Extending your home is a fantastic way to increase your living space without having to move house. It is often cheaper than moving too, by the time you consider all the fees and the extra mortgage payments that moving house can involve.
By the time you have finished your extension, your home will be more spacious, and you would have had the pleasure of putting your own mark on the property. The question is, how do you go about it correctly so that the result of adding an extension is a beautiful property rather than a total nightmare? Professional party wall surveyors london can help you in this.
Think About What You Want to Achieve
What is it you need the space for? Is it another bedroom, more living space, or perhaps a home office? This can have a huge bearing on how and where you extend your property. If you want more living space, then it makes sense to extend downstairs and add a conservatory or orangery, whereas a loft conversion could give you a stunning new bedroom.
Consider Whether Your Extension Will Add Value
You have a vast range of options when it comes to extending your home and you may think that they will all add value to your home. Sadly, that is not always the case, so you will have to consider where you want to place your extension. If you create more space, for example, by adding an extension to the back of your house, this can add significant value. However, if you change the use of a room this can actually decrease the value. For example, losing a bedroom to gain an extra bathroom is rarely cost-effective. In central London, garages are at a premium so you should be incredibly careful about converting your garage into a living space, as this could take thousands of pounds from the value of your property.
Having a touch of nature in your backyard of a home in the city, that can also turn a profit, can easily make an orangery a worthwhile investment. People from all over London are researching the average orangery cost to determine whether adding one can boost both their living space and property value. These elegant extensions provide a bright, airy space that blends indoor comfort with outdoor charm, making them highly desirable. When designed thoughtfully, an orangery can enhance the overall aesthetic and functionality of a home while increasing its market appeal.
Get An Expert Opinion
An expert opinion is invaluable as they can offer you help and advice and ensure that you go about your extension correctly. Architects in London are easy to find if you know where to look and many of them have years of experience in extending homes just like yours. For example, this experienced team of architects in London can let you know what will work for your house and what won’t. They can make suggestions you may not have considered yourself and advise you on planning and building regulations, so that you don’t fall foul of local laws.
The Tenure of The Property
There are different types of tenure. Freehold means that you own the building and the land on it. Leasehold means that you own the building or part of the building you live in, but you do not own the land under it. If you have a leasehold property, you may need to get the permission of the freeholder or the relevant body corporate services in SA to build an extension.
Planning Permission
Extensions are classed as permitted development work so you may think you don’t need to get planning permission. However, there are a lot of clauses such as the height or length that your extension can be, and this can depend on the type of house you have, so it isn’t the same for every property.
If you own a listed building or you live in a conservation area, then the laws that govern extending your home can be even more complicated. If you don’t want to be forced to take it down after you have built it and spent lots of money, then hiring an experienced architect is necessary.
Building Regulations
Regardless of whether you need planning permission or not, you will still need to make sure that your extension complies with building regulations. The work will need to be accredited by a governing body, such as FENSA for windows. Some builders are accredited by these governing bodies themselves, so it isn’t necessarily as technical as it sounds. However, if your extension doesn’t meet the right building regulations, then it can be dangerous for you to live in, and the local council could force you to take it down. Without the correct regulations, you will have a lot of difficulty selling your house.
Hire Tradesmen
Building an extension is a large job and you should not carry out the work yourself unless you are an expert. There is a lot that can go wrong, and it may take you a lot longer than you thought. It may save you money, but it is rarely worth trying to attempt DIY on this scale unless you are a professional. This is especially important if the extension requires electricity or running water, as you could have a serious accident if you don’t know what you are doing.
Your architect can help you to find the right tradespeople for your job. However, it is usually best to get more than one quote so you can compare what work they are doing and the price they have quoted you. It may be tempting to go for the cheapest option, but they might be cheap for a reason, such as they are cutting corners, or they will rush the work. If you are unsure, it is usually best to get three quotes and hire the one who offers the middle price.
Home Insurance
Many home insurance policies are based on what they think the rebuild value of the property is. This is how much it would cost to rebuild the whole house if it was reduced to ashes or had to be pulled down. Building an extension means that the rebuild cost of the property is likely to increase so it is best to speak to your home insurance provider before you have the extension built so that you remain covered while the work is going on and when it is finished. Failure to disclose this could mean that the insurance company will pay out less than you need in the event of a claim.
Building an extension on your London townhouse will be an exciting and hopefully rewarding project. However, you should ensure that you carry out the correct procedures to avoid costly mistakes.
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