For whatever reason, sometimes your home might just not be big enough anymore. Maybe you’re adding a new member to the family, or maybe you just need more space for your possessions. Space is important whatever it’s for, it allows us to live comfortably and free from clutter.
If you’ve decided that you need a bigger home, don’t think about selling up and calling the removal company just yet. Adding an extension to your home can give it a new lease of life and comes without the added stress of moving house. However, that’s not to say it isn’t a considerable undertaking. Even small extensions can come fraught with difficulties. Check out our guide with some of the things you need to consider when planning a home extension. Keep reading to find out more.
Planning is Key
This might sound like an obvious step, but the more you plan the easier the process will be. Planning isn’t just reserved for the building stage. Take the time to evaluate what exactly you’re looking for from an extension, what you need, and what you could do without. This can help you draw up detailed and comprehensive plans before taking the next step in your home extension journey.
If you’re extending the family home, speak to your loved ones about what they hope to get from the extension, listen to their thoughts and opinions and form a plan together to make the best family home you can.
Get the Approval
If you’re looking to make any sort of change or addition to your home, you’re going to need to obtain the relevant building permits. The particular rules and regulations surrounding building permits will change depending on your location, so ensure your plans are in line with what your state and local city hall allows. The last thing you want to do is to spend time meticulously planning the extension of your dreams only for it to be refused by the authorities.
Additionally, if you happen to have homeowners insurance, you will need to inform the insurance company about any building work going on in your home, as the risk to the company may increase, although in some cases the risk does not change.
Set your Budget
Any sort of home renovation can be expensive, with a full-scale extension topping the list. It’s really one step away from moving house, so be prepared to pay big bucks, especially if it’s a big job.
Setting a budget ahead of time can help you control these costs. It can give you a maximum ceiling that you won’t exceed to ensure the prices don’t end up getting out of control. Budget will be primarily determined by the scope and scale of the job itself. However, there are numerous cost cutting techniques you can employ, from careful selection of construction materials to comparison of local contractors’ prices. Just remember to never sacrifice the quality of the work to save some money. This is your home, after all, you can’t put a price on the comfort and happiness of your family.
Talk to the Neighbors
Neighborly disputes can turn bitter and last for years. One of the main causes of arguments between neighbors is noise, which you can expect plenty of when adding an extension to your home. In these days when working from home is commonplace, noise could be even more of an issue and could potentially affect your neighbors professionally as well as personally.
To avoid starting any neighborly feuds, talk to them ahead of time about your plans. They will already have been contacted when you obtained your building permit but speaking to them yourself will work to ensure there are no lingering ill feelings. Go over your plans with them in detail, inform them about potential schedules and timeframes, and ask if there’s anything you can do to make the process any easier for them.
Conclusion
Deciding to add an extension to your home can be an incredibly exciting time. It can make you feel like you are living in new surroundings without having to endure the ordeal of actually moving house. Ensure the process goes smoothly by planning everything in detail, obtaining the right permissions, setting a budget, and informing your neighbors ahead of time.
