Just like seasons, preferences change every day, the cost of living rises in every month and the property that is affordable today will be less affordable tomorrow. Today you might be comfortable with your two bedroom house, tomorrow you have a full house and you need more space, you have a small kitchen space, you would like to have a study in the house etc. Moving out is quite a hassle, and at times it can be inconvenient, you found a house that is twice as big as your previous one but it is 2 hour drive from the CBD ,it will strain your financial resources, the hassle of finding a buyer for your previous house within a time frame etc.

At times when you are in quest of a spacious house, moving out is not always the solution, you can improve via home extensions. Extensions not only increase the size of your house but also add value to your home.

If you opt for an extension to moving out you will have to put the following factors into prospective.

Study the Neighborhood.

Before you add that extra room it is good to go round the neighborhood, identify the most common design and find out why. Ask questions like it is the right size now that it’s in use? Is there something they wish they had done differently? it can help you avoid some pitfalls.

Land availability

You have to ensure that there is enough space within your grounds for an extension, the sole purpose of putting up an extension in the first place was to have an increase in space so why put up a structure that does not meet your intended goal? The extension must create the exact space you wanted.

Location

After verifying that the space is enough for an extension the next step is determining the position and the direction the extension will face. The key tip here is to ensure that it complements your property. E.g. a porch should be at the front, a kitchen extension should adjoin the property you can achieve this by demolishing one side of the kitchen wall. Avoid extensions that look out of place it should be appealing.

Local building codes

Find our out from your local authorities the building codes of that area i.e. the ideal roofing structure, the ideal height.

Planning

Most people go wrong in this step by involving the wrong people in this step or by doing it themselves despite being green in this field. There is a builder whose work is to build and an architect whose work is to design. In this stage involve the services of an architect, who will design a layout that will fit perfectly with the existing property, they consider the size, the shape, and the layout.

The second stage of planning involves the builder, he will guide you in purchasing the ideal building materials for your extension that may differ from the property e.g. the direction where your extension faces is wind prone it will require a strong roofing material.

Budget and Time Frame

Some people do not put this next step into consideration; this is a crucial step that will determine the durability of your extension. You may be in a hurry to get an extension, but you have to ensure that your financial resources fit into the builder’s and the architect estimated budget. Most of the people who end up building dilapidated structures overlook this pitfall; they buy the wrong materials because they are cheap and build it in a hurry.

Decorate and furnish.

Furnish and decorate the additional room according to its intended purpose if it is a study fit in more shelves, if it is a kitchen add more cabinets you can also include a small eating area. Remember that this additional room that you built is like building a mini house. Create a homely feel.

Get more property insights from Pam Golding.