My good friend Carl (soon to become known as Carlos when he and the other Benidorm boys head off to Spain for a lads’ weekend) was recently bemoaning the fact that very few people have been to view the house he has for sale.

“It’s a lovely house,” he said, “I think people would really like it once they stepped inside – it’s a lot bigger than you think from just looking at it from the outside.”

That set us to thinking how quite often houses can be deceptive. So this week we thought we would look at homes that have been tastefully extended and look stylish and smart inside – and represent good value for money (you can’t say we don’t work hard on your behalf).

And, as Carl gave us the idea, we will start with his property – a four bedroomed house in a convenient location in Wilkinson Way, Strensall.

It’s a good spot for those with young children as it is, literally, just a short toddle away from the highly regarded Robert Wilkinson primary school (and in the catchment area for the equally respected Huntington comprehensive).

It’s a house which has been cleverly extended and offers plenty of space upstairs and down. On the ground floor, for instance, we have a big living room and a second reception room which has a lively contemporary look with wood-style laminate flooring and French doors opening on to the garden. There’s a smart breakfast kitchen with a good range of fitted units. Upstairs, the master bedroom has fitted wardrobes and an en-suite shower room and there are three other bedrooms and a house bathroom. An integral garage and gardens front and back complete the package for which estate agents Intercounty are seeking £219,500.

Our next spick and span extended home can be found down the road in Doriam Avenue, Huntington. It sits comfortably on a spacious corner plot and, handsome is as handsome does, is quite superb inside. There’s a very nice, very big (23ft), through living dining room with a bay window to the front and French doors opening out at the back (lots of lovely light!). There is then a superb dining kitchen which again has lots of space (23ft by 17ft) and a ground floor bathroom. Upstairs there were three bedrooms and a wonderful house bathroom with free-standing bath and separate shower cubicle. Outside there is a decking area and patio and lawned garden. Nicely extended, tastefully presented, this is another great value for money package. Ashtons are looking for £229,950.

Next we have a distinguished-looking extended traditional semi-detached in Grantham Drive, Holgate. Here there is a dining kitchen with a range of integral appliances including oven and hob, dishwasher and fridge. There is a living room with a feature mahogany surround fireplace housing a living flame gas fire with marble inset, a separate dining room and a downstairs cloakroom. Upstairs there are three decent sized bedrooms and a house bathroom. Outside a driveway provides off street parking and there is a private rear garden. This one is offered by Churchills at, again, a very reasonable price of £225,000.

Last, but not least, we have a very tastefully improved, extended bungalow in Elm View, off Stockton Lane. The basics here are that you have a sitting room and a kitchen with dining area, three bedrooms and a bathroom. What those basics don’t tell you, of course, is that the kitchen and dining room are delightful. They both have contemporary-style wood effect laminate flooring and coving and high skirting, that both rooms are light and airy and that the kitchen has a superb range of modern light wood faced units and integrated appliances. A good prospect from redmove, priced at £219,950.