Today, we were paid in cupcakes (unfortunately, none lasted long enough to take a picture; credit is due to Adobe Stock for the Image). Our clients had fallen in love with a beautiful Grade II listed property but were hesitant about making an offer. It was the perfect home for them, or at least it could be if they could make it work. They wanted this house to be their forever home, but they feared the potential restrictions that come with its listed status and what it could mean for their plans to divide the property to live next to their parents.
To achieve this, they'd need to reinstate a historic staircase, make some internal alterations and add a door to divide the property. However, with a listed building consent, planning, and building regulations approval to consider, the rules can be complex, and they didn't want to purchase the house only to discover that their vision was a non-starter after all.
We didn't come in with grand designs or complicated plans. Instead, we offered clarity at an early stage of a project, which, if we are honest, could never materialise. We guided them through what it would mean to adapt a listed building, explaining the processes, likely costs, and potential roadblocks.
Our approach was simple: provide honest advice rooted in experience. We reassured them that altering a non-original extension would likely be met with flexibility by heritage officers, giving them hope that their vision could become a reality.
The result? They left the meeting with a renewed sense of confidence in their vision and the purchase. We left the meeting with cupcakes and a happy client, knowing that we had helped them see the potential, and take one step closer to their dream home.
That once-blocked staircase proved to be the key to unlocking a new future for the family, and this was confirmed without a drawing in sight. Our role in this instance was simply to provide the confidence our client's needed to make an offer.