Planning a home extension? Many people have decided to get an extension during the pandemic, which is easy to see why when you consider that people are spending more time at home and often now work remotely. An extension is a great way to improve your living space as well as add value to your property, but it is also a major project to undertake that needs careful planning. Therefore, it is helpful to be aware of a few tips beforehand that should help to streamline the project and make it easier to manage. Keep reading to find out more.
Establish Your Budget
Before getting started, you need to work out how much you are able to afford. These projects can be expensive with many different costs to cover, plus they can often go over budget, so this needs to be factored in. There are a number of ways that you can finance a home extension, including loans and equity release.
Establish Your Needs
It is also important to establish exactly what you want from the extension before getting started. For example, it might be a home office, spare bedroom, living space, or a new bathroom. Once you have established its purpose, you can determine your needs, such as how big the extension will be, doors, power sockets, windows, lighting, and other important factors. You should also consider hiring a specialised contractor, for example, if you’re having a new bathroom installed, then it may be worth looking into professional bathroom fitters instead of just general contractors.
Find An Architect
It is recommended to use the services of an architect so that they can turn your ideas into a reality and handle the complexities of the design work. You should take time to research architects online and then meet with a few before making a decision.
Choose The Right Building Company
Following on from this, you also need to choose the right building company, and again it is worth meeting with a few. When meeting with builders, you need to make sure that they listen carefully, feel comfortable around them, and are confident in their abilities. Again, the architect is likely to have recommendations, which can be helpful.
Find Affordable Skip Hire
When the work gets started, you need to make sure that the site is kept clear, and waste is properly disposed of. You can hire a 4 yard skip online so that the waste from the builders can be easily collected and disposed of legally and efficiently.
Plan For Disruption
You also need to think about the disruption that the project will cause. You may be able to stay in the house while they build the extension, but it could impinge on your life, and you might find it better to move out for a short while. Additionally, make sure that you keep the neighbors updated and consider how it will impact them.
Having an extension built is an exciting time, and it can make a big difference to your home and life. However, it is also a major project to undertake, which is why you need to make sure that you are organized and know what steps to take to get the project underway.
