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May 2010
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Making the most of our homes when moving is not an option
With moving home becoming less of an option, more and more of us are thinking of creative ways to increase our living space within our existing homes.
With a little imagination and creative thinking, your home may in fact offer more potential for expansion than we actually realise. You simply need to be pointed in the right direction to spot those hidden opportunities to either add more space or improve the existing layout.
Start by looking at all of the options for your particular house type, from extending up, out or down to changing the existing room plan. Then decide which option best meets the needs of your household and your available budget. Bear in mind that even if your extension adds less to the value of the home than what it costs, providing it gives you the space you need when moving is not a real option. Above all, please remember that we have been through property slumps before and any kind of improvement work you carry out will offer you the potential edge when you do finally come to sell and in the meantime, provides improved accommodation levels.
Five steps to increasing living space:-
- Establish your budget; to help you with this, why not visit the extension calculator located on the www.doineedplanningpermission.co.uk website? This will give you a rough estimate of anticipated costs.
- Understand your property works for you; for example, would a single ground floor space be more beneficial when compared to 2 reception rooms?
- Identify potential constraints; any works you carry out to a listed building will require consent and will have to be carried out in a way which respects the existing fabric of the building. If your house has been the subject of previous extensions, this may constrain what further building works you may be able to carry out. If the latter is the case, don't dismay, as remodelling the internal layout may be the solution.
- Consider the potential options your house offers; for example, terraced properties offer considerable opportunity for remodelling and semi-detached properties offer opportunity for loft conversions.
- Think garden; if you are lucky enough to live in a house with a large garden, why not erect a garden room?
For many of us, we enjoy where we live but are forced to move because our families have outgrown our present homes. Before you consider moving, re-evaluate your present home and who knows......
DIY may damage your health and knock down your property value
According to a recent study undertaken by the insurance firm LV=, around 27pc of homeowners admit they have undertaken electrical jobs without professional help, while 22pc have attempted plumbing work, and 9pc have tried their hand at structural improvements, such as removing walls. A further 6pc have even tried to carry out major building work themselves, such as a loft conversion, while 3pc have tackled potentially dangerous gas repairs.
Whilst many homeowners have carried out the improvement works in the hope of increasing the value of their property, if the work is done badly, it could actually reduce a home's sale price by as much as 5pc. Not only can bungling a job be dangerous and costly to put right, it could invalidate your home insurance cover and make it difficult when it comes to selling. Yes, we all want to save money but remember that carrying out home improvement works that you are not confident with may well be a risk too far. If in doubt, contact a professional.
