Date Published 06 November 2023
Whether you are selling your home or looking at properties to buy, the written descriptions you'll see are equally as important as the photos when it comes to marketing.
A good write-up will give you a feel of a property before you visit and can tell you much more about what living there would be like. However, there are some phrases often used by estate agents that can be confusing and one of these is the mention of 'flexible accommodation'.
Often this can give the impression of somewhere that is in some way unfinished or needs a great deal of work doing to it. In fact the opposite is usually true, as it's more to do with being able to create your own environment by making simple and straightforward changes.
So what does an estate agent actually mean when they use the phrase?
Daily life
The legendary architect and designer Le Corbusier famously wrote "a house is a machine for living in" and one of the ways to interpret that is to think of a home as being there to do what you want it to do.
For instance, in a 'three bedroom house' one of those designated rooms might easily be re-purposed as an office space, storage room or playroom. Likewise, a large open plan design could easily be changed to reflect the day to day needs of a family by installing movable or permanent separations.
For most properties there will usually be an element of 'changeability' that would cost little or nothing to put into effect. The only real challenges would be in a listed building or if the desired changes meant that buildings regulations or utility installation safety matters would need to be addressed.
Indoors and out
When it comes to being flexible there's no boundaries between indoors and outside. Having enough space for a 'garden room' can mean the opportunity to add a fully powered office, gym or simply another place to relax with some peace and quiet to your home. The installation of bi-fold doors to the rear of a property allows a seamless connection with a patio or terracing, while on the other hand the addition of a conservatory or orangery can provide a brand new room that could be used as a dining space.
Sometimes existing outbuildings offer the chance to be re-purposed into totally separate accommodation (STNC) giving you the opportunity to provide friends and family to stay or even a second AirBnB income stream.
Your home, your rules
Of course the idea of flexibility takes into account that things change throughout life. A growing family's needs will be different in the years to come. Health concerns may mean that certain aspects of home life will need adaptations which can be planned for, evolving work patterns might mean changes around the house too.
When someone is buying a new home they will be looking forward into the future and thinking about how things will be in the years ahead. Part of an estate agent's job is to help buyers make the right decisions and find the right match for the clients whose properties they are marketing.
That's why it's essential that communication is at the top of the list for all parties involved in a transaction. Everyone is looking forward to the next stage of their lives and planning for their future.
Talk to us and tell us what your needs are now and how you see them developing over time - we'll listen, learn and then help you future-proof your home life.
