This may sound a bit strange? Why would you talk to an interior designer when you haven’t even found your home? Well, it is for a good reason.
Most of the times I get involved in my client’s project when they have started planning their renovation or decoration, if it is a new build home. That is usually what happens.
What this means is that they are already committed to some limitations that the property has. There is no property without limitations. Some properties have more potential for alteration than others, which is not a problem, as long as you are aware of these.
In most house buying community groups people share pictures of floor plans of homes they have just bought or are willing to buy, asking each other about whether a wall could be removed or not, whether a house could be extended or not.
While these are valid questions, it is not always about the size. However, it is always about the right floor layout, the amount of storage and the minimum and optimum space for every day activities and activities that depend on your lifestyle.
And space comes at a premium these days, especially in and around big cities where you can only fit in a bed in a double bedroom and there is no space for anything else. And don’t get me started on the 3rd room of an average UK 3 bed house!
Everyone knows that the three most important thing when buying a property is location, location, location. Well, yes, that is something I cannot help you with, I’m afraid. But beyond that, it is always wise to book an hour-long appointment with an interior designer and talk through the floor plan and photographs of the properties of your choice to see which
Can accommodate your lifestyle the best
Can be altered with the smallest expense
Which could be the perfect place for you with spending a bit more
Which would require a major renovation/extension
A consultation like this only cost you £90 but can save you thousands in the future. Do you think it is worth the money? I think it certainly is!
So here are some examples that are often overlooked and my clients face unexpected problems when they contact me after buying their new dream home.
1. Have a large, beautiful, newly refurbished bathroom – but the only access is through the kitchen.
Errr… well this may not be a huge problem if you live alone, but in any other case it will become an annoyance. How about if you have guests for a dinner party? Now, this is not something that cannot be changed, but the cost will be high and you already paid for someone else refurbishing that bathroom, which now goes to waste.
2. The only bathroom is downstairs, while all the bedrooms are upstairs
Again, there are bigger problems in the world, but are you really prepared to live this way for long years to come? If the answer is yes, then it is fine. But you have to think twice.
3. You are looking for a two-bedroom home, but the second bedroom is too small for what you want to use it for.
What is too small? Are you sure it is too small? Do you think it is big enough? How do you know? Could it be made bigger? If you don’t have the answers, I promise you I do! I know what questions to ask to help you find out.
4. There is no hallway whatsoever.
Well, this is a big one for me. And this is something I keep experiencing in new build homes, as well as Victorian houses. I don’t get it. Who designs these houses? Do they not have shoes and coats and bags and keys and letters to drop off when they get home?
How do you get the kids ready to leave? Do you keep your coats in your bedroom? I honestly do not know the answer to these questions, but you have to ask these questions for sure. If there is a tiny space, at least, I can advise you if it can be made work.
If there is absolutely no space, I can advise you if some adjacent walls could be moved to create space and how easy or difficult it would be. But it is too late to know that it is impossible once you have bought your home.
5. The size of the flat is the right size but the layout makes it feel much smaller or simply not functional.
This one is not always easy to spot and may times you only realise it doesn’t work for you when you have lived in your home for years. Usually, it starts with feeling a bit annoyed and uncomfortable. It feels like nothing has its own space. There are rooms or part of the rooms that doesn’t get used ever. It feels a bit too much effort to live in your home. There is no flow or homely feeling.
All the above are examples of the most common problems my clients face after buying a property. Why not face it before? An interior designer can ask you the right questions and can analyse the potential of the property accordingly.
This will give you the chance of an informed choice and you can make the right offer, knowing how much or how little work will be needed to turn the property into your dream home.
Contact me today and make the best investment for your future dream home.
Until later, x Agi
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