People looking to sell their home often look at installing a conservatory as a quick way of increasing the value of their property. It is true that, yes, conservatories can make all the difference when selling a home, however, it is imperative to choose correctly to maximize the potential profit to be made.

Do Your Homework

There is no point shelling out for a conservatory to entice buyers if there is little or no potential increase in the value of your property. Through research of your local property market you should be able to weigh the cost of installing a conservatory against the ceiling sale price that similar property is achieving in your area. Of course, a benefit in the investment of a conservatory is that you are able to utilise the space whilst your house is on the market. It is then also worth thinking about even if you have no immediate plans to sell.

When thinking about installing a conservatory for your house, you should take time to match the style of your house so that it does not appear as a separate structure but an organic extension of the original design. The better you can integrate the conservatory with the rest of the living space, the more value that it will add to your house. According to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors this could be as much as 5%.

Quality Speaks

Unless very cleverly disguised, people will be able to spot a cheap, poor quality construction that has been erected to try and sell the property. You should look for a renowned company that can give you a quality service and create something to last. You may also want to think about how you are going to use the conservatory and how this affects which shape, style and size to purchase.

Try not to clutter the space, as it is easy for the conservatory to be seen just as a storage room, but as an example, if you set the room out nicely with a laid out dining table, people will automatically start to associate the conservatory as a useable dining space and not just a table in a separate room. You may not have ever eaten in there yourself but suggesting practical ideas for the space will help with the selling process.

Design to Impress

Cohesion of colour and design between the conservatory and its adjoining room can help create a flowing space that works well. By using the same colour as your interior design for detailing, or the interior colour of the base, you can avoid your new investment detracting from your overall interior design.

As with the idea of selling a house, you do not want to impose your own taste too much on a prospective buyer, but hinting at uses can lead to getting your viewer thinking how they can use the space, which is exactly what you are trying to achieve. There are, of course, many functions that a conservatory can fill, from a lounge to maybe more adventurously, a games room with pool or football table. Getting the buyer to visualize themselves in the house here, is a firm step on the way to securing a sale.

External appearance must be taken into consideration when designing the conservatory. Planting and ornaments can be used to great impact of the style and exterior of the conservatory. Careful consideration should be taken into account when matching the bricks of the base of the conservatory with the houses original colour. To increase the sense of space, you may want to think about decking leading from the conservatory.

Stay cool

Due to building regulations, it is important to plan how you will regulate temperature both in summer and winter. Under floor heating is now a great alternative to more traditional heating methods and relieves the need for radiators to be on display. It also stops the typical problem encountered with radiators of the hot air rising into the roof and is therefore a more efficient and desirable feature.

Practical heating systems also help when it comes to selling the property as it can instantly dispel any thoughts a prospective buyer might have about conservatories being icy cold during the winter, or alternatively unbearably hot in the summer. Some people may be cautious about installing a conservatory, especially if their house is of a traditional style, and worried that the design will have a detrimental effect on the appearance and therefore value of their house.

This has been largely redressed with the advancement of new technologies and the recent wave of luxury conservatories in as many styles as there are houses. This is especially important for period homes - choosing the right company to install your conservatory can make a crucial difference. So whether you’re planning to sell or looking for an investment for the future that can be used today, make sure you choose carefully to ensure that you get the most from your money in the long term.

Dan Izzard is a freelance journalist and regular blogger. He blogs for David Salisbury Conservatories, who offer a fantastic timber conservatory range - a great way to improve the value of your home.