Key things you need to know before extending your property
Online searches for ''house extension'' steadily increased in 2020. During the pandemic, when lockdown made us all stay inside our homes, many realised that our homes were too small.
Online searches for ''house extension'' steadily increased in 2020. During the pandemic, when lockdown made us all stay inside our homes, many realised that our homes were too small.
Of course, there is the option to move, but many people don't want a new house; they want the same house with more room.
Since the pandemic, inflation has dramatically increased the cost of everything. However, property extensions are still proving to be very popular.
Builders are booked up with work 2-3 years in advance. Architects are busy furiously drawing plans, and planning departments are understaffed and overworked, meaning they're asking for extensions of time for decisions to be made.
Despite the increasing cost of materials and the prolonged waiting time, many people are trying to extend their homes.
Whether they've had a lockdown baby or multiple family members are now working from home every day, it seems that we're all on the hunt for more space.
If you also need a little extra room, read on to find out what is involved with extending your home.
Why extend? Extending adds square footage to achieve the space you need without moving to a larger property. Moving home is expensive and stressful, and some families are simply happy in their homes. They don't want a different one; they just want the one they have to be bigger.
What types of extension can I have?
This largely depends on your budget and the space you have to build into.
Hire an architect to look at your property to see what could be possible. They will then design something that achieves the goals you set out for, within your budget, on the plot you have to work with.
You could maybe build up into your loft space, making an additional floor in the roof space. This will depend on your loft height unless you consider raising the property's height.
Or maybe a single-storey side or rear extension to add ground floor rooms. Perhaps you want bedroom space, and you could add a 2-storey extension. Or, if you have an attached garage, you could add a bedroom above this.
There are many ways to increase the size of your home.
Funding. How will you pay for the extension, and what will your budget be? You need to figure this out early so that you know that you're not specifying products or materials in the planning application that you can't afford to buy.
Will you be using your savings or remortgaging your home? Either way, I'd imagine that it is a finite budget. You might even decide to get an estimate from a contractor using your architect's drawings to ensure that the project is within your budget before applying for planning.
Planning permission. You often hear of planning permission being a nightmare. You'll come into more restraints in a National Park than in a built-up area. Still, it depends on your local council and the area you live in. Your architect should submit your application in a way that supports the design and shows that you have considered the local area and neighbours in the plan. You may be asked to make a few tweaks to the appearance to keep them happy, but overall, the planners are not so bad.
Contractors. Once planning permission has been granted, it's time to start building. Secure your contractor, and off you go. There may be a wait if they have other projects to finish, but be patient. Selecting the right builder from the outset can make a world of difference. If you rush and employ the first builder that can start quickly, you may stumble upon some issues.
Ask yourself why the builder is available at short notice? It's always better to wait for a good builder than get cracked on and employ a terrible one!
Once the extension is complete, you will have a bigger property that will have increased significantly in value. And you have the home of your dreams without having to move!
Perhaps you're planning an extension rather than a move?
If this is you, we'd love to hear from you. Why have you decided to extend rather than move to a bigger property?
And, of course, if you've just finished your extension and are interested in how much the value has increased, give us a call. We can tell you the market value of your home now that the work is finished.