{"id":34,"date":"2019-10-23T11:10:10","date_gmt":"2019-10-23T10:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/home-improvements.rightmove.test\/?p=34"},"modified":"2020-07-21T16:45:00","modified_gmt":"2020-07-21T15:45:00","slug":"house-extensions-where-to-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rightmove.co.uk\/home-improvements\/extensions\/house-extensions-where-to-start\/","title":{"rendered":"House Extensions: Where To Start"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our guide will help you get your head around the planning process before starting a dream new refurb on your home.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should I move or improve?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A home extension can be an excellent way to make a home a better place to live. Plus, research by Hiscox has found that a loft conversion alone can add 10%<\/a> to the price of a house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Homeowners weigh such factors against the creeping costs involved in selling a home, like stamp duty and conveyancing, among others. With this in mind, it\u2019s easy to see why 15%<\/a> of homeowners chose to \u2018do up\u2019 their home in 2018, compared with only 3% five years previously. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Securing an application to build an extension <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Planning permission is typically needed for new buildings and big alterations to a structure or purpose of a building. Despite the well-worn challenges that are linked to getting planning permission, about nine in 10<\/a> applications, in fact, get approved by local authorities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decisions on the approval or refusal of planning projects are ultimately made by local planning authorities. Less commonly, some people need to apply by contacting a private Building Control Body (BCB) – a process which involves applying through a private approved inspector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Once you\u2019ve sorted out the correct approval for your own plans, double-check that the building company and architect you\u2019ve chosen are in agreement about what\u2019s been formally agreed. If you need to make any adjustments after any construction work starts, then things could get messy pretty quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to design an extension<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to designing your extension you\u2019ll need to decide whether you want to do this alone, or with the help of an architect. Another option could be to work with a build and design company. Unless you\u2019re highly passionate about, and experienced in renovating properties, it\u2019s probably wise to go down the professional help route. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to find a great architect and builders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The key to designing a beautiful extension is to find an excellent architect to help you draw up your plans. To do so, make sure you do plenty of research and seek out as many customers reviews and recommendations as you can. This is an important part of the process, even if you design your extension yourself, as you may still need a designer or draftsperson to draw up your plans in order to get planning approval. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later on in your project, it\u2019s just as important to find reliable, trustworthy builders who have exceptional problem-solving skills, as this could save you money on labour costs if anything goes wrong. You could start the search on a site like checkatrade.com, but it\u2019s also wise to seek out word-of-mouth reviews from other people with first hand experience of the contractor\u2019s work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Home insurance and extensions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Both your buildings and contents insurance policies could be affected – or even invalidated – by getting works done at your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n