| Adding an extension to your home is
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| | decorating and so on in your budget. Also
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| becoming more and more popular as an
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| | consider whether you will have to move
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| alternative to moving house. Ever
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| | into rented accommodation for a short
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| increasing house prices and the costs of
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| | time and allow for that. Something
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| moving can make adapting your current
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| | unexpected will always happen so make
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| home seem an attractive, more affordable
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| | sure you include a contingency fund.
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| option. However, you do need to think
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| | Architects and planning permission
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| carefully and do some research to ensure
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| | In order to decide whether your plans are
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| your plans go smoothly. Although you will
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| | feasible you are likely to need advice
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| save on agent's fees, stamp duty and
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| | from an architect. Contact the Royal
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| removal expenses, there will be
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| | Institute of British Architects for a
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| architect's costs and disruption to your
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| | list of those registered in your area.
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| home.
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| | Choose several and make an appointment to
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| Why build an extension?
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| | discuss your ideas. This type of initial
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| Firstly think about the purpose of your
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| | consultation is usually free but check
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| extension. Do you need more space for a
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| | first. You can outline your requirements,
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| growing family, a home office, a
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| | look at their portfolio to see whether
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| self-contained area for an elderly
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| | they have worked on similar projects
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| relative, or are you thinking of the
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| | before, and ask about their fee
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| extension as an investment to increase
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| | structure. You will then be in a position
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| the value of your property? The purpose
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| | to select the most appropriate for your
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| of your building project will affect the
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| | situation.
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| planning permission you need and your
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| | As a minimum an architect will draw up
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| budget. For example planning a large
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| | plans to submit to the planning
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| scale two storey extension will require a
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| | department. They can negotiate with the
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| different approach to a small
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| | council and hopefully you will obtain
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| conservatory, and there is no point
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| | planning permission. However, be prepared
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| installing expensive, luxury fittings in
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| | for a slow process, particularly if you
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| your new kitchen if you are planning to
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| | are refused at first or there are
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| move in a year or two.
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| | objections. Once you have planning
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| Planning considerations
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| | permission you then have to submit
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| You should have a good look around your
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| | detailed technical plans to cover
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| local area. In particular note whether
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| | building regulations. Some architects
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| any of your neighbours have extended
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| | offer a further service to manage the
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| their property and if so how? Do you wish
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| | whole project for you. This means they
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| to do something similar or do you have
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| | will get quotes from builders and oversee
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| very different ideas? Your planning
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| | the work in progress. This may save you
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| application will have to be in keeping
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| | some worry and hassle but will be an
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| with the area and is more likely to be
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| | additional expense.
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| accepted if there is already something
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| | How do I find a reputable builder?
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| similar nearby. All areas have rules and
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| | By far the best way of finding a builder
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| regulations covering basics such as how
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| | is word of mouth recommendation. Have any
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| close to the house next door you can
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| | of your friends, neighbours or family
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| build and potential use of the building.
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| | used local builders and if so would they
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| However, in some cases there will be
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| | recommend their services? Alternatively
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| other restrictions such as in green belt
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| | look out for builders working nearby.
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| areas, national parks and for listed
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| | They often put out company boards on
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| buildings.
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| | site. Some builders specialise in
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| As long as they are done properly most
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| | particular types of work, for example
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| extensions will add some value to your
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| | loft or garage conversions, which may be
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| home. However, the cost of the build
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| | appropriate for you. Think about whether
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| could be higher than the added value.
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| | you want a large company to come in and
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| Remember there will be fees incurred and
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| | get the job done as soon as possible. In
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| there is likely to be a ceiling value for
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| | that case you can expect a lot of
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| your particular type of property and
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| | different people coming and going all the
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| neighbourhood.
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| | time, depending on the stage of the work.
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| How to finance your extension
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| | Alternatively are you prepared to wait
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| How you decide to finance your extension
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| | for a two man set up which will be slower
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| will depend on the costs involved and
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| | but may be less disruptive? It is a good
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| your circumstances. However,
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| | idea to get at least three quotes and ask
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| re-mortgaging could well be your best
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| | for a fixed price, otherwise your budget
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| option. This means you will pay off your
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| | could quickly disappear. Also ask for
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| current mortgage by taking out another.
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| | timescales and how they will go about the
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| At the same time you increase the amount
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| | work. Will they expect you to move out or
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| you borrow to cover the cost of your
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| | will they work around you as far as
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| build. It is important to include all
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| | possible?
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| fees, internal fixtures and fittings,
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