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Anybody who regularly watches Grand Designs would conclude that what anyone with the wherewithal to build their own house wants is a striking piece of architectural design that is innovative and adventurous. But, as an estate agent, I generally find it far easier to sell a modern house that is classical in design than one that is a unique architectural masterpiece.
There is a logic to this, if you think about it. The modern era of the architect was during the ‘60s and ‘70s when they created anything from “streets in the sky” concrete tower blocks to split level living rooms and integral garages. These days, the tower blocks are steadily being demolished and houses from the ‘70s change hands at a significant discount to most other properties. A development of apartments near me that was designed in the Georgian style complete with wooden sash windows sold out very quickly. Another ultra modern one with glass walls and a zinc roof remains half empty a year after completion.
If you look back to the Georgian era, only the very wealthy employed an architect to design their home. Builders of more modest dwellings simply imitated the style of the grand manor houses in the area. The result was whole towns of graceful homes that loosely conformed to a single template. These houses are highly in demand today, attracting a premium of anything up to 25% depending on the area, and this is 200 years or more after they were built.
If you are buying a new build house I would suggest opting for something with a classical style rather than an outstanding piece of architectural design. You’ll find it a lot easier to sell on a few years down the line.
Estate Agent
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