How much for our flat?

With the very unsettled lifestyle we have, Michael and I are planning to move abroad eventually. We have contacted a couple of agencies to get a proper evaluation if we decide to rent it out.
We got in touch with Foxtons, Martyn Gerrard and Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward. I have never had to deal with any of them but they seem to be quite active locally.


We are meeting them in ten days. Any tips on how to pick the right letting agent for us?

Loft Conversion - weighing up our options

Our flat is located on the second floor of a three-storey building in a conservation area. On the second floor are three bedrooms, a small living-room, a kitchen, a bathroom and two large cupboards in the corridor. We have a loft on the third floor which we are looking to renovate. At the moment, we can only access it with a ladder and have only used it as storage space. It is an old and dusty room with no windows.

We are still discussing what we'll do. We have narrowed it down to three main options.

Option 1: Master bedroom + small bathroom
Option 2: Large office + home cinema area
Option 3: Open-plan kitchen + living-room

With Option 1, we will have to comply with fire regulations. Option 2 is probably the easiest one and is ideal for people like us who work from home and can have their own space during the day. Option 3 is the most ambitious but would allow us to turn the living room and kitchen downstairs into an ensuite bedroom.

Success Story #1: Turning a Chapel into a family home

After spending 5 years in a rented flat where they didn't feel at home, my sister Claire and her husband were looking to buy. They acquired a chapel and its presbytery on the outskirts of Paris. They turned the set into their new family home.

At first, half of their friends admired their vision and tenacity; the other mocked the quirkiness of the project. For sure, hardly anyone really believe they would achieve anything.

One year later, the chapel has become a large living room with very high ceilings. They created an extra level for the master bedroom that joins with the presbytery. It includes three bedrooms for the children on the same level, and a big kitchen on the ground floor.

To go up and down, they customised an industrial set of stairs that are usually used in factories.

I will post pictures as soon as I can.

Lesson 1: Don't be afraid of your ideas
Lesson 2: Being a bit eccentric isn't always expensive
Lesson 3: Think "custom-built" (windows, bookcases, doors)
Lesson 4: Ikea for basics
Lesson 5: Don't be afraid of colors (light purple walls in the living-room, red in the master bedroom)
Lesson 6: How about glass windows indoors?