A well-designed conservatory has a high return on investment.
How much value does a conservatory add?
Exactly how much value a conservatory adds obviously depends on the quality of the conservatory and the type of location of the property. A study by Towergate Insurance suggests that a conservatory adds around five per cent to the value of a property, compared with the 15 per cent uplift generated by a loft conversion.
Here are a few tips on how to ensure that a conservatory adds value to your property.
Conservatory Size
A general rule of thumb is that the larger the conservatory, the more value it adds to the home. This is simply because the value of the project is based on a multiple of the square footage of the new addition.
Another factor is the usability of the space. A small sunroom that barely holds two chairs isn’t going to be attractive to most people. A room large enough to serve as a mudroom, playroom or entertaining area makes it more useful and thus valuable to home buyers.
At a minimum, ensure that you can have a table, several chairs and ample room to manoeuvre in the conservatory.
Functionality
FunctionalityIf you want to know how a conservatory can add value to your property, think about all the ways you could use it. If the sunroom is simply an enclosed porch, you’re able to appreciate the sunset without the bugs.
However, if that’s all you can do, it isn’t going to add much value to your home. If it has electric lights, electrical power outlets, heaters and other amenities like any other room in the house, then it can serve as just another room in your house. That adds more value to your home since a future home buyer could use it as an office, guest room, playroom or dining area.
Consider how the design affects its usability. For example, large windows that can be opened to let air in giving you more options than large permanently closed windows. Think about the floors, too.
For example, tile or wood floors are more stylish than a concrete floor that looks like you enclosed your patio. Elegant floors invite people to use the space to sit and talk, exercise or serve drinks.
Seasonality
Sunrooms can be classified by how many seasons you can use them. A three-season sunroom lacks a heat source to make it comfortable in the winter, though it may have a fan. It also tends to be made from cheaper materials than four-season sunrooms that are a de facto addition to the home. If the conservatory can be used year-round, it will have more value than the one you can only use when the weather is nice – and you might as well go outside.
Local Building Trends
One factor that determines the value of any home upgrade is how common it is in the area. For example, a three-bedroom one bath home is valued at less than surrounding homes with two bathrooms though they may have the same floor space. The community norms set the expectation. If conservatories are common in an area, you’ll get more for the addition than in areas where it is unusual.
How much does a conservatory cost?
The costs of conservatory extensions depend on the type of sunroom you choose. For example, lean-to conservatory could be from £6,000, whereas orangery extensions could range between £14,000 to £50,000.
The type of sunroom you choose increases your property’s value. Should you go with a conservatory or an orangery? The benefits of building a conservatory are the price and time-frame. However, the orangery can add more overall value to your property.