Advice to help your Bournemouth home extension go smoothly
We know only too well how exciting a home extension project in Bournemouth, Poole or Christchurch can feel – it’s an opportunity to adapt your home to better suit your needs and make your property into your forever home. However, it’s important that despite your excitement you don’t rush in without properly planning the project.
Our experts at Bournemouth Constructions are well-versed on home refurbishment and extension projects, and we’re happy to share our advice and experience. You may also want to consider some of the following tips shared by RICS-accredited valuer Bradley Mackenzie, who recently spoke to Tom's guide about how to make a home extension project run smoothly.
1. Have a detailed plan and budget
His first tip is to make sure you have a detailed plan for every step of your renovation project, which not only outlines what should happen, but also how long each part of the project should take. We recommend working with our affiliate architect, if you don’t have your own, to create a detailed design for your extension, as well as to ensure that all building regulations are followed and that any necessary planning permission is applied for.
Hand in hand with a detailed plan for the build itself is a detailed budget. Be realistic about how much the extension project will cost and make sure you build in some contingency to cover unexpected expenses. The advice from Bradley is not to skimp on costs by opting for the cheapest quotes you’re given – he recommends taking the time to look for a builder you trust, and paying extra for them if necessary. We have many happy clients and are always happy to share our reviews with you – you’ll find many of them on our website.
2. Think about the time of year
Although we don’t stop working over the winter, it is important to remember that the colder weather we experience at this time of the year can have an impact on an extension project. For instance, if we have a very cold spell the ground could become frozen, making it much more challenging to carry out groundwork.
By working closely with us, we can help you plan your home extension project to optimise the building process and ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible. That may mean we don’t begin with groundworks until the spring, but this just gives you some additional time to plan and source the perfect materials.
3. Do your research about planning permission
Although home extensions are considered permitted developments in many cases, it never hurts to double check the planning regulations for your home in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole – if your property is within a conservation area or is listed, that will have an impact on the level of permission required for any large-scale renovations like an extension.
Our affiliate architect will be able to assist you with this, so speak to our team to find out more about what you need to check before getting started with a project of this scale.
One homeowner in Bradford recently learned the hard way about the importance of seeking proper planning permission – Khalil Hussain had his retrospective planning application turned down by his local council, the Telegraph & Argus reported. The council decided that the extension, which had almost been completed, damaged the outlook of Khalil’s neighbours, which means it may have to be torn down.
We are always happy to discuss any home extension project you may be planning in the Bournemouth, Poole or Christchurch area. Please reach out to us to learn more about our services and to ensure you get your project off to a smooth start.
