Renovating a house to provide more or different living space is an obvious alternative to selling up and moving to a larger or different home, and is being favoured by many people who decide not to re-establish their families in a different locality.
There are many older homes which provide wonderful opportunities for improvement. Quite often, the older the house the more interesting possibilities it is likely to have. Whereas a newer house is unlikely to need structural repairs or alterations making it less adaptable.
Re-organisation of space can completely change a home. Walls can be removed to create endless possibilities at surprisingly low cost. For example, what was once a pokey little dining room with an adjoining kitchen can become a spacious kitchen/dining area.
Renovations per square usually cost considerably more than the cost per square of building a new home or the cost per square of an established dwelling. Extensions can convert an average single storey house into an impressive looking double-storey residence.
Renovators would be wise to plan all additions carefully, keeping in mind that a well-planned and constructed extension - tastefully decorated, may be far more valuable if all work involved is carried out by tradesmen. If you are not reasonably competent in all or some of the areas of work involved, it will be worthwhile to call in professional help from a Master Builders member.
Don’t forget in the long term a professional built home addition or extension is an excellent form of investment. It can increase your property value almost immediately and in years to come, result in high capital gains.
There is lots more information to help your planning on our A-Z Building Information Directory. Scroll through our topics that include renovation planning, renovation costs, or renovation – other checks. |
