Are you deciding whether or not you should renovate your home or just build a completely new one? There are various conditions that you must consider when it comes to choosing either option including your budget, space, intended use, resources, and more.

If you are still undecided on which is better – renovating or building – then please explore your options with us below.

Building A New Home

Building a custom home of your own definitely has its own benefits. One of the main benefits is that you will be able to live in a home that completely feels like your own. 

Additional benefits include that everything is both new and under warranty. Maintenance and repairs should be minimal and you’ll have the chance to utilise sustainable materials for an environmentally efficient home.

Expanding technology such as upgrading your electrical system is also an option when building a new home. Design is very flexible as you can choose a floor plan and structure layout that fits you and your preferences. 

Some conditions where you can consider building a new home include:

1). There Are Available Lots

If you love the neighbourhood you are in, and you don’t like the house you’re living in, and there is an available lot, then you could consider building a new home. 

2). Unable To Make Changes

If you want to make changes to your existing home but can’t due to limited space or unapproved permits, then you may consider building. Some neighbourhoods can be strict with renovation changes, so building a house can provide more flexibility at your end.

3). Stress

Living through renovations may be stressful, so if you are unwilling to put up with this then building a new home may be the best option for you. 

Renovating Your Home

While there are certain conditions and benefits of building a new home, renovating your home is also something you should consider. In fact, the benefits of renovating your home can actually match the benefits of rebuilding a new home.

For example, one benefit of building a new home is that you can customise your home’s structure and layout. However, this benefit also applies to renovating your home. You can make your existing home feel more personalised by customising your home and adding simple touches.

Likewise, a similar benefit that renovating has to building from scratch is that they both allow you to upgrade your home in various ways, whether it be to install the latest home technology or to improve your home’s interior design. 

Clearly, most of the benefits of renovation and building are quite similar. However, one primary importance of renovating is that it can be much cheaper than having to build a whole new home for yourself. 

More importantly, by renovating you are able to retain a home that already is full of so many memories and has served as your comfort zone in previous years

The conditions in which you can renovate your house may include:

1). Location

If you already love your current neighbourhood, then renovations are just for you. Location is a big factor in choosing the right home, so why leave your neighbourhood when you can simply renovate your home?

2). Increasing Property Value

You can make a bigger return on your investment if the property value is increasing in your neighbourhood considering your initial financial outlay. Checking with a realtor so that they can advise you on what the market is like within your neighbourhood can help you decide if you should renovate or sell. 

3). Emotional Attachment

Of course, emotional attachment is a big consideration when it comes to renovations. If you have an emotional attachment to your home, and cringe at the idea of moving, or don’t have enough money to build a new home, then renovating is the way to go.

However, it is important to ensure that the renovations you plan to make align with local policies. Consulting with a professional can help clarify these requirements for you.

4). Time-Efficient

Building a new home from scratch can take a lot of time. If you do not have a lot of time to spare, renovating is the best option for you. Renovations are generally shorter in time compared to building new houses depending on the amount of work you want to be done. 

Final Thoughts

There are individual benefits to both renovating your current home and building an entirely new one. However, many benefits of building a new home match the benefits of renovating your current one. The difference is that there is a high chance that renovating your home is a more economically viable option.

If you are looking for some home extension or renovation ideas, then please speak to us at Period Extensions & Designs. Our award-winning designers have a plethora of experience when it comes to designing extensions and renovations from period-style homes, right through to contemporary structures.

We will listen to what you want and use our knowledge and experience to turn your vision into a truly exquisite design, which we will then bring to life.

Whether you need help with the design or the actual extension and renovation itself, please call us today at Period Extensions & Designs on (03) 8658 1340 or contact us through our contact form.

House extensions are a great opportunity to add space to the home that you have come to love. However, you might be wondering what you need to consider before getting a home extension.

Whatever intention or goal you have in mind, it is important that you carefully plan ahead before you carry out a home extension project. There are many things to consider things such as budgets, logistics, legalities, and a whole lot more.

If you want to learn more about what you will need to consider when getting a house extension, then please keep reading as we discuss this topic in more detail below. 

1). Visualise What You Want

You may have the faint goal of creating an extension, but you have to thoroughly visualise what you want. If you create the extension, what is it for? Where will you place the necessary appliances? Will the extension address the needs of your house? Where will you place the extension?

Try to make your goals more tangible when getting a home extension. This way, you will get as much value as you possibly can.

2). Keeping Up With Costs

Of course, the cost is a big factor that you will need to consider when getting a home extension. One helpful tip is to try to be realistic and honest with the money that you have available. The location, the size of the extension, and even other conditions such as soil will affect the total cost of your extension project.

3). Securing Planning Permissions

This consideration is often overlooked, but it is imperative that you consider this. Before you begin your extension project, make sure that you have secured the correct planning permission. In some cases, you may not need one; however, it is always better to be ready and prepared. 

You can find out if planning permission is required by heading over to your local council’s website or a permitted development rights system. Or, you can consult with a professional to help you learn more about this.

4). Securing Building Certificates

You also cannot forget to secure building certificates. Once all the building work has been accomplished, make sure that you talk to your builder or contractor to help you acquire all the necessary certification. 

Building certification may include building control certificates, electrical and gas safe certification, etc. Without securing these certificates, it could be challenging to sell your property, later on, if you ever plan to do this. 

5). Budgeting Time

The time it will take for your home extension project is another important factor to consider. Depending on the size of the extension, it could take as long as 3 months to complete so it is important to plan how you will adjust to this.

You need to also account for possibilities such as additional requirements that need planning permission and building control approval that could extend the time of completion. Therefore, it is important to consider time as an element in home extensions to avoid further disruptions.

6). Coping With The Process

You must also consider the day-to-day logistics that you will have to adjust to as the project is carried out. There could be a lot of dust or noise that can serve as a disruption to you. You can choose to find temporary accommodation for the meantime or simply find ways to adjust to the construction process.

However, other ways that you can prepare for the construction process is to invest in dust sheets, move belongings to storage, or take your family out for dinner to escape the mess.  

7). Considering The Neighbours

While you are free to build your own extension in the way you envision it to look, considering the neighbours is also another important responsibility. Even if your planning permission has been granted, it would be courteous to inform your neighbours that you have building plans. 

Things to consider might include: Are there problems with overlooking? Could neighbours complain about their “right to light?” “Who owns the boundary fence?” “Would your extension overshadow their garden?” All of the questions are important questions to ask your neighbours when getting a home extension.

Final Thoughts

Building a home extension can be a great commitment. However, it is important that you carefully consider these important factors before building an extension. 

If you are looking for some home extension or renovation ideas, then please speak to us at Period Extensions & Designs. Our award-winning designers have a plethora of experience when it comes to designing extensions and renovations from period-style homes, right through to contemporary structures.

We will listen to what you want and use our knowledge and experience to turn your vision into a truly exquisite design, which we will then bring to life.

Whether you need help with the design or the actual extension and renovation itself, please call us today at Period Extensions & Designs on (03) 8658 1340 or contact us through our contact form.