By Neil Turner, Director, Howarth Litchfield
It can be daunting for an owner of an older house or listed property to know how to approach updating a house. Some people say, ‘live in a house for a while’ whilst others will say, ‘just get on and adapt it!’ In both cases, however, preparation and anticipation are key.
People have always adapted dwellings to meet changing needs. In recent years the cost of moving has meant more people are looking to alter houses rather than moving up or down the property ladder. Over the years, I have seen many horrible and inappropriate extensions and alterations to houses.
I have worked on many houses, large and small, and I would advise on some key tips to having a successful project.
Firstly, understand what you have already in terms of the style and architecture of your house. Houses from different centuries or even decade by decade will have features and forms that could (or should) be worth retaining or re using. It’s so easy to simply remove or damage an element of the house without appreciating its value. If the house is listed look carefully at what makes the house listed and what cannot be altered or where opportunities lie.
If you are buying or already own your home, having a building survey to understand the physical build up of the house and the condition is important. A RICS surveyor can do a variety of homebuyer or condition surveys, which will inform you on every aspect from the electrics to damp and structural issues.
Get an architect in for a consultation to review your house and discuss your initial thoughts and ideas. Don’t be afraid to sketch some rough drawings, as they can be really helpful. Many people feel inhibited when they invite a professional in – don’t be. Get out your felt tips and doodle away! It’s great to see a client drawing and helps me massively to understand their thoughts.
One of the challenges for an architect is visiting a house for the first time and being asked for initial ideas. It’s always great fun to experience a building, so whilst I look at the physical form and its materials, my visit is about experiencing the building. I will ask myself a number of key emotional questions such as where does the light come in? What is the orientation? Is there noise from a road? Is there a great view already – or could there be a view that is not currently taken advantage of?
A house should have a soul and give an emotional response, as well as solving practical issues of living, storing our possessions and keeping us dry. So, I try to understand how a person lives in a house and which spaces are at the heart of the house.
Once you have found your architect, give them an idea of your budgets and ambition. After that you are ready to embark on an exciting journey.
With the right early advice, you can plan and create your house plans and gain cost advice on how much it is all likely to cost. It might not be as straight forward as you imagined as you navigate planning, costing and builders – but have faith and determination. Most people don’t regret it and even do it all again. Then it’s time for you to sit back and enjoy the final result.
Neil Turner, Director, Howarth Litchfield can be contacted on 0191 3849470 or email n.turner@hlpuk.com
www.howarthlitchfield.com
