Country homes ripe for conservatories

Owners of houses in the country could be in for a shock this year after a property expert tipped country home values to fall by up to 15 per cent.

Primelocation.com chief executive Mark Milner explained that the financial situation has caused a reality-check for many city slickers with country getaways.

"City job losses, for example, will mean there will be country properties coming on to the market from movers looking to downsize or move closer in to the city," he said.

"Second homeowners will also be hoping to sell their homes to release capital.

"Our agents also report that country vendors are becoming more realistic with pricing."

While this is bad news for those looking to sell their propert, it could give those planning on staying the impetus to improve their home to boost its value in the future.

Country homes are ideally positioned for conservatories in that they can offer stunning vistas and have lots of room to expand.

Research from Knight Frank has found that cottage values dropped 17.9 per cent in the three months leading up to January 2009.

Farmhouses fell by a similar amount; a 15.6 per cent drop was noted between the start of September and the end of December.