This is a question that many home owners find themselves asking themselves when planning their home extension. A House extension is a big financial commitment and the last thing that you want is to have your exciting home extension tainted by your experience with your building contractor. One thing that is a good idea is to speak to some of the building contractors previous customers. Of ask if they have any alliances with other property professionals like commercial surveyors, structural engineers, quantity surveyors or Architects.
August 14, 2010
August 7, 2010
How to find a good builder?
This is a question that many home owners will soon be asking as an increasing number of small to medium property developers start to build out new property development sites. The slowdown in the construction industry and the lack of development finance has left some bargains to be had for property developers. They have also been able to negotiate preferential terms with main contractors that are hungry for the opportunity to get a quotation or tender in for new build developments. With the impending rise in VAT it seems many builders and main contractors are just starting to breathe a sigh of relief as their order books start to fill up for the first time for a few years.
July 18, 2010
Garden and home offices
With more and more people working from home and looking for a quietly and peaceful desk location to complete their work from home. Converting a room in their house or building a home extension or detached home office is often the solution.
The most ambitious but perhaps for many the best home office solution is the detached home office, usually built in the garden. These vary widely in cost size and finish but in the range of £3,000 to £30,000.
July 16, 2010
How to afford the home extension of your dreams
This is a question that many home owners have been asking themselves for many years, as many still find it hard to re-mortgage their home to raise the funds they need to extend their homes. With mortgage products tipping the 6000 mark for the first time since 2008 and interest rates remaining at record lows many people’s dream of a beautiful home extension is looking brighter.
July 4, 2010
5 most asked questions about home extensions
Where can I find a good builder?
This is a very important questions get it wrong and you could regret it for years to come, the best way to find a reputable builder is through recommendation particularly from an architect, surveyor or project manager.
Do I need planning permission for my home extension?
Changes over the last few years have meant that not all home extensions require planning permission, however previous development and the properties position play a big part. It is always advisable to get professional advice on planning permission and it will probably be necessary to retain an architect for the building regulation drawings. The architect will advise on the legalities of the UK planning system.
Finding a good architect for my home extension?
The fees of architects vary greatly if you chose an expensive architect you will probably get what you pay for but do you need it if your extension is a simple design? Recommendation is a good starting point, if you cannot get a good recommendation find a good professional, structural engineer or commercial surveyor and they should be able to recommend a good architect.
What specifications do I need to know for my home extension?
There are lots of choices to make, manly the external material choices: types of roof tiles, windows, gutters, brick types and external lighting. The other main area of specification is the internal specifications, things like heating, lighting, doors, skirting, paint types and colors, flooring and room lay outs. Again your architect or project manager will be able to help you chose the specifications and finishes for your home extension.
Should my home extensions be in Brick or a conservatory?
This is a question that many home owners regally ask when they are considering smaller or single story home extensions. There are obvious advantages to both options I would always advise that you discuss your unique requirements and project with an experienced project manager or architect.
How to find a good builder for your home extension.
There are an increasing number of home owners using project managers, commercial surveyors and P.Q.S. for their home extensions (P.Q.S. is a private/professional quantity surveyor). These property professional have the experience and network of building contractors that can tender for your building project or home extension.
This does cost more in professional fees but give the home owner a greater peace of mind as they know that the contractors have a track record of delivering quality work. Your surveyor can help you with the schedule or specification of works producing and managing the tender process and if you wish then go on to project manage the build stage. Fees vary but they really do mitigate your risk as they will produce a watertight contract that protects you the client from poor performance from your building contractor.
June 27, 2010
Ten reasons to extend your home.
1. Financially it will probably make more sense to extend your house than move home, as you do not incur the stamp duty, estate agents fees, and other moving costs. The money you spend can be seen in your new living space.
2. Space this is the number one reason that people chose to extend, they simply feel that they lack the space in their home to enjoy the lifestyle they want.
3. To spend more time together in your home, many families lack a nice space to relax together or dine together and a home extension can really give them the beautiful space to be together in.
4. Many home owners are simply proud of all the hard work and they want to extend their homes to give them that “wow factor”, modern and contemporary home extensions really do set your home apart from your friends and neighbors.
5. Property development or adding value, some properties are simply crying out for a home extension. If you look at the rear of some streets you will notice that most of the home in the street have had an extension. There is just some housing stock that was not built to suite modern living, and really benefits from a home extension.
6. Is your family getting bigger? It may be a new baby or an elderly relative coming to stay and you might have decided that more space and a downstairs toilet would improve your lifestyle.
7. Have you received a lump sum of money and you want to make sure you spend it wisely a home extension will be there more many years when a new car or holiday will be long forgotten.
8. Are you starting or running a business from home and you need new space for a home office.
9. Football, golf, or motor sport? Do you find that your family is in conflict over the control for the T.V. with another room you could set it up as a snug or T.V. room and you could recline in comfort watching your favorite T.V. sport, or films safe in the knowledge you have complete control of the T.V. control.
10. Do you want to enjoy open plan living? Why not add a home extension and then remove the original external wall and open your home up into your new extension. This will really give your home that contemporary feel and give you extra space you need.
June 26, 2010
June 25, 2010
Small Home extensions can make a big difference
Small extensions especially in kitchens can make a big difference, a home extension of just one meter out for the full width of a kitchen can give you the extra room you may need for a table. The difference in lifestyle for the home owner being able to sit as a family and have a meal can far out way the cost of a small extension.
Small home extensions are usually single story extensions, the design of these smaller home extension can be made to really unique. Fitting roof lights and finishing the external walls in render or quality timber cladding can give a property a really contemporary feel. Clever design and expensive finishes can be used on smaller extensions as the square meters keep the project budget affordable.
Porches and entrance halls can improve the look of a home from the outside as much as giving you that extra bit of space you need to keep shoes, coats and hats tidy. This kind of small home extension can also add value not only because of the extra space but as well it gives the house a unique appearance and a quality feel.
June 24, 2010
Building a home extension building regulation approval
Due to recent changes in planning law not all domestic home extensions require planning permission but all require building regulation approval. There are two routes to the all important completion certificate, one is a full plans submission and the other is a building notice. Without a completion certificate it will be very difficult to re-finance or re-mortgage your home and it will also make it difficult to sell. So that is a very important point of focus during your home extension project.
If possible a building control full plans submission is a safer option as it allows the building control department to spot any flaws in the basic design. Things like means of escape which can become an issue if the property has had previous development works or the thermal efficiency of the new home extension.