Important Points To Consider Before Building An Extension
Lack of space in a home can be a real headache. There are only so many times you can step over the cat, the kids and an assortment of storage crates, on every journey to the kitchen. Eventually, you start to lose patience. But, moving to a new home is not always an option, due to cost, not being able to find a suitable property or simply being happy in the street where you live. Sometimes, it’s better to extend the home you have.
If you decide that building an extension is the best thing to do, there are some important things to consider before you start. Doing so can make the process easier, and help you to achieve the final result you are aiming for.
Getting the budget right
If you hire professionals to design and build the extension on your home, it’s going to cost a significant amount of money from both contractors and estimators building residential construction estimates. You need to be realistic about what you can afford. It’s easy to be tempted to try and do work yourself, or ask the people you hire to cut corners. This is not a good idea as the job is unlikely to be completed to a high standard, and you risk compromising your own safety, and that of others who live in your home.
Having a budget in place from the start enables you to see what size of project you can afford. Remember, it’s not a good idea to invest more than the value you will add to the property once the extension is finished. It’s also not a good idea to take out a loan with repayments that are too high. Doing this means that you simply replace the problem of not having enough space with the problem of not being able to manage financially.
Making sure you have permission
You should never start a building project without knowing that you have the required permission in place. You do not need permission for every building project, but it’s always best to check with the local authorities. It’s not worth starting to build if you have not done this.
If you do build without having permission in place, you could find yourself having to return your property to its original condition, in years to come. Obviously, you do not want to have to face the inconvenience and cost of this happening.
Knowing what lies on your land
If you are building on your land, you need to know what obstacles you could face. You also need to know about concerns such as land boundaries. The best way to discover this vital information is to hire a construction surveyor. They can provide you with information to help ensure your building project proceeds as successfully as possible.
As you can see, building an extension to your property is not a simple process, but it’s an excellent way of getting the extra space you need without having to move. It can also help add value to your property, and make it more saleable, should you ever decide to move in the future.
15 Comments
Kelly O
I really want to build an extension. It is so expensive and the rules regulations and such are very stressful. Hiring someone to walk you though it can certainly help future headaches.
Deanna
Well, being that I live in an apartment complex, building an extension to a house isn’t something I currently have to worry about, but these are all great tips for someone who is.
michele
For me the most important thing to consider is the budget.. I believe a lot of folks have great ideas but if you don’t know your financial limitations you can get very disappointed when you are in the middle of construction and the money runs out….
Sarah L
Living in a townhouse this is not anything I have to consider.
Jasmine
always always wanted an extension! but not a possibility right now for me. good post, but it made me homesick for the part of the home i want to expand. 🙁 🙂
Marian
Great post! These tips are very important. I wish we could add an extension to our home but sadly we don’t have the room.
Edye
Great points! I’m sure this is helpful to many people out there.
Rosie
This is a great post. I have seen many magazine articles where people have expanded their home, they never ever say how much it cost. There are many costs associated with moving to another location, some you may not realize trying to tally it. Adding on can be a win-win if you do the proper process, as you note, but it won’t be an inexpensive alternative.
CJ
It’s VERY important to have a survey if you want to build an extension. Most people aren’t always 100% sure where their borders are, and that you really need to know so you are building within your property and not mistakenly reaching outside of it.
Kate Sarsfield
We’re lucky in that one thing we don’t need is more space but friends have built extensions and as long as you get a decent contractor (who is insured & certified) and stick to the agreed budget, then things should be ok.
A lot depends on the ground as well, for instance where we live is full of natural springs that tend to break through the surface every now & then. This breaks up the roads and, I imagine, wouldn’t allow for a stable foundation.
Natalie
I think adding a porch extension is a great idea. A screened porch would keep the bugs out.
Tamra Phelps
Just the idea of having to remodel or build on makes me want to crawl into a fetal position & stay there, lol. Seriously, these tips sound pretty good to me.
Lisa Brown
finding a reliable contractor is key, don’t want one that has cheap material, workers, etc. I would love to build an extension.
Veronica Lee
I will definitely keep these considerations in mind if and when we decide to build an extension. Thanks for the helpful points.
Ronald Gagnon
We made the mistake of not notifying our neighbors before we built a large backyard shed …one of them reported that it affected them adversely and we were forced to tear it down