Archived Entries - Extensions
- Home
- Blog
- Archived Entries
- Extensions
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......
How to Save Pounds On Your Home Extension - and get you fit for the summer
When it comes to home extensions, did you appreciate that between one half and two-thirds of the project outlay is dedicated to labour costs? In these times of economic belt tightening, this is a sobering thought that can quite literally stop your aspirations of a home extension dead in its tracks. However, there are ways of addressing this and one suggestion that Orchard Planning Solutions wishes to put to you is to do some of the work yourself. Yes, the thought of brick laying or roof construction may well prove a project too far to the fair weather DIY enthusiast . However, don't dispair, as our hidden talents can be used in other ways. For example, for the person who has little confidence in DIY, why not consider labouring for your builder? If you feel slightly more confident, how about getting involved at the second fixed stage of the project. This is the stage when things really start to come together and include jobs such as plasterboarding, decorating, tiling and fitting kitchens and bathrooms for example. Outside, projects may include soft landscaping and block paving.
So, if you have the time and the necessary level of confidence, why not give it a go and save you money that can then be spent on a well earned post extension holiday!
