Conservatories good for period properties

Conservatories can prove an effective way of raising the value of a period property, it has been claimed.

A spokesperson for home renovation supply firm B&Q explains that tearing out existing period features can damage the worth of a structure.

But conservatories and kitchen extensions are among the ways in which the property may be improved, she says.

"Most home improvements will enhance the resale value of your home, but some are more profitable than others," the spokesperson comments.

"Installing a kitchen, bathroom or conservatory is likely to pay for itself in added market value."

Meanwhile, increasing the amount of light entering a property is also recommended as a good home improvement technique.

The news follows figures published by financial services provider Halifax based on its 2007 Home Improvement Survey.

More than half (58 per cent) of respondents said they had completed home improvements in the previous year, with one in four claiming this would add more than £5,000 to the price of their home.