
Renovating and Extending Your House
Choosing the right property is key. Making a bad choice at this stage will inevitably result in much effort and expense for little gain. Utilise property search engines but be generous with your parameters as you also want to consider the potential of a plot as well as the development opportunities of the property itself. Contact your local agents but bear in mind they don’t always see the potential of some homes. Have a drive around and note down empty and run down properties then contact the owners. Purchasing in this way could save on estate agent fees. Find out when and where property auctions are going on and attend those you can.
Important factors in assessing potential include location, amenities in the area, schools and transport links. Look at parking for the property and neighbouring properties. Have any recently been extended? Retrieve a full assessment of the structural condition of the property. This will give you an understanding of whether the project is viable but also if the asking price is realistic. Consider a building report from a Chartered building surveyor but remember they may not be able to uncover hidden problems. Always be prepared that once works commence some hidden issues might become apparent so setting aside a budget for this is a sensible idea.
Design potential is also something you may wish to think about. Some professional designers, technologists and architects offer a very competitive consultation service to give advice on extending, remodeling, renovation, space planning and general design feedback. It may therefore be worth using this service before purchasing the property to ensure your purchase will result in the completed project you wish to achieve. When considering the design of a property create a requirement list detailing the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you would like, the type of living area such as living room with separate dining space or open plan. This may help when viewing a property as you can then visualise the space and assess whether your requirements suits the area available to you.

To look at a property structurally is an essential part of assessing potential. Alerting yourself to issues early in the project will save time and money in the long run. Electrics in older buildings may need updating. A typical cost to rewire a 3 bedroomed terraced house around 100m2 is around £2,500 to £3,000. Installing a gas central heating system in a similar property will also cost between £2,500 and £3,000. Other potential areas needing work will include any dry or wet rot. This type of fungus can destroy timber and appears in floorboards and roof spaces or poorly ventilated homes. You can expect a cost of £1,000 to rectify this issue. If you notice cracks in a property don’t automatically assume this is bad and subsidence issues. Single brick cracks appearing near a window or doorway are unlikely to be structural. Look out for missing roof tiles, replacing a few tiles may only cost a few hundred pounds but if there is extensive damage a new roof will cost around £2,000 to £3,000.
Here at DMD Architecture we offer a competitive service accompanying clients to view potential properties offering advice and guidance on such things as remodelling, space planning, renovating, home face-lifts and extensions. We cover all of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.
If you are considering a renovation project please contact Dylan Morton Design and Architecture who can offer expert knowledge in all areas of your project. We offer a no obligation consultation service bringing you the full design and architectural service to create the perfect living space to suit you. A Royston and Cambridge based architectural practice going that little bit further.

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