Most people think that paying for a house makes it theirs. Well, home ownership depends on your perspective of things. Some home owners never really feel as though they own their home until they make changes that suit them and match their personality. A few years ago, such people were scarce to find but in the recent past, they have grown in number. Maybe, you are one of them.
Well, if that’s the case, read through this for great home extension ideas. While redecorating your home and extending the bathroom, kitchen, patio or any other part of the home has become a common practice, you should be aware of the huge amount of money the project can use up. Of course the cost of extensions depends on the specifics, but nonetheless, the cost is huge.
That said, not all hope is lost. There are numerous ways in which you can make lemonade out of the lemons your home extension project throws at you. If you are smart enough, there are some corners you can cut and some pretty daring and huge shortcuts you can take that will provide you with killer results without compromising on the quality of the extension.
Below are some of the clever ways to save some extra coins and be on top of your home extension budget.
Keep It Simple
There is always the temptation to go over the top and get what you saw on TV or in a magazine. The extension looked so good and inviting that you cannot picture yourself getting something else. Well, while all dreams are valid, it is very important to be realistic. While you are trying to save money, simple is the best way to go. Anything elegant and eye-catching and possibly with sparkly surfaces is downright expensive and will cost you an arm and a leg.
Square or rectangular footprints finished with a simple pitched roof are the cheapest. Additionally, and to save even more, you should steer clear of products that will need to be made for you to order. Stick to readily available building materials such as concrete, timber cladding, render, brick and soft timber.
If you can avoid it, do not build close to sewers or drains as complex groundwork will affect the costs upwards.
Transform Into a DIYer
For a normal extension, the labor costs take up about 50-65% of the entire budget. This is great news for those willing to get their hands dirty. Getting into the thick of things and managing some constructions yourself will see you saving some considerable amount of money.
Some of the easiest tasks you can take up include landscaping, decorating and laboring as they do not necessarily need high-level qualifications. Speaking of qualifications, you should be warned. Do not take up work that you do not have the skills or the time to undertake. If you really are fixated on getting it done yourself, take some time to read up. Do not rush anything as poor construction and workmanship will lead to wasted material and an increased budget.
For those works whose results will be on display to every guest you have over such as Plastering and Bricklaying, You Should Hire an Expert.
Pick your professional wisely
When it comes to hiring experts, you will need to hire a designer who has honed the ability to produce simple yet catchy and beautiful plans that will not cost you a fortune. Get experts who will do everything according to code and will offer an all in price for the planning and drawings. The choosing process may take some time but it will be well worth your time, effort and finances when you land one with a proven track record of handling low-cost projects.
Make The VAT Work For You
Like with many other projects, the extension works will attract VAT amounting to about 20% on materials and labor. You can keep this cost from trickling down to you by hiring self-employed persons who turn over less than the required threshold for the VAT registration. This will, in turn, save you some considerable amount of money.
Making use of second-hand building materials that are sold by private individuals online will help you escape the VAT costs.
Adding to this, there are certain kinds of works that will attract slashed VAT rates regardless. These include insulation upgrades and extending buildings that have been unoccupied for a period of two years or more.
With the above tips, you should be well placed to guard your finances and still get to upgrade your home and finally ‘own it’.
