Should I Invest in a Conservatory?

Should I Invest in a Conservatory?

One of the most popular home improvements of recent decades is the conservatory. Adding a conservatory can give you additional sitting, living or dining space, but with the average cost of a conservatory at around £22,000, it is not a purchase decision that can be taken lightly.

Additional Space

If your prime reason for adding a conservatory is to give extra living space, then the answer is probably that it is better to invest in a conservatory rather than moving to a larger home. Although your conservatory may cost £22k, the selling fees, legal fees and stamp duty costs of moving alone could be £10k. Add to that the cost of buying a bigger house and increased mortgage payments and it can be a much more economical option to stay where you are and make your home bigger instead. Just adding a conservatory for the sake of having bigger living space in an already spacious home is not as justifiable in a financial sense, and may not add any value to your home, especially where the conservatory does not have a defined use and is just one of many similar living spaces.

Evaluate the Alternatives

Although most people immediately think of a conservatory when it comes to extending a house, take time to think about whether a traditional brick built extension would be a better offer. A standard extension can give more flexibility of use; a glass conservatory is not appropriate for using as a bedroom for example. The average cost of a single storey extension on the side or the back of the house is around £30,000 which is 50% more than the average conservatory but you should also balance cost against how you will use the room in the future. There are some additional costs when it comes to extensions as in many cases you will have to go through the planning process and have the work signed off by Building Control, which is not the case with most conservatories.

Don’t Scrimp

The main complaint people have about their conservatories is that they are too hot in summer and too cold in winter, and they are therefore very limited as to the times of year when they are a useable room. Radiators can be easily fitted in conservatories to keep them cosy through the winter months, and it is worth spending extra on special glass with insulating properties which will help to regulate the temperature, whatever the time of year. One thing which many homeowners forget to add into the overall cost is blinds, and these really are essential to avoid feeling as if you are living in a greenhouse. Made to measure blinds for a standard sized conservatory come in at around £2000.

Adding Value

With the property market finally starting to move again, one of the major benefits of adding a conservatory to your home is that it will add value to your property. Experts estimate that the average conservatory can add7% to the value of your property, or £17,500 onto the price of a £250,000 house. Although you might not recoup all of your investment, especially if you go for a larger or more expensive style of conservatory, you should get a large proportion of the investment back if you decide to sell up at some point in the future. The decision will be different for developers who are trying to do up properties for a quick sale, as the outlay is unlikely to be worthwhile.

Shop Around

If you’re prepared to drive a hard bargain and do some haggling in the showroom, investing in a conservatory can become even more cost effective. Never get quotes from just one company; ask at least three to provide quotes on similar conservatories for comparison and to make sure you are getting the best deal. Consider buying an ex-display conservatory, or buying up bankrupt or surplus stock from one retailer and having it installed by someone else. Offering to let the installer use your conservatory on their brochures or website may gain you another reduction, and consider using 0% finance to pay for your conservatory which will enable you to spread the cost over up to three years.