Most properties have it. A property’s ‘potential’ lies in its flexibility to adapt to buyers’ changing circumstances. Potential is often right under our noses but occasionally needs to be unlocked by someone with the vision and practical experience to make the best use out of space. Renovation is an increasingly popular option for many buyers. Refurbishment-based TV programmes have fed this trend and the proposed relaxation of permitted development rights will only increase the numbers of people looking to enhance properties. Not everybody wishes to extend or renovate a property immediately, but the majority of buyers today recognise that it is better to own a home with potential than one without it.

The premise of the fast, good value service offered by Potential etc... is that we require plans and photos of your existing house before we start work. You may have these in the form of floorplans from estate agent particulars, as part of a historical planning application or within your deed pack. A search of the Council's planning database for similar neighbouring properties is another way of finding a floorplan. Failing that, we can put you in contact with a surveying company to come and measure up and produce new plans. It will be beneficial for us to have additional photos of your house in its context (showing neighbours' houses and extensions). Sometimes we may ask you to provide us with a dimension or two, all in the name of designing the best and most pragmatic scheme.

You might be surprised to hear that this is not critical. With the above information provided and using our residential design experience, we can understand a property very well without actually visiting. By offering this remote service we are able to keep the costs down in comparison to the cost of hiring an architect in the traditional way. Most of the case studies shown on the website were produced without a site visit.

Payment is due upon booking of service. Payment is by BACS bank transfer or cheque (by arrangement).

Potential etc... can produce a scheme design based on your needs. Because designing to a brief/wishlist is more complex and time consuming the costs are higher than the service we offer for home sellers.

Yes. You can request additional perspective images of spaces that you think are key for communicating how the house can be altered. The cost for an additional image is £150.

If it is your garden that lets your property down, we offer a garden design concept service. The work is carried out by trained landscape designers, who can produce a proposed garden plan and an accompanying sketch to show how it can be transformed. Please contact us for more information.

No. While I all have many years of experience at running building projects from start to completion, Potential etc... specialises in the early design stages of a project. Many clients take Potential etc... concept designs to local architects/architectural technicians/surveyors in order to progress the project.

The scheme, plan and costings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to substitute formal, detailed plans and costings provided by the relevant professionals. This does not constitute a contract. All recommended alterations are subject to the appropriate planning and building regulation consents. Drawings are based on existing plans by others and are therefore unverified.

• Maximise your sale price. The market will be opened up to people who find it difficult to see the potential of your property to suit their specific needs. By demonstrating the flexibility of your property, you will attract wider interest and increase the likelihood of competing bids and an optimum sale price. • Sell faster. The property will appeal to a larger audience, increasing the chance of receiving an early offer and reducing the time you have to show your home. • Increased security of sale. Interested parties will be able to take the scheme to builders and planning departments for initial costings and opinions, allowing them to proceed quickly and confidently with their purchase. Having buyers with their eyes wide open will minimise the possibility of you losing the home of your dreams if the chain collapses if buyers renege on their offer.

Many people debate whether to refurbish their house before they sell in order to maximise the sale value. This can range from changing a carpet, redecorating, or refitting kitchens/bathrooms. The dilemma with this approach is that the choice of carpet, bathroom, etc. might not be to the taste of the final buyer and could end up just being a big waste of money. We offer a compromise solution, costing much less than any of the above enhancements, and giving buyers the chance to look past the decoration and layout and to see how the house can be adapted for a different family size or living style. The scope of your home's possibilities may go well beyond what might be visualised by a potential buyer and help tip the balance in any sale.

Perhaps the easiest way to determine this is to ask yourself if you think it is likely that someone will change your home once you have moved. The reality is that what may have been the perfect home for you, might not be for your final buyer, even if you have recently done work to the property. Humans are by design organic, and spaces need to be adapted to their needs. If you can illustrate this to a buyer, you have opened up your home to a greater audience.

Most prospective buyers look for potential in a property, even if they are not currently thinking of undertaking building work, so they'll appreciate you taking the initiative to demonstrate that potential to them. They will be able to better visualise how your house can meet their current and future needs.

Your property is in competition with every other property currently on the market. Potential etc… provides affordable, high quality, bespoke design with a convenience and innovation that gives you the advantage in the housing marketplace.