Ever feel like things have become a bit cramped? Could you do with a bit of extra room for a bigger kitchen, a play room or even an office? Over the years we all accumulate belongings -and even people! And our once-perfect home has become a bit of a squeeze!

There are many reasons why people decide to extend their property with a home extension (see more here). Not only does it help to create that much needed extra space, but it can also add value to your home.

Here are 10 reasons you might decide to choose to extend your home:

10 REASONS WHY PEOPLE BUILD AN EXTENSION

1. Open up space for leisure and recreation

This is less a practical need and more of a desire to improve the quality of life in your home. Maybe you are ready to build that pool room (for all those trophies and gifts), add an art or music studio, increase your kitchen space to become that gastronomic whizz, or a build a library to help you become the next literary bard. Building an extension is a really popular way to increase leisure and recreation activity in your home.

 

2. You love the area too much

It may be that beautiful park, a thriving shopping strip, friends nearby or the practicality of being near your kids’ school. Whatever the reason people become attached to the area they live in and choose to extend or renovate their home so they can stay where their heart is.

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A house extension certainly has its advantages over deciding to move house as it requires far less upheaval. But where do you begin? After all, a home extension is a major project and requires plenty of careful consideration before you even pick up your tools.

If you’re thinking of extending your home but don’t know where to start, here are a few helpful tips to ensure you are well prepared for your new project!

6 Steps for Planning a Home Extension

1. Practical Practicalities

Before you even get started on the nitty gritty of a home extension project you need to carefully consider the concept. This includes practicalities such as the economics of the project, where you are going to live during the works and how much value the extension may add to your home. Also take time to consider anything in your life that may get in the way of a smooth running project.

 

2. Budget, budget…

Once you have nutted these broad issues out it is time to get down to the nitty gritty of working out the costing of your project. This includes getting plans detailing the size and scope of the works. For these you need to work with an architect or building designer. A builder can then quote more accurately for your job. You also need to build in a contingency (10 per cent – 20 per cent) for any unforseen costs – a highly likely scenario, especially if you have not done a thorough due diligence.

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Getting planning permission can be tricky and requires a lot of local knowledge to increase your chances of being able to start building. It’s something we have plenty of experience with, so if you’d like to find out how we can help you navigate around all the pitfalls, please do contact us on 1300 724 118.

We are more than happy to discuss your home extension project in more detail. I’m sure we can help. With over 20 years of experience, we’ve managed to gather a lot of experience in this field.