Take a look around your home. Is it too small for your growing family? Do you need extra room for your kids to have their own space? Maybe an elderly relative is moving? Before you think about moving to a new place, think about what home renovations can do for you.
Extending your home has several advantages. You don’t have to move from the place that you have already fall in love with. You don’t have to worry about your child needing to change schools either. Also, you can stay in familiar streets with familiar neighbors.
Home extensions, with careful budget and design planning, can give your current home a new look and improved functionality. You can change your home however you wish. You can fix problems that have always existed.
So, if you want to renovate you house, there are a few things that you need to keep mind, starting with the benefits and reasons to complete a home extension, as well as what may your extension work.
Benefits & Reasons for a Home Extension:
- Get additional space
Whether you want an extra room or another storey, you can add additional space to your home to suit your needs and budget. You can have separate bedrooms for your kids or have extra guest rooms. Or, if you are more of an outdoorsy person, you can construct a patio, a deck or create a nice backyard with a garden.
- Growing household
In relation to the above point, you may need more space in your home as your family grows. Everyone needs their own space and privacy, and this can be hard to achieve in a small home. To make it possible, you can consult various renovation builders to design effective plans that are suitable for you and your budget. This could be extra rooms or a separate granny flat for older children or relatives.
- Add value to your property
Extending your home can add value to your property. If you ever wanted to sell, you could expect a higher asking price. Whether you added an extra room or renovated a part of your house, like the kitchen or bathroom, your property’s value can improve.
- Update or add amenities
Some parts of your home may be outdated, like the kitchen or bathroom. That 80s’ linoleum and counters might not be as fetching as it once was. Renovating can be a way to improve an existing space.
Additionally, you can add additional amenities in a renovation or extension. For instance, your family may require more bathrooms so that everyone can get ready in time in the morning. Or, you might need more storage space, like kitchen cabinets or built-in wardrobes. There are plenty of possibilities when it comes to extensions and renovations.
- Don’t want to or can’t afford to move
For many homeowners, it can be difficult to move. You may have found your perfect location and it’s just the house that needs fixing up. Alternatively, you may not be able to afford to move but renovations could improve your situation. Making changes to your current home can be a way to get what you want from a home without having to move.
- Make changes to your home
Over time, you may realize that the current layout of your home doesn’t work for you. You might like entertaining and want an open floor plan. Or maybe you find the place to dark and want to let in more natural air and light. Whatever you desire, there’s sure to be a way to add in these new extra features and designs as part of a renovation or extension.
What will affect your extension?
- Budget
The budget for your renovations depends on what you want to upgrade. For instance, bathroom and renovations can cost more than outdoor renovations as they need heavy plumbing and electrical work. It also depends on what kind of fixtures you want.
If you need to be cost-effective, try turning your garage into an additional living space. When you consult with a builder, they can also advise you of ways to get what you need at your budget.
- Building or planning permits
When doing structural changes to your home, you may need to get permits, including:
- Demolition permit
- Development application
- Building permit
- Town planning approval
However, many renovation services will take care of all these things for a fee.
- Site access or layout
Before expanding your home, take into consideration the space you have and whether it is accessible. This may affect your plans. For instance, if the expansion is to be done on a steep block, then this may increase the cost and there may be issues getting construction equipment set up. Consult expansion builders for advice on how to effectively use the space available on your property.
- Hazardous materials
When renovation, you may come across some building materials that could be hazardous. For instance, asbestos was commonly used in the mid-part of the century, but we have since learned of its health effects. When renovating your property, make sure any hazardous waste is dealt with properly and safely.
These are just a few initial points that you need to consider when deciding to renovate or extend your home. Whatever you do, remember that you have to do lots of careful planning before diving into the real work to ensure you use your money wisely and get what you want.
