subject: Need Extra Space? A Loft Conversion Could Be The Answer [print this page] Need Extra Space? A Loft Conversion Could Be The Answer
Many people are realizing that building a professional loft conversion is a lot better than moving home if all you need is one extra room. In an area like London where the housing market is constantly changing, so moving house at the moment can be very risky just to get that additional room and you could lose out heavily. With the additional costs of stamp duty, increased mortgages, conveyencing fees and paying removal companies it can really be expensive.
What do you do if you really need that additional living space? A loft conversion is a very good idea as it will meet your requirements for that other room and it will add value to your precious home. A leading high street building society the Alliance and Leicester discovered that a well planned and built loft conversion can see the value of your property soar by as much as 40,000.This also means of course that you don't have to move house and you can save a considerable amount.
A recent 2008 relaxation of the planning laws has lead to many people undertaking loft conversions. The laws have been relaxed and now most loft conversions can be carried out under "permitted development" which means that formal planning permission is not required. This should not be confused with building regulations as these still need to be adhered to as the conversion will be used for additional living space.
When considering a loft conversion price will obviously be a factor. But you need to be careful here as an inferior conversion will not add value to your home and may even decrease it. Temporary staircases are not recommended and estate agents will tell you this really doesn't add much value. Paying for a professionally designed and constructed job may seem painful now but it will pay back in spades when you come to sell your property.
What kind of advantages does a loft conversion offer over a normal house extension project? The advantages are numerous. Whatever kind of house that you own it is very likely that it will be suitable for a loft conversion. A loft conversion should be much less expensive than a traditional extension plus you won't have to give up any of your nice garden space. A lengthy planning permission process will be required for extensions but loft conversions should avoid the need for this with the recent changes in the law. The design, planning and construction time for a loft conversion should be considerably less than a traditional home extension would take.
It is even possible to reduce the world's carbon footprint by installing solar panels in your loft conversion to aide in the generation of electricity and hot water. This will also decrease your fuel bills too. The government are offering incentives to people who use solar electricity and a scheme for solar water will be available soon.
The total price for your loft conversion is dependent upon a number of things such as whether plumbing work is required to move tanks and pipes, the floor structural requirements and the actual size of your loft to name but a few. Overall it should prove to be a sound investment.
