Lime plaster, Mangalore tiles and the rain tree in the garden. What we learned selling The Lavelle Bungalow.
Bengaluru's old bungalows are disappearing at a rate of a few dozen a year. The ones that survive are usually the ones whose owners restored rather than rebuilt.
Keep the bones
The verandahs, the high ceilings and the deep walls are why these houses stay cool without air conditioning. Modern additions work best when they sit lightly beside them.
Upgrade what you cannot see
Wiring, plumbing and the roof structure should all be new. Buyers will pay a premium for a heritage home only if it lives like a new one.
Value
Well-restored bungalows on Lavelle Road have sold at a 15-20% premium to comparable plots sold for redevelopment.
The Noirvale letter
One considered email a month: new homes before they list, and notes like this one.
