5 Most Popular House Extensions and Alterations
House extensions and alterations are on the mind of many home-owners. Now that you have good home equity and no abnormal debts, maybe you think that it's about time to add a few things. Big projects like this tend to be expensive but they increase home value as well as your quality of life. You can think of them as financial investments or happiness investments, but the most important thing is that you do think of them as investments. Here are the five most popular.
- Bathroom
Fitting a new bathroom is the most popular house extension. This isn't too surprising, we all spend time in here every day. Of course, it should be well done. In terms of price, bathroom alterations can vary hugely, from a few hundred for a new porcelain throne all the way up to thousands and up for the whole job. If you're thinking about resale value, it's best to put emphasis on the parts that are lacking. Do your tiles have cracks? Replace them. A budget focused renovator shouldn't swap out everything unnecessarily. Also, with all the plumbing involved in a bathroom, it's paramount that you make sure your guy knows what he's doing. It's probably better to pay a premium and get premium quality.
- Kitchen
Another favourite is the improved kitchen. Similarly, this is an often used room that ought to be clean and functional. So, it's little surprise that people target their investments here. Price ,again, is variable. A new set of cupboards could run you as little as NZD700 while a fully fitted bespoke kitchen will soar above the 10 thousand mark. If you're planning to increase the value of your home it's best to give particular attention to dis-functional or out-dated sections. If you don't have money for an entirely new kitchen, just replace those old cupboards and fix the broken sink. Along with the number of bedrooms, a quality kitchen is one of the biggest things people tend to think about when buying a house.
- Loft Conversion
Coming in at third is the loft conversion. This is great if you want to increase your effective space without buying a new place or building a garden extension. Loft space can be used for many things, take for instance a study or even a games room. Another good option is an extra bedroom where you can earn some extra cash via rent. On the other hand, you can see why these aren't higher on the list as they easily rack up many tens of thousands of dollars. So, watch out. If you're careful, though, it can be worth it. Especially if you plan to rent. Just make sure you do your research and consider all of your options.
- Garden Landscaping
Gardens tend to bring people together. They're a scene of countless barbeques and pool parties. A place for family and friends. Which, is probably why so many people put time and money into landscaping their gardens. This is one that can hold a lot of personal as well as financial value. A lot of the extensions and alterations covered so far have had highly variable costs. This one is a whole other league. Landscaping and garden improvements can be as cheap as few new pots or as expensive as you like. For that reason, this is one almost anybody can at least get started with. The key to maximising return on investment here is opting for quality with the aesthetics. If you can't afford an outdoor pool, don't worry. Well arranged and cared for flowers can go a long way. Maybe even get an outdoor hammock.
- Garden Extension
After reading the fourth point one might think that we love our gardens. Point five, however, suggests that we prefer to build on them. A garden extension is a great way to dip your toes into house design. It also increases the resale value of a property considerably. Especially true if you live in an upscale neighbourhood. The general price here is about two thousand per square meter. The trick is to try and find out what the average sale price per square meter is in your neighbourhood. If it's more than what you're paying for the extension, you'll likely profit. If not, it's better to focus on personal use over monetary value. This could be an extra living room. It could be a bedroom for rent. For the DIY types, it could even be a home workshop. There are a lot of possibilities. Just don't let your wallet run away with your imagination.
The five most popular home extensions and alterations. That should be enough to satisfy your mind and more than enough to satisfy your budget. All practical; all with the potential for something interesting. If you take action you could stand to gain financially and, perhaps more importantly, in your home life. Just make sure you do proper planning. Know why you're investing and have some fun.