The most important thing to consider before you put the\nwheels in motion to create an extension is whether or not it is actually\npossible<\/strong>. Most extensions require planning permission<\/a> and\nadherence to specific building regulations, and if you build an extension\nwithout seeking the relevant consents you could be forced to remove it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a prospective homebuyer looking to purchase a\nproperty with renovation potential, it is useful to be aware that you can\nactually request planning\npermission<\/a> for a property you do not own, which is known as prospective\nplanning permission. This means you can find out whether an extension is\npossible without committing to buy the property. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most homes come with something called permitted development\nrights<\/em><\/a>, but this doesn\u2019t mean you have carte blanche to build\nwhatever you like. In some cases \u2013 such as a new build dwelling or a property located\nwithin an area of outstanding natural beauty \u2013 permitted development rights may\nnot apply. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our article How far can you extend\nwithout planning permission?<\/em><\/a> <\/em>explains some of the caveats which come with\npermitted development rights, but when it comes to extending your home, you\nshould always get in touch with the local authority first to discuss your\nplans. Depending on the complexity of your planned build, the location of your\nproperty, and any restrictive covenants which might be in place you may also\nfind it useful to seek advice from a qualified architect<\/a>, surveyor<\/a>, solicitor and\/or builder<\/a> or other tradespeople such\nas electricians and plumbers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you decide yay or nay for that extension, you also\nneed to consider what exactly you are looking to achieve with the extra\nspace<\/strong>. Do you need a separate office space, an additional bedroom and\/or\nbathroom or are you looking to create a larger, open plan living space for the\nfamily? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you have decided how you plan to use the extra space,\nthis will help you to consider thetype of extension you want to add,\nand what it will cost. <\/p>\n\n\n Get a rough estimate of your home's value now.<\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n Book an appointment with your local Yopa agent.<\/p> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n The exact value an extension can add will vary from property\nto property and the type of extension. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Indeed, research from building society Nationwide<\/a> estimated that, on average, extending a\nstandard three-bedroom home with an extra bedroom and bathroom could increase\nthe value of the property by an impressive 23%, whereas The Times suggests a\nmore conservative overall boost of between 5-10% when extending your property. The\ntype of extension you choose will also have an impact on the value you add too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to the cost for an extension, this will also\nvary massively depending on the type of extension you go for and the complexity\nof the build. If you are building on uneven ground for instance, or you need to\nuse very specific building materials to fit in with the style of your existing\nhome and surrounding properties then this adds to the cost before you even\nbegin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are just looking to create a larger kitchen or living\narea, then a single storey extension would work well and can add around 10% to\nthe value of your property. As a rule of thumb, a single storey extension will\ncost around \u00a31,350-\u00a31,750 per square metre on average plus VAT for labour and\nmaterials. A loft conversion can add the most value to your property (anywhere\nfrom 15-30%), but this can also be one of the most expensive options to create\ndepending on the type and condition of your roof, costing anywhere from \u00a315,000-\u00a360,000 plus<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whilst a garage conversion can add less value than a loft\nconversion and you will lose that dedicated space for car-parking, this type of\nextension is usually more straight forward and costs less to create. You would\nbe looking to spend around \u00a3600-\u00a31,000 a square metre depending on whether the\ngarage is integral or attached (and more for a detached garage) with around 15%\nvalue added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A double height extension will obviously cost more overall\nthan its single-storey counterpart, but the cost per square metre actually\nworks out a little less (around \u00a31,250-1,650 on average) since you will be\npaying a comparable price for the foundations and the roof for both builds. As\nsuch, if you know you are likely to need more space in future and can afford\nthe upfront expense, doing the build all in one go will work out cheaper\noverall. You are also like to add more value, of between 12-20%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you are looking to improve your own quality of life\nin a forever home, or you want to increase the value of your property with a\nfuture sale in mind, you shouldn\u2019t spend significantly more on an extension\nthan the maximum value you could add to your property. For instance, if your\nhome is currently worth around \u00a3300,000 and the ceiling price for properties on\nyour street is around \u00a3350,000, spending \u00a3100,000 on an extension means that you\nare unlikely to recoup the investment if and when you do decide to sell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The popularity of self-contained garden\nrooms<\/strong><\/a> has soared since home working became the norm in 2020.\nProviding a much more affordable alternative to extending your existing property\nwith the flexibility to provide office space, a playroom, a gym, studio and\/or\noccasional accommodation, if you have the outdoor space to accommodate it, a\ngarden room can be a real asset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Portable options<\/strong> such as shepherd\u2019s huts are also extremely\npopular since the build is completed off-site, and the finished product\ndelivered to you. You can also pick them up and take them with you when you move,\nand you are unlikely to need planning permission (although do always check!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a loft conversion isn\u2019t feasible there is always the\noption to go underground<\/strong>, particularly if you have an existing basement\narea beneath your home. However, you may need to undertake pricey structural\nwork such as underpinning or lower the existing floor level to meet building\nregulations which can make the job very pricey. A basement extension\nbeneath your garden or driveway<\/a> can be a more affordable option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, if your home is no longer working for you and\nextending isn\u2019t feasible, moving house<\/strong> may be a more sensible option in\nthe long term. Indeed, if you know you are likely to be moving house in the\nnext three to five years then an extension is generally not viable given the\nupheaval it will cause and the fact that you are unlikely to make your money\nback in such a short timeframe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If moving is on the cards, you can get a sense of how much\nyour current home is worth via our instant online valuation<\/a> tool, or by speaking to one of Yopa\u2019s friendly\nlocal agents<\/a> to\narrange an in person, no obligation valuation. \n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In addition to providing some much-needed extra living or working space, adding an extension to your home also has the potential to increase the property\u2019s value significantly. Of course, any value you add to your home is dependent on where you live, the type of property you own and the quality and finish of the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3441,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-improvements"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dy36-2.stage.yopa-dev.co.uk\/homeowners-hub\/wp-content\/themes\/yopa\/assets\/images\/icon-house.svg\"){kind=icon}
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<\/div>\n How much value is an extension likely to add and what will it\ncost to build?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat are the alternatives to an extension when you want to\ncreate more space?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n