[Closed] Any estate agents/ property valuers in the house?

Was reading yesterday the effects C19 has had on housebuying (apart from the obvious price drop) was people’s wants from a property have changed. Now having a garden is number 1 on the list. But also up there was a room they can work from whereas wanting a garage has slipped off peoples wish list.

From local experience (relatively new build estate) 4 houses have already converted their garages into a study or a kids playroom..so they obviously think so!

Depends on the make up of the house and how much space for cars you have.
If it’s a 3 bed semi with room for 2 cars without the garage yes.

If it’s 4 bed and/or parking space is already limited no.

Will someone please think of the bikes...

Then again, i’ve got one bike hanging in our “office” room, with the others in the garage.

A mate of my mine did this.

The garage was a modern one, so was effectively useless for keeping anything bigger than a 1970's Mini in. So was basically a store room.

However, it felt like a garage with a window in when he did convert it. Didn't "feel right" at all.

Not an estate agent but I would still want somewhere to store bikes and tools. If you have a decent garden and space for a secure shed then I’d quite like a study.

As mentioned, there are a lot of factors. It's not a simple yes/no. If it is financially viable I suspect it'll be marginal so you won't be able to go for a big spend conversion

I work with the rental sector rather than house buying. But looking to buy locally, and from friends recent buying experience, it depends what it leaves you with for storage. Space for a big shed in the garage? No problem.

A mate converted his integral garage/bike shed into an office a few years ago, and regrets it now. When I've been looking at properties to possibly move to, a garage is crucial, I've discounted a few properties because they've lost that useful storage space with easy outside access.

You could always convert 2/3 of it into a study/playroom and keep the rest as storage.
We've done this at our other place and it works very well.
Admittedly it's a second home so not quite as much need for storage but it's big enough for washing machine, drier, fridge freezer, shelves, the garden tools, couple of bikes, etc.

I wouldn't want anywhere that didn't have storage space.

I suspect you might add a bit more value to the house, but you reduce the number of people who would want to buy it.

Been looking at loads of houses lately as hoping to move soon. A good garage is a definite plus but they’re crap in most newer houses, and add little except a place to store boxes of crap (which is what the attic is for, surely😀). If that’s what you’ve got then a room conversion plus a decent sized/quality shed/workshop in the garden would make the property much more appealing to me.

Its a 4 bed detached with a double drive (so no parking issues) and large garden, lots of space for large sheds in the garden (already have 2). As someone has put above, the garage is too narrow for a car.

Thanks all for the advice/ experiences - keep them coming please

We've got a four bed detached and converted our garage which was just used for storage for a much larger kitchen. I know this is a different use from you but we had the space to build one of the log cabin garages the other side of the house and it just seems to work. We don't put a car in it but it's used to store tools/bikes etc. I can't see how converting your garage wouldn't add value tbh.

We are considering doing the same with our integral garage, we have plenty of space for a large shed in the garden and the extra room would be useful.

For those that have done the same, any idea of cost for an integral conversion? 4m x 2.6m, suspended (bison) floor required, door out/ window in and boarding/lining etc

We have just done ours. It was finished just before the lockdown. Converted to make a larger kitchen and utility room. The ceiling was lofted and vellum windows installed. We didn't want a window where the garage door was so had that single storey part of the house clad in cedar. It is a fairly old property so there is a nice contrast between the cedar and the old red brick. A mate is an estate agent and I asked him and he seemed to think it would add value as people look for a large kitchen and we have added bike storage in the garden. We have no parking, driveway or even front front garden nd live on a narrow lane and have to park parallel to the house to allow the neighbours past. Overall it has made a huge difference to the house and how we live in it

I d speak to local agents good ones will know the market.

're current valuations I see new instructions appearing daily at last year plus 10% prices, with near zero interest rates and a recession looming seems a bit optimistic.

Saw a trade report suggesting prices in April were 11% down on April '19, but way too early to make any proper view

A cheap shonky conversion may not add any value. A really good conversion might, but not necessarily by as much as was spent in the conversion.