Add value on Budget: 7 cost effective ways to extend your home

When it comes to home expansion, the cost can be soaring high. Not only is home expansion a really big undertaking, but it involves a whole lot of time, money and decision making. On average, creating a 30 square metre single story extension, that too on a budget, can cost anywhere between £30,000 to £48,000. To create a 40 square metre one-storey or two-storey extension, homeowners can expect a cost ranging from £48,000 to £76,000, on the lower side. Clearly, a home expansion can be pretty expensive! Of course, home expansions can also include creating a new bathroom or expanding the kitchen, which in turn could work out comparatively cheaper.

When it comes to home expansions, every homeowner has his or her own ideas of what they would like to add to their current home. Some want to create a whole new structure while others just want to add some more space to their existing home. At the end of the day, adding an extension to your home is directly proportional to what you can afford; however, a home extension certainly does add value to your property. Essentially, what you want is an affordable home extension that does not break the bank, but one that does add to the aesthetic and value of your home. As per property professionals UK, here are 7 cost-effective ways to extend your home on a budget.

1 Plan in advance

Usually, a home expansion that includes building another storey or creating an additional space requires floor plans, architects, interior designers and engineers. So, if you’re trying to save money on your home expansion, then you really need to start planning the expansion in advance. Approve or make changes at every step of the way; it will cost you a whole lot more money if you decide to make last-minute changes. Similarly, if you’re planning on creating a new kitchen or adding another bathroom, you need to figure out important factors like water connections and electricity connections beforehand to save money.

2 Avoid fiddling with existing pipelines

Be it internal plumbing or external pipelines, all housing experts say that the one way to ensure your expansion budget does not go out of hand is by not touching any pipelines. When you try to move pipelines, be it plumbing, gas lines or electrical wires, one wrong move can make the total cost soar. Instead, whether you are planning on adding a new bedroom or a bathroom, try to create the floor plan around the existing pipelines.

3 Consider converting instead of expanding

Consider converting unused space instead of expanding to create new space. For instance, you might want to create a new bedroom and bathroom which you can use as a home office. Instead, why not use the garage as a home office? Alternatively, you can always install a shed in the garden which can be used as a home office. In fact, even a basement or a loft can be converted into a home office. The bottom line is, try using existing space, if possible. By doing so, not only will you be able to save a whole lot of money, but you can save a lot of time too. Plus, who doesn’t love multi-functional space in their homes?

4 Try to save money on fittings and fixtures

While the cost of expanding is high due to the cost of construction, let’s not forget about the additional cost of fixtures and fittings! Be it bathroom fittings or light fixtures in the bedroom, the accumulative cost is always pretty high. So, try to save some money on your fixtures and fittings. If you plan in advance, you might be able to buy your fixtures and fittings during a sale period. Also, you might be able to source fixtures and fittings from another city or country, which might work out cheaper in the long run. Again, this comes down to planning in advance and being organised.

5 Expand with glass extensions

If you’re expanding your home to add to the aesthetic value and appeal, then you might want to consider expanding with glass. Let’s say, for instance, you want to create a spacious living room that overlooks the garden. Instead of creating a full new structure using brick and cement, you can create a beautiful living room with panoramic views by using glass! The cost of creating a glass expansion ranges from around 1,350 to £1,950 per square metre. The mid-range cost of creating a glass expansion is around £1,800 to £2,300 per square metre whereas a luxurious glass expansion will cost around £3,000 per square metre – all of which will work out cheaper than any other sort of extension.

6 Choose simple designs

One of the best ways to save money on your home extension is by creating sleek and simple designs. That means, straight lines, square walls, simple pitched roofs and classic edges. The fewer elements in the design structure, the easier it will be to construct thus reducing the overall cost of construction. With that being said, always remember to use construction materials that are easily available in your area. Opting for a simple design and then using construction materials that need to be brought in from some other place will only increase the total cost of construction.

7 Hire the right crew, wisely

Remember one thing, the most expensive crew is not always the best, and the cheapest crew is not always the worst. When it comes to an architect, you need someone good at what they do. You need to hire responsible builders who are experienced and can get the job done, within a given budget. While some people believe DIY is better, it is usually a better idea to hire a professional. Of course, it is important to negotiate a good deal and ensure that the total cost fits well within your budget. Before hiring a contractor, builder or architect, make sure to check their credentials, ask for references, do your research and make a well-informed decision!