New Year 2021

So what’s going to be new for 2021 …
Well, the main differences, for properties, are likely to be that there would be office/working space provided or included. This would enable home working to be undertaken effectively/efficiently.

Buyers are likely to buy homes with more space for home working and existing owners are likely to seek space within the home, whether extending or providing a loft conversion or internal alterations to create more usable space for home working.

New homes are likely to be constructed to include an ‘office’ room or perhaps the dining room will become obsolete and replaced as the office.

Will work from home be the usual, only come to the office if necessary ..

Space to work at home

This might be a good time to consider investing in your home to provide a permanent and suitable space, within the house or garden area, to enable all the family to be able to efficiently work or learn from home, as this could be the future. Extensions and loft conversions can be constructed, room dividing walls removed, to provide more useful open-plan space.

Victorian terrace extension

If you are considering adding a ground floor single-storey extension to the rear of an existing end or mid-terrace, perhaps Victorian period, house perhaps consider something other than a plain looking extension.

How about something quite different, like this to provide space and add value. Please contact us to see how you could achieve this.

Buying a new home?

An article in The Times mentions ‘desktop’ valuation surveys, where the mortgage provider is really only assessing the property’s suitability for mortgage purposes. This would not provide the buyer with any indication of the condition of the property.
Having a full structural survey would provide the buyer with a proper assessment of the building structure and indicate any necessary structural remedial repairs.

If you were purchasing a car it would be advisable to have a vehicle inspection undertaken by a mechanic. So if you were purchasing a property, a house or bungalow perhaps, it would seem even more necessary to request a full structural survey and report by a Chartered Civil or Structural Engineer CEng MICE or CEng MIStructE

Extensions and Alterations

Building an extension or undertaking some alterations can add some much needed family space and, of course, would add value to your property.
An extension could be added to the rear or the side, or a loft conversion to use the space in the attic. Alterations could include the removal of a Ground Floor wall to provide a larger and open Kitchen/Dining area.
Planning Permission and Building Regulations Approval should be obtained.

Kitchen refurbishment – open-plan Kitchen/Dining area

Subsidence

The summer of 2018 was long and hot. Unfortunately, shallow concrete strip foundations can be susceptible to movement due to the shrinking and swelling of clay subsoil, especially if there are trees in close proximity.

This movement can cause subsidence and cracking to occur within the walls of older properties.

If cracking does occur, a professional Chartered Civil or Structural Engineer should be consulted to undertake a survey assessment and provide a written report.

How to add space without hastle

The Times has just released an article, in Bricks and Mortar, regarding the extended permitted development rights that David Cameron introduced in 2013 under the Larger Home Extension Scheme.

The scheme extended the permitted development parameters for single-storey rear extensions in England, freeing homeowners from having to apply for full planning permission, which costs £206 for a domestic project.

The size limits are 8m in length for a detached house and 6m for a semi-detached house or terrace, depending on the previous extensions. The maximum height allowed is 4m, depending on the distance from the boundary.

The scheme is scheduled to come to an end on May 30th 2019. It might be worth thinking about taking advantage of the scheme before it’s too late.

Simple Design Services – Partnership

From the beginning of April – Simple Design Services Limited has now become a Partnership, for legal purposes, as plainly – Simple Design Services.

The expertise will remain the same. However, the customer or client will now benefit from an even more economical and affordable service.