It’s no secret that property values are on the rise. Whether you’re a homeowner or a business, it’s important to ensure you’re taking advantage of all the opportunities to extend your property. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about extending your property and maximizing its value. So whether you’re looking to expand your current property or build something new, read on for tips and advice that can help get you started.
Why extend your property?
Before you start thinking about extending your property, it’s important to understand why you might want to. There are many different reasons for extending a property, but the most common is that expansion can increase business revenue or provide more living space. Here are just a few other reasons why extending your property might be the right choice:
- Addition of leisure facilities.
- More storage space.
- Increase in floor area.
- Creating separate self-contained units within one building.
- Extension of a working area.
If you’re a homeowner wanting to create more space, there are plenty of options. You can expand your kitchen or dining room for a more spacious home, add a second bathroom for the use of guests and family members, or you could turn the garage into an additional living area with extra bedrooms if you have enough room.
Make sure you understand how much weight these changes will add before planning any structural options. For example, converting a garage to a bedroom will require a lot of reinforcement work to ensure it can support the weight of the new room.
Be sure to have backup plans in place if something doesn’t go quite as planned. If you’re considering adding storage units on top of your house, don’t forget that you’re going to need to worry about water pipes freezing during the winter.
What are the benefits?
There are several benefits to extending a property. Not only is it going to add value, but it’s also going to allow you to create or enhance the space that you need for your business or home.
Before planning any work, think about what you want to achieve. Is an office space needed? Are extra bedrooms essential? Will more storage space improve the value of your property enough that it makes sense to invest in this addition?
What are the downsides?
If you’re considering extending your property, it’s also important to consider the potential downsides. Here are just some of the issues that you need to consider before getting started:
- Structural changes might be needed.
- Legal approval is likely necessary.
- Additional costs may be involved.
- Loss of light or privacy for the original building.
- Noise disturbance for neighbors in an adjoining property.
It can take months, even years, to get all of the permissions required and make certain structural changes are safe. However, if these changes are essential for your work or home needs, it’s worth putting in the time and effort to ensure they go ahead as smoothly as possible. Be honest with yourself about what you can achieve and any limitations in space, weight, or noise to avoid future problems.
Understand what you want
It’s important not to start planning any work without knowing what you ultimately want to achieve. Is an extra bedroom needed? Are you looking to increase the amount of office space on your property? Will more storage space improve the value of the market enough that it makes sense to invest in this addition?
It can be helpful to draw up a list of spaces or features that are essential for meeting both current and future needs.
Before starting any extension, make sure it is done correctly. Whether working on new building projects or simply carrying out renovation, make sure every detail is considered carefully. When thinking about adding bedrooms, think of ways each room could look different so it doesn’t become one generic space.
If you’re working on plans to change the roof of your building, it’s important to make sure that each of these changes makes sense with any other work that might be done at the same time. For example, installing solar panels is expensive but saves money over time. If you require planning permission, check what systems are allowed first to avoid additional costs on wasted materials. Be smart about your spending by making sure every step forward matches an expected result so you don’t have unexpected costs later.
Set a budget
If you’re working on any extension or renovation project, it’s worth setting a budget before getting started. The types of projects that are being considered can have surprisingly high costs, so making sure to factor this into your financial plan is essential.
It’s also important to look for professional assistance if funds are limited since the level of work required will impact the costs involved. Contractors are likely to charge different rates depending on the size of the project, but this cost might be offset by potential tax breaks available in some circumstances.
Visualize your idea
There are different solutions when it comes to this. Some incredible floor plan software options on the market can help you plan out your extension in intricate detail with your contractors. There are also amazing 3D rendering companies that can show you what your project will look like in ways that cannot be achieved by just looking at a 2D floor plan.
There are options available for those thinking about creating their design from scratch and those who need something more tailored to existing buildings in terms of designing the building.
Speak to the right builder
There are different options available for extending properties. If you think you’ll need planning permission, it’s essential to work with a builder experienced in these types of projects, so there are no delays during the build. Many new builds will require specialist contractors and have their own rules and regulations surrounding new builds on old structures. It’s important that your contractor fully understands these requirements before getting started so they can guide you through any necessary approvals before beginning construction.
