- December 21, 2020
HOME EXTENSION RENOVATION – If you need more space but you don’t want to move, then building an extension can be the answer. But before you start your project, it pays to have an idea of what building an extension can entail.
From the design stage through to planning, from working out costs and the actual build project – building an extension is a big commitment.
re you considering extending your home or maybe a loft conversion and can’t move out? Here are some home extension tips I have learned after having been there not once but twice!
First we converted the loft and the building work started when I was 5 months pregnant with my son and my daughter was 19 months. Yes, a baby and another on the way! We contracted everything so it is not as if I worked on the build myself! But nevertheless we were living or “camping” on site.
If I didn’t have enough, last year we adventured ourselves into building a side return extension that implied changing the whole downstairs’ layout. The kids are a little bit older but we also lived on site during the renovation works!
HOME EXTENSION RENOVATION
With property prices soaring and the hated stamp duty, no wonder that home renovation and extensions are more popular than moving home. I found this report on the subject of moving or improving very interesting, you might want to read it too. Renovating or extending a house is not cheap either so many of us (me included!) don’t have any alternative than living on site.
I have decided to share some tips with you about my experience and what to really consider when you are in the situation of having to live on site whilst renovating the house. Here are my tips:
Plan the living space ahead!
I recommend you to make sure you have planned where you are going to eat, sleep, etc. beforehand. When the home renovation or extension starts you know exactly where you are going to spend most of the time and, most importantly, where you are going to sleep!
When we renovated the downstairs of the house last year, we all slept in the loft. We moved up the kids’ beds into my home office and I temporarily set up my office into my bedroom. My daughter’s room became the living/dining room.
The fridge and the sink were moved to the box room upstairs which was later going to become the laundry. Some friends lent us their camping stove and that was our set up!
Just think it as camping in your own home. One thing it is sure, the kids were really happy!
Tell your neighbors!
Be nice to the neighbors and let them know beforehand that you are going to carry out building works. I was very lucky with my neighbors as they really didn’t mind but you could fall out with them because of the renovations.
