Home extensions are very popular especially in periods of economic downturn where it is easier to build on your existing home rather than trying to fight to get a mortgage to buy something new. It does also help to add some value to your current property but there are several things you need to think about before a brick is even laid.
The first thing you need to do is find out everything you can about the planning regulations for your area. You have to know who you apply to and also the costs and pick up any advice that means it should be easier to have your plans approved.
Also look at spending time learning about your local building regulations and understand what is and is not allowed so your extension is going to be passed at the first attempt. This is also something a good builder and architect should know about so spend some time selecting the right people for both drawing and then building your extension.
Find out how much they reckon it is going to cost you to have the work done and see if you have more than their quotes available for the job. Things can go wrong and you do not want to use up all of your money as this can then lead to half a job being done which is obviously a situation you would like to avoid.
Always plan it to be built in the best weather so you know that at least all of the exterior work shall be completed before it gets colder and wetter which can cause more problems for the foundations. You therefore need to find out how long it should take for the project to be completed and time it accordingly.
When it comes to picking the professionals that are going to be responsible for the project find out about their experience in dealing with this kind of thing so you feel you have made the right decision. It can be a stressful thing to have done so only pick people that make you feel confident in their ability as then you shall feel that there is less chance of anything going wrong.
Home extensions can really help to improve your home and make it that bit more comfortable to live in. They can be expensive but compared to the cost of buying something new it can end up being a relative bargain.