How much does a house extension cost?

If you are thinking about extending your home, it is vital to work out the cost of your home extension before you start the work. Therefore this article will discuss benefits of building your home extension and then provide an indicative cost levels for works in South East of England in 2011.

In the current UK economic climate more people are opting to build an extension rather than move, as it can be a cost effective way of adding value to your property. Depending on the size of the extension you are planning to build, it can add around 25% to the value of the property and basement or loft conversion will typically boost the property value by 10% to 15%.

Estimated cost of a house extension

Providing cost estimation for an ‘average’ home extension can be tricky – since there really is no average! Issues such as ground conditions, access to the site, location and proximity of services are a huge factor in the build budget. Our indicative costs are provided assuming that all of these issues are reasonable to deal with. The cost of building a home extension greatly depends on its size and style. As a rough guide, a single storey (20 metre sq) extension costs 22,340GBP or 1,117GBP per metre sq; two storey (40 metre sq) extension costs 46,080GBP or 1,152GBP per metre sq; a (32 metre sq) loft conversion costs 25,536GBP or 798GBP per sq metre; and a (32 metre sq) basement conversion costs 27,168GBP or 849GBP per sq metre.

These figures will be more variable and depend on the preferences of the homeowner. For example, stone flooring will have a greater cost implication than cheaper timber alternatives. A more detailed estimation for your extension may be obtained at the planning stage of your project. A builder will then be able to give an indicative estimate for the work.

Contingency fun

Of course, you can’t foresee unexpected problems but you can prepare for them. You should always set aside a contingency fund to deal with added costs that can, and often do, arise.

Conclusion

Extending your home is a good cost effective way to increase the value of your home and with the right design it will be a source of joy and satisfaction for years to come.

Aleksandra Bryla is RIBA Part I Architect
and founder of Young Architecture Architects in Kent

Read more about House Extension Cost

Aleksandra is a RIBA Part 1 Architecural Assistant

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Improve Your House to Sell Home Fast

If your property has been on the market for a long time and you have been unable to sell home fast, chances are you are not doing something right. You may have planned to sell your home in order to move into a better place or to improve your financial condition. In case of the latter, you may be considering a sell and rent back option. Whatever the case may be, you can take a few steps to ensure that your house gets sold quickly.

Tips to Sell Home Fast

Here are a few tips that can help you make your home more attractive to buyers:

Complete all repairs:Remember the squeaking door that drives you nuts, the broken screens that let sunshine through in the wee hours of the morning or the tap that leaks? You can no longer defer fixing these. It may be a good idea to walk through your home and take a thorough look at everything that needs repair and get them fixed.

Opt for a pre-sale inspection:A professional inspection has dual benefits. Firstly, it brings out problems that you perhaps would never have noticed. It also helps spread the word around if there are no major issues. An inspection report sends out a clear message to buyers that you have nothing to hide.

Clean up thoroughly:There are three aspects to cleaning:

Remove the clutter so that buyers can visualize themselves staying in the house. A cluttered room not only makes the property look less attractive, it also makes rooms look smaller.
Create a neutral and impersonal atmosphere so that buyers think of themselves and not you when they look through your house. However painful it may be for you, certain items like family photographs should be packed up.
Further cleaning in terms of scouring bathrooms, shining windows and banishing all kinds of smells that could turn buyers off are a must do.

Redecorate for maximum effect:Highlight the focal points of the rooms with the correct placement of furniture. Remove all unnecessary pieces and rearrange them elsewhere if necessary. Take special care of the floors. A clean floor is not enough. Look for cost-effective alternatives for stained or cracked floors.

Impress with a splendid curb:Many buyers make a decision even before they go into the house. As most buyers surf online before they visit the property, landscaping counts. The photos of the exterior of your house should be impressive. Beautiful flowers and neat hedges are a good start. Think up ways to spruce up your lawn, paint the front door and ensure that potential buyers get all the right vibes as they walk in.

Sell Home Fast with the Right Strategy

Apart from making your property look attractive to buyers, you can take the following steps to ensure a quicker sale:

Select the right agent:When making the choice, ensure that your agent:

Can really sell.
Is trustworthy.
Knows the locality well.
Is enthusiastic about your home.
Gets along well with other agents.

Fixing the price:Never test the market with too high a price tag. Buyers will not make an effort for someone they feel is unreasonable. Fix the price on the basis of other houses in the area. You may also take the advice of your agent, as they are more in touch with the market and prices than you are. You will be flooded with offers from people who are looking for fairly priced houses.

How can I sell my house fast? Has this question been bothering you? You are not alone. Most homeowners have this concern. Even if you are looking for a good sell and rent back offer, ensuring that your home is in good shape and selecting the right agent will help you to sell home fast.

Kathryn Dawson writes articles for Compare Property Buyers, a leading property sale comparison website in the UK providing lots of advice on how to sell home fast. You can sell my house fast at Compare Property Buyers because buyers can make offer on your property within 48 hours. Compare Property Buyers not only strive to get you the best price for your property fast, they also ensure your sell and rent back deal is tailored to your requirements.

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Improve Your House To Sell Home Fast

If your property has been on the market for a long time and you have been unable to sell home fast, chances are you are not doing something right. You may have planned to sell your home in order to move into a better place or to improve your financial condition. In case of the latter, you may be considering a sell and rent back option. Whatever the case may be, you can take a few steps to ensure that your house gets sold quickly.

Tips to Sell Home Fast
Here are a few tips that can help you make your home more attractive to buyers:

Complete all repairs: Remember the squeaking door that drives you nuts, the broken screens that let sunshine through in the wee hours of the morning or the tap that leaks? You can no longer defer fixing these. It may be a good idea to walk through your home and take a thorough look at everything that needs repair and get them fixed.

Opt for a pre-sale inspection: A professional inspection has dual benefits. Firstly, it brings out problems that you perhaps would never have noticed. It also helps spread the word around if there are no major issues. An inspection report sends out a clear message to buyers that you have nothing to hide.

Clean up thoroughly: There are three aspects to cleaning:
Remove the clutter so that buyers can visualize themselves staying in the house. A cluttered room not only makes the property look less attractive, it also makes rooms look smaller.
Create a neutral and impersonal atmosphere so that buyers think of themselves and not you when they look through your house. However painful it may be for you, certain items like family photographs should be packed up.
Further cleaning in terms of scouring bathrooms, shining windows and banishing all kinds of smells that could turn buyers off are a must do.

Redecorate for maximum effect: Highlight the focal points of the rooms with the correct placement of furniture. Remove all unnecessary pieces and rearrange them elsewhere if necessary. Take special care of the floors. A clean floor is not enough. Look for cost-effective alternatives for stained or cracked floors.

Impress with a splendid curb: Many buyers make a decision even before they go into the house. As most buyers surf online before they visit the property, landscaping counts. The photos of the exterior of your house should be impressive. Beautiful flowers and neat hedges are a good start. Think up ways to spruce up your lawn, paint the front door and ensure that potential buyers get all the right vibes as they walk in.

Sell Home Fast with the Right Strategy
Apart from making your property look attractive to buyers, you can take the following steps to ensure a quicker sale:

Select the right agent: When making the choice, ensure that your agent:
Can really sell.
Is trustworthy.
Knows the locality well.
Is enthusiastic about your home.
Gets along well with other agents.

Fixing the price: Never test the market with too high a price tag. Buyers will not make an effort for someone they feel is unreasonable. Fix the price on the basis of other houses in the area. You may also take the advice of your agent, as they are more in touch with the market and prices than you are. You will be flooded with offers from people who are looking for fairly priced houses.

How can I sell my house fast? Has this question been bothering you? You are not alone. Most homeowners have this concern. Even if you are looking for a good sell and rent back offer, ensuring that your home is in good shape and selecting the right agent will help you to sell home fast.

Kathryn Dawson writes for Compare Property Buyers, a property comparison website providing lots of advice on how to sell home fast. You can sell my house fast at Compare Property Buyers and they also ensure that your sell and rent back deal is tailored to your needs.

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