5 things you need to do when planning a home extension
Do you want to build a home extension in 2021?
Maybe you’ve spent tons of time thinking about it over the Christmas period, or maybe even over the last 12 months as you’ve watched the pandemic unfold. Perhaps you’re sitting in your home right now wondering how you’re going to continue to work, live, eat and sleep within those walls for the foreseeable.
If you know you need more space but don’t know where to start, fear not - that’s what we’re here for! Read on to learn the five things you MUST do right at the very beginning if you want to get your home extension planned, designed and built without a hitch:
Set a realistic budget
Set a budget at the beginning - and stick to it! You’re most likely going to need to remortgage to get the money you need to build your extension (unless you’ve got a pot of savings) and it’s important to make sure you’ve budgeted for the repayments. But do remember to factor in a contingency (around 10%) to cover any unexpected costs.
You’ll need to work out how big you can afford to extend before you start on your plans. A good estimate is £1,500 per square metre for ground floor and £1,100 per square metre for upper floors. Finishing would be on top of this e.g. bathrooms, kitchens, carpet etc.
If you’re able to confirm your budget with your designer at the start, it’s going to take less time to get your architectural plans finalised. That way, they’re not going to draw up something you can’t afford, only for you to then have lots of back and forth to get a final result you’re happy with. And there’s no point gaining planning permission for a double storey side extension when you can only afford a single storey – for which you might not have even needed permission in the first place.
Write down your requirements
Consider how much space you really need, and what you need it for. It might be possible to extend out by 8m and across the width of your property, but if you’re just looking at a kitchen extension, it might make more sense to stick to something a bit smaller. After all, the bigger you go, the higher the build cost and if you can keep it within permitted development, you save cash AND time.
Decide on priorities
What’s worth spending your hard-earned money on? For example, if granite kitchen worktops are a priority for you, saving £15k on the build itself by making the space smaller could come in very handy!
And you might think that having your walls flush (as opposed to using nibs) is what you want but with the difference being around £5-6k, it is something many people reconsider. Again, what’s your priority? Flush walls? Or bi folds? Or the higher-end kitchen you’ve been lusting after? You might need to make some difficult decisions and setting out your needs and wants right at the very beginning can be a huge help.
Speak to your neighbours
Communication with neighbours is vital. A simple ‘I’m thinking about having an extension, what do you think?’ at the very beginning goes a long way. It’s important that your neighbours are happy with the proposal as it will make the whole process smoother, when applying for planning permission and during the build. If you’re going to be building on or near to a boundary then you will most likely need access to your neighbour’s land. So, you need to be able to have a good working relationship with them.
When you’ve made a bit of progress with your plans, and depending on the work you’re carrying out, you may be obligated to give notice to your neighbour (or neighbours) in writing under something called The Party Wall Act - find out more here: https://www.partywalls.london/what-is-a-party-wall/.
Get a designer on board
If you get a qualified architectural designer or architect on board at the beginning, they’ll be able to check viability on site, taking into account site access, demands on services (electrics, plumbing, heating) and the location of major pipes among many other things. They’ll also look at feasibility of turning your concept into reality. They are masters of utilising space and will know whether the design you want will truly work - and if not, they’ll be able to suggest an alternative.
Many design packages (including ours) will also include management of applications for planning permission and building regulations, taking all the hassle out of the process for you.
Plus, a set of professional architectural drawings and specifications is the best way to communicate with your builder and make sure you’re on the same page. And without plans, you’ll struggle to get an accurate build quote.
If you found the above helpful and you’re ready to get going on your extension plans (and you’re based in the East Midlands), please give our Nottingham team a call on 0115 874 8570 to book in a free design consultation - or hit the button below.
If you’re not quite ready to get started, or you’re based elsewhere in the UK, please feel free to check out the rest of our Advice Centre - and connect with us on Instagram and Facebook for tips and inspiration.
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