A mother-of-two has transformed a 1970s house into a small ‘stately home’, increasing its value by £1.7m.
Designer Claire Totman bought the three-bedroom property with her mother for £875,000 in 2019, spending £460,000 and eight months creating an “elegant” and “timeless” home. It has now been valued at £2.6 million.
The 38-year-old, who runs her own design business, said she had a vision to rebuild the old building, which is still there but looks completely different.
Tottman, director of Clare Tottman Design from Weybridge, Surrey, extended the sides, rear and roof to create four large bedrooms and an additional reception room.
She says, “The original house is still there. People think it’s new construction. Our style is classic and traditional, but with a modern twist. Elegant and timeless. “It’s transcendent.”
“We don’t follow trends because trends are trends.”
Totman has had a lifelong interest in design and started her own business in the summer of 2016.
She had helped her mother design three of her previous homes, but had a big vision when she bought Sandaker home off-market in October 2019 for £875,000.
She said: “The original house is from 1972. There was only one owner. It’s on a large lot. You look at it and you have a vision in your head. You think about what you need to accomplish.”
She began renovations in February 2020, maintaining the original house structure, extending the rear and sides, replacing windows and adding a porch, and replacing the roof structure to create livable space. Secured.
symbolic
Ms Totman spent £460,000 on all the renovations in 2020, but she said part of that was made cheaper thanks to owning her own design business.
The project, she says, resulted in “iconic” photos that attracted clients, “to come to you because this is what they want,” she says.
His mother Liz, 71, also “loves” the house. Furthermore, she added: “She really liked it, there’s a lot of space for us to come.
“She’s one of the lucky baby boomers. She did well in property. She bought her first one for £6,000.”
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What home improvements actually add value?
If you want to increase the value of your home, there are many things you can do. But Property Mark says there are some easy wins that can add value before you come to sell.
These include:-
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Makeover
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Fix cosmetic imperfections like peeling paint or leaking faucets.
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Pay attention to the front door
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Tidy up the garden – especially the front
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Create a driveway or parking lot
Larger projects that add value are needed, such as loft conversions, greenhouse additions and garage conversions, the paper said, with figures showing that 22% of homes sold in 2019 had extensions added. It is shown.
By contrast, Property Mark says that while things like swimming pools may sound appealing, they are not popular additions to homes in the UK and may not recoup your investment.