There often comes a time when you have been living in a property for some time and you want a bit of extra space. At the same time, you are happy where you are and don’t want to think about moving anytime soon. If you have the budget, the ideal solution to this problem is to build an extension. However, you need to remember that this is always going to be a big job which involves a great deal of upheaval and disruption. And so it is not one which you want to enter into lightly. So, before you make the decision for sure, start by considering the following points to decide whether or not you are making the right choice.
What is the Purpose of the Extension?
Before you do anything, you need to think about exactly what you are going to do with the new space that you are going to create. For example, is it going to be an extension of an existing part of your house or are you going to be creating some new rooms entirely? If you don’t have a clear purpose in mind right from the offset, you are going to find it much harder to ensure that your vision turns into a reality.
Do You Need Planning Permission?
You don’t want to go too far down the path of getting an extension before finding out that you can’t complete the job without planning permission. Some of the bigger extensions are going to require you to seek special permission, so you could look into contacting a firm to complete your home extension. You should be able to seek out the information online that gives you an overview of whether you need permission or not, but it is always worth consulting with the professionals if you want to be 100 percent sure.
Does Your House Have Good Access Points?
Throughout the duration of the extension, builders are going to need to be able to get in and out of your property as freely as possible. So, you should think about how good the access points around your house are, and whether there are any ways that they can be improved. Perhaps you need to clear a path which has become overgrown. Not only this, you also need to consider the parking situation as well. It may be the case that you need to contact your neighbours to see whether they will allow you to use their driveway for some time.
Does the Design Suit Your Existing Home?
If your house has never had an extension before, you need to ensure that the one that you are building does not end up looking out of place. The extension should merge seamlessly with the other parts of your house. Otherwise, it is going to end up sticking out and causing an eyesore, which is the opposite effect to the one which you were intending. This doesn’t mean that you have to have every single detail exactly the same, but you can get in contact with a professional designer to ensure that they approve of what you are planning.
Have You Chosen the Best Bit to Extend?
It may seem like a slightly silly question to ask at this stage, but have you really thought in detail about the bit of the house which is best for an extension? Perhaps you are demolishing an old garden shed or a garage to make room for the extension. Remember, it is usually going to be more cost-effective to build over two storeys as opposed to one as you are spreading out the expensive elements of the construction including the foundations and the roof.
Have You Thought About the Neighbours?
Not only is your extension going to cause a disruption to your own home life, the same is bound to be true for your neighbours as well. So, you should make sure that you seek their permission before starting construction. Not only could they make your life difficult through hostility, they could also throw some spanners in the works regarding your planning permissions etc. The least you can do is to have a chat with them explaining your plans and the ways in which they may end up being disrupted.
Once you have answered the previous questions, you should feel in a much more stable position before you start any work on the extension of your home.
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