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How extensions add value

Adding an extension in the current uneasy market can increase the value of your house, says a new study

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Thatching guidelines have been relaxed as thatching straw doubles in price

With homeowners losing confidence right now and wanting to make the most of their homes, they might want to listen advice from their local estate agents.

* Read more about extensions and conversions

According to a recent survey, 92% of estate agents quizzed by the National Association of Estate Agents agree that adding an extension can add potential and increase the value of a property.

Yet, when the agents were requested to choose the which ways in particular add value, 41% believed the best approach is to add an extension, followed by 17% favouring the installation of a new kitchen.

The least effective methods when it comes to adding value are upgrading the exterior of a home (4%) and creating a conservatory or glass extension (4%).

The NAEA’s chief executive Peter Bolton-King says, ‘In the current market, it is understandable home sellers are keen to try anything to increase the value of their home. For this reason, a well planned and built extension that creates an additional open living space could potentially increase the value of a property.

‘However, you must bear in mind that the average price of property in the local area will dictate the maximum price your property can achieve. It is worth researching the local area first and familiarizing yourself with what types of property sell best.’ * Read more about extensions and conversions

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Country Life is unlike any other magazine: the only glossy weekly on the newsstand and the only magazine that has been guest-edited by HRH The King not once, but twice. It is a celebration of modern rural life and all its diverse joys and pleasures — that was first published in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year. Our eclectic mixture of witty and informative content — from the most up-to-date property news and commentary and a coveted glimpse inside some of the UK's best houses and gardens, to gardening, the arts and interior design, written by experts in their field — still cannot be found in print or online, anywhere else.