side return extension or make some simple improvements inside, you don’t want to miss the boat to add real value to your home. Considering the value of UK properties today, it’s a good idea to choose your architect carefully.

This is where house purchase advice comes in. By working with professional and experienced architects like XUL Architecture, you can ascertain the key factors that could impact your property. Here is a selection of the main benefits for people who invest in pre-purchase advice:

The Benefits

Proximity to neighbours

Owning land or property doesn’t mean you can plan and carry out renovation projects according to your wildest dreams. The way the law works is a little more complicated and there’s several practical issues to consider. For example, your neighbours can contest a house extension on several grounds. Pre-purchase advice addresses topics such as the length you can extend, the direction of the extension and whether you’re likely to need planning permission. Most of all, it helps eliminate much of the uncertainty around your project.

Planning history

Pre-purchase advice uncovers features that can help inform the design. The property’s, or indeed the area’s, planning history is a prime example since buildings that have already been extended or remodelled may have a better chance of securing planning permission. As a result, using a pre-purchase service is a great way of preparing your application and submitting a design that has the highest odds of success.

Building restrictions

A pre-purchase service can work out if your home is a listed building or if it is set within a conservation area, and what considerations need to be taken into account. While there can be stricter rules for listed properties, it is still possible to restore and refurbish, and sometimes extend, depending on the specific restrictions in your area. It can often be useful to work with an architect when you begin to discuss these restrictions with a local authority, to help negate any doubts and show you’re working with a professional who knows what they’re doing.

Tax breaks

Tax is something that you may not realise an architect can offer advice on, but pre-purchase advice can highlight the areas where you stand to make the most money from a renovation.

Property orientation

Sunlight is crucial to creating spaces that are filled with natural light and that can improve your mood and mental health. A quick analysis of the building and the land will highlight to an architect whether there are problems, such as large trees or protruding hedges and shrubs in the way. They can create a sun path diagram and work out where your home will get the most light. Assessing the amount of sunlight a property receives is also helpful if you plan on installing solar panels to supplement the cost of energy and lower your carbon footprint. Pre-purchase advice will measure the orientation of a property and gauge its suitability for renewable energy.

The flow of the house

How you move through a house can have a big impact on how you feel in a space. It can be hard to put your finger on why something doesn’t work for you, but often it might come down to the flow of a space and how different spaces work together to create a seamless experience. This is because poor flow makes simple actions more complicated, from cooking in a small, cramped kitchen to moving around a compartmentalised living room. With pre-purchase pointers, an architect can help show you the features which are essential and those that can be removed or adapted to enhance the flow of your home. Sometimes, it’s as straightforward as remodelling the layout, and other times extending the home can create the space you so very much need.

Value potential

The final reason to invest in pre-purchase advice is often the one that homeowners find the most important. Considering that the average person moves eight to ten times in their life, it pays to think about your overall investment. The market can change suddenly, so there are never any guarantees, yet a pre-purchase service calculates local sale prices and development plans to highlight which renovations will leave you with the best return on investment.

Get honest advice before signing on the dotted line

At XUL Architecture, we are happy to offer our customers pre-purchase advice without any obligation or strings attached. We want to provide reassurance and honest expertise, and give you the chance to double-check if moving forward is really the right choice for you. If you’re considering purchasing a property and want to work out its full potential, get in contact with our team to discuss your options.

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