4 Things To Consider Before You Extend Your Home

You may require an extension on your family home to create more living space for you and your children. However, extension plans are complex and require a lot of funding to make them work. To ensure that you are not putting too much financial strain on yourself, there are a few things you should take into consideration before you start spending money. This guide will lend a helping hand to get your project off to the right start.

Budget

You may find that your extension plans are too ambitious. Sure, you may have an idea of what you want it to look like, but your money might not spread that far. Therefore, it is crucial that you set yourself a budget for your extension project to put realistic expectations in place. This will also minimise disappointment further down the line. Use a budget planner template to work out the cost of your project and work out if you have enough money to fund it by running these costs alongside your monthly income. Doing this will give you time to look at ways to cut costs if you need to.

Quality

Although you may not have plans to sell your home anytime soon, you must bear in mind that an extension can add value to your property. Therefore, when it comes to your extension plans, you don't want to compromise on quality. Rather than cutting corners in a bid to save money, it can be better to enlist the help of some professionals who can build you a high-quality extension with their expert knowledge. Fast Plans are an organisation that can do exactly that. They deliver bespoke home extension drawings to help you get the most out of your additional space.

Planning Permission

Are you within your legal rights to build your extension? This is an important question that you must know the answer to before going ahead with your extension plans. Your extension will need to meet certain requirements. Ideally, you will invest in an on-site survey which will help you identify whether you need to apply for planning permission or not. If you do, the process itself is fairly straightforward, and you will need to contact your local council to do this. You can learn more about when you may need planning permission by referring to the government website.

Timeframe

This is an important step, especially for those who have children. Is there a specific time you would need your extension to be completed? Maybe you are having a baby and are hoping to say goodbye to building work before they are born? Or are you looking to increase the value before you sell your home? If so, you will need to research whether this is a realistic goal before going ahead with your extension plans. You certainly don't want to rush your project and miss out on features you will regret. Be patient with the process and communicate regularly with your contractors. Don't be afraid to push for timeframes. After all, you are paying for this extension with your hard-earned money, so you want to ensure everything goes to plan.