Move House or Improve your Existing

Moving house can be expensive; stamp duty and estate agency fees can be a cost you are unwilling to bear. An alternative option may be to improve you home. Below sets out the pros and cons of where to add that extra living  space

Loft conversions are a great way to gain extra living space without altering the external appearance of your home, costing £15K - £35K, they can add significant the value of your home. Most homes built before 1975 are usually most suitable for a loft conversion, which adds another room or two in the attic space. The work takes about 12 weeks and the builders access the roof from the outside, which means there shouldn’t be too much disruption until they break through to build the new stairs. The removal of a room to accommodate the new staircase can often be avoided and an experience professional will quickly be able to establish whether a loft conversion is a viable option for you property and whether this will add real value.

Adding a ground floor extension can create good practical space such as a bigger kitchen or dining room. Costing between £1000 to £1800 per sq.m, one-storey extensions are more common, but a two-storey extension can create another bedroom or bathroom without going into the loft. Again, the builders work will be from the outside until the existing wall is knocked through. Minimising disruption.

A conservatory is an inexpensive way of adding extra living space, but make sure you have heating and blinds to make it usable all year round. South facing conservatories can become extremely hot in summer. Conservatory bases are notoriously built poorly by unscrupulous builders and in some cases can even be detrimental to the existing property.

A downstairs WC can be a useful addition to the home, costs around £1.5K - £3K, depending what work needs to be done and will add value too.

Kitchens/bathroom makeovers. We all know that good kitchens and bathrooms can make or break a sale, but don’t over spend or you won’t recoup your money. Often a lick of paint or some new tiles can improve an old-fashioned bathroom and modern but inexpensive kitchen units can really lift an dated kitchen at minimal cost.

Basements. An increasing number of people are converting basements and cellars currently, particularly in central urban locations where land values are extremely high. However this process is significantly more expensive than upwards or sideways extensions. Seek advice from a property professional before embarking on a basement conversion, as it may be that the work costs more than it adds in value to your property.

Garages. Most garages are too small for modern cars and end up being used as storage rooms anyway. As the basic structure already exists, there is no need for expensive external walls and foundations. Disruption to your home life should be minimal and this can take from a couple of weeks to a couple of months for more substantial conversions.

Dankett Construction can provide independent advice on the most suitable way to add value to your home. Please contact us further on the below details to discuss your requirements further