Have you noticed houses seem to have gotten smaller? New-build houses are especially criticised for their tiny proportions. On top of this, house prices have become increasingly unaffordable. This means that many people are stuck living in houses that just aren’t big enough for their needs. It’s especially annoying if you’ve got a family to raise. When moving just isn’t possible, expanding your space is the only option. Adding an extension to your home is really the most obvious choice. But before you get working on it, there’s a few things to think about. Here’s what to keep in mind before you leap into extending your house:
How Much Space Do You Need?
Figuring out how much space you need is essential. Building an extension can be hugely disruptive and expensive. So, before you commit, you need to be sure it’s worthwhile. Going through the entire construction process and not gaining much space is bad news. This can leave you with a big bill and disappointing results.
Before you do anything else, it’s wise to workout exactly how much room you need. This way you’ll know that your efforts all pay off.
Things to think about when planning the space include:
- How much will the extension expand the footprint of your home? Will this take away valuable outside space?
- Will you construct a single or double-storey extension?
- What is the exact purpose of the room?
Knowing precisely what you will use the extra space for is vital. You can then ensure that your extension is designed to use the space wisely.
What is Your Budget?
As with most things, money really matters when you’re planning to extend. So, ensuring that you can afford your project is essential. You don’t want to be stuck with a half-finished extension. To prevent this, you really need to understand all the costs you’re going to face.
You’ll need to fully understand the unexpected costs that could crop up. These include the cost of the groundwork, such as Piling. Plus, the cost of hiring an architect, building company, plumbers, and electricians. These costs all really mount up fast. So, ensuring you can cover the entire project comfortably is vital. Don’t forget to add a contingency amount too. This will help cover those unexpected costs.
Extension costs can spiral fast. So, you need to keep a close watch over the project. This will help to prevent your costs escalating out of control.Make your budget realistic from the start and this will be a lot simpler.
How Will the Work Impact Your Daily Life?
Another essential consideration is how the work will impact your life. Building work at home is often messy and noisy. This can really cause massive disruption to your family life. You may decide to move out while the work happens. Or you may need to protect some of your belongings by putting them into storage while the work happens. But all this effort is worth it to gain some much-needed space at home.