Throughout the UK, homeowners intent on selling their home for a profit are spending their money on home improvements in a bid to increase the value of the property. Real estate agents advise against this practice because most renovations make little difference. For example, installing new floorboards will do nothing in terms of increasing your home’s value. Coming up with new and interesting décor is a risk because there is always the chance that interested parties will not share your taste. On the other hand, an extension such as a sunroom or conservatory can significantly increase the value of your home.
Yet you must plan well in advance to avoid the problems that inevitably show up when creating something as large as an extension. For example, planning permission and building permits are often not sought and this is a major mistake. Although new regulations came into force back in August 2008 which stated that extensions are permitted development work, you still have to satisfy a raft of conditions. For example, the extension cannot take up more than 50% of the original land that surrounds the property and it cannot be higher than the tallest part of the house. These are pretty basic rules and regulations but there are far more complicated ones. Therefore, you have to learn all about the restraints you face before planning the extension.
The best option is to find an experienced architect who can help you circumnavigate any potential planning permission hurdles. On top of this, the architect will also help you make the most of the space, light and design of the extension. Remember, once the extension is completed, there is no turning back unless you have thousands of pounds to spare. A badly designed extension will not only be wasted money, it could even reduce the value of your home. If the whole extension building process is too complex for you to handle, why not sell the home with the planning permission consent? This will add some value to the property and you won’t have to spend money creating it.
If you decide to go ahead with the project, consult at least three different architects before choosing one. There could be a major discrepancy in their quotes and one may have a better vision for the extension than all the rest. As well as this, asking several architects for their assistance helps you get a clearer picture of what you want. Ensure that there are penalties built into your contract with a contractor for delays in the building process. This way, you won’t lose out if a company turns out to be less efficient than advertised. Finally, avoid asking friends for advice on this matter even if they have had an extension built. They are not experts but will try to give ‘expert’ advice. By all means, ask them if the architect and contractor they used were up to scratch but that’s it.
Building an extension can be a profitable addition to your home when it’s done correctly. Make sure you go through the proper channels to ensure that this is the case.