Owning a property is a major life event, and the purchase towards which most young adults are actively and primarily working. Making that first step onto the property ladder is the hardest step, and with the continued unpredictability of the housing markets at present, likely to be one of the only steps many homeowners make.
This increasing tendency to ‘make do’, on top of surprise rises in house costs at certain points in recent history, has led to an interesting phenomenon of improving instead of moving: that is, making amendments to your home instead of investing in a new one.
One of the biggest investments you can make with respect to home improvement is an extension – which is also one of the biggest value boosts you can give your property, on top of being a huge quality-of-life improvement.
If you’re thinking your home is getting a little small for your needs, and you’d like to think about extending, you’ll naturally be a little overfaced by the options and process you’re facing. What are the steps to getting a home extension, and where should you start?
1. Evaluate Your Needs and Objectives
Firstly, of course, you’ll want to define the scope of the extension in question. What’s the purpose of the project? Are you hoping to add a bedroom, or expanding your kitchen; perhaps both? Here you’re making basic decisions about how to proceed, based on how any such work would improve your life. These ideas will form the basis of your plan.
2. Understand Planning Permissions and Building Regulations
There are some comprehensive laws you’ll need to adhere to in the construction of an extension. Suffice to say, you should not simply start work on your building without checking to see if you need planning permission in place.
‘Permitted development’ rules stipulate that if your design meets certain criteria, you can carry on without permission – but you should take the time to make sure your designs allow for this before laying a single brick.
3. Explore Financing Options
Naturally, building an extension is a costly endeavour. Unless you have significant savings in place, you’ll need for find some third-party assistance in financing it. Secured loans are a common place to start, as they use the value of your property to secure the amount you borrow – often with smaller interest rates as the reward.
4. Hire Qualified Professionals
You aren’t likely to be building the extension by yourself, of course – and will need to hire a reputable crew of tradesfolk to complete all work for you. This holds true for every step of the extension process, from architectural design to finishing interior touches.
The best way to ensure you get quality work out of your contractors is to choose your team based on direct word-of-mouth recommendations. These ensure you get reputable workers with a proven track record, and no degrees of separation. Avoid cold-callers like the plague; if they need to canvas for work, they are not worth your time as professionals!
