Open day allows people to explore own grand designs
ADVICE on designing, financing, equipping, expanding, renovating or selling a property was on offer on Saturday when a home design open day gave islanders the chance to talk to an array of experts from local firms.
Organised by the Drawing Room, and taking place at its Baubigny offices, the event brought together representatives from several companies in one place.
With the organisers able to discuss the architectural side, Oracle was there to talk about finance while Collas Crill focused on the legal/planning side, the Little Green Energy Company on renewable energy, Savills on property
valuations, and Sensible Technologies was able to offer advice on home technology.
This was the first time such an event had been held and Drawing Room’s co-owner Rachel Rogers was pleased at the response.
‘We thought “Lets’ get all the industries together under one roof so people would have access to everything in one go”,’ she said.
‘No-one has done this before and it’s been quite successful.’
She said those who had attended had asked about having additional parking at their home, knocking down and rebuilding part of a property, renovations and extensions.
Those interested in design ideas were able to get a more detailed look at some by using a virtual reality system which had been set up upstairs.
Mrs Rogers was sure that the event would be repeated.
‘Next time we’ll get more people involved,’ she said.
The chances are a future happening could take place at Savills’ offices, said company director Nick Paluch. ‘We’ve offered up our space,’ he said.
People he had spoken do were thinking of how work could enhance the value of their property. ‘It’s good to think of what it’s worth now and what it would be worth in the end. We’ve had some really interesting conversations.’
Most of the queries had been from people looking to extend their homes, and the cost of building works.
Oracle was able to offer advice on financing work, with company director Conor Burke in attendance.
‘Borrowing from banks is getting more and more difficult and that’s where Oracle can step in,’ he said.
The company mostly dealt with small developments, valued at up to £1.5m.
He said the big concern at the moment were rising interest rates and even fixed-rate mortgages were being impacted by the changes.
‘Everybody’s doing fixed rates, but they’ve gone up – it’s fives and sixes [per cent] now but six months ago it was ones and twos.
‘It makes it more important to get independent advice.’
