Starting to design your dream home is one of the greatest adventures of all. But when you are looking to extend the property, there are a number of things you need to get right to make sure the space works for you. So what are some questions to ask yourself when you want to extend your property?
What Building Regulations Will Apply to the Extension?
Before you get the architects in to make massive alterations to your design, you’ve got to make sure you can get building regulations approval for building regulations that will set out minimum requirements for a number of key aspects, including damp proofing, structural integrity, and energy efficiency. There are a number of works that will need approval, for example, new chimneys loft conversions, and house extensions.
Do You Have to Worry About the Neighbours?
While your neighbours can’t stop you from extending your property up to the boundary between them, if you are digging or building foundations within 3 metres of the boundary or digging the foundations within 6 metres, you may have to comply with the Party Wall Act.
Are the Foundations Strong Enough?
While you may want to build a single-storey extension or a garage, you’ve got to know if the foundation can support the load. If the structure is not able to, you can strengthen the surface with steel frames bedded in the new concrete or you can demolish and rebuild the foundation, which is usually the more cost-effective solution.
Should You Manage the Project Yourself?
You may think that you need to start hiring a whole group of different people, but if you want to keep an eye on the project, being a project manager may require a number of key skills including organisation and patience and is cheaper, but if you don’t think you would be able to manage the whole process you can always defer to a professional project manager.
Should You Live in the Property During the Renovation?
It’s important to remember that you can live there during an extension but while there’s a lot of dust and mess around, you may also be disrupting the builders as they try to build the property around your life. If you are not happy living with the interruptions, you may be better off looking for temporary accommodation, such as staying with family and friends.
Can You Get VAT Relief When I Extend a Property?
Many house extensions are subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20%. But if you want to benefit from this you need to use a builder that is VAT registered because you’re not able to reclaim the VAT by yourself.
A house extension is a fantastic way to add value to your property, and you may want it to add a certain amount of value, but you have to remember that in the grand scheme of things if you are extending a property, there can be significant upheaval to your life. These are a few things to remember if you want to extend and if you are ready to deal with everything it throws at you.