Thursday, March 17, 2011

Loft Conversion Or Move Home – Which Is Best?

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. At this time, house prices are on the decline in big cities like London, so you could be taking a big financial risk if you decide to move home just for one more room in the current climate. (With the additional costs of stamp duty, increased mortgages, conveyencing fees and paying removal companies it can really be expensive|Not forgetting all of the usual moving costs such as a bigger mortgage, stamp duty, normal removal expenses and solicitors fees it can really mount up|Then there are the costs which are always associated with moving home such as removals, the cost of hiring a solicitor, higher mortgage payments and stamp duty}.


But you really need another room so what can you do? Think about a loft conversion as it will likely increase your house’s value as well as providing the extra room. A leading UK building society (the Alliance and Leicester) conducted a survey recently and discovered that a quality loft conversion can increase your home’s value by up to £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. What it means is that the majority of loft conversions don’t require formal planning permission but instead can be constructed under a term called “permitted development”. Although the planning law is relaxed this doesn’t mean the building regulations have been to and they must be adhered to for living space.


When considering a loft conversion price will obviously be a factor. It is not wise just to accept the lowest estimate because if the conversion is planned and constructed poorly then the value of your house could actually fall. Don’t accept any proposal with a temporary staircase as this will add little value in the eyes of your local estate agent. It is well worth paying more now for a totally professional job as you will reap the rewards of significantly increased value in the future.


What kind of advantages does a loft conversion offer over a normal house extension project? There are lots of advantages. Most houses, regardless of style, will be suitable for a loft conversion. The cost of a loft conversion is also likely to be a lot less than a home extension would be and there is no need to lose valuable outdoor space as well. 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. Another major advantage is that loft conversions often take less time to plan and build which means that you are not sharing your home with local builders for weeks on end .


You can go a step further with your loft conversion and help the environment by installing solar panels to generate electricity, heat your water or both. This will also reduce your electricity bill. If you choose the solar panel route to generate electricity then you will be eligible for incentives from the government for this and water incentives are also planned.


The final price that you can expect to pay for your loft conversion depends on the structural requirements for the flooring, the size and shape of your loft, whether or not water tanks need to be moved and a whole host of other factors. Overall it should prove to be a sound investment.



There are many advantages to choosing a loft conversion if a quality solution is sought. To find out more about quality loft conversions visit this link loft conversions London.

1 comment:

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