'Individual' houses will be worth more

A housing expert has said only those properties with something unique to offer will attract premium bids over the next year.

The comments could lead to a rise in the number of enquiries about bespoke glazed extensions and conservatories.

Smiths Gore director Robert Pritchard was speaking in response to recent figures from Savills, which show property values in the south-east rose by 1.8 per cent in the second quarter of 2009.

He suggested there is likely to be a two-tier property market within the next 12 months.

"Ordinary housing, where it is competitively priced, will probably stay down and not see an awful lot in the way of a quantum leap or an improvement, but individual houses will distance themselves and move upwards," he said.

He concluded by explaining the increase noted by Savills did not come from a general rise in values, but from specific "smarter" properties.

With this in mind, those thinking of selling within the next few years may decide to take proactive steps towards improving their home.