Getting Your Extension Off The Ground

Home extensions. They’re one of the most intense and satisfying home improvement projects you can undertake. From the initial thought to finally taking the plunge, there is a whole lot of work that goes into turning the dream into a reality.

But let’s assume though that you are at the beginning of that journey, when the idea of converting that unused garage into a 3rd or 4th bedroom is but a distant vision. How do you start? What does it take to get your extension project off the ground and what are the key things you’ll need to consider before plotting a course to home extension utopia? In this new blog we take a look at three common areas where people have the most questions and attempt to provide some answers.

How do I finance my extension?

This first question is probably the most common one we hear and unless you’ve just won the lottery the fact is the majority of us will not have the cash to hand to pay for an extension outright. If you do, fantastic, but for the rest of us we will likely have to look for alternative options of finance. The good news is that there are various ways and means open to you including:

• Credit card – Probably not a candidate for larger projects but for smaller extension work it may be viable particularly with the range of repayment options available today.
• Personal Loan – Suitable for larger projects with most banks offering some kind of personal loan service. The good news also is that home extensions are viewed favourably by financial institutions and are typically seen as a good investment in your property.
• Remortgage / Secured Loan – There is always the option to remortgage your property and take out a secured loan against it. This is obviously reliant on there being sufficient equity in the property and may mean having to get your property valued again.
• Contractor Finance – The final option is to take finance directly from the contractor themselves. This can be a straightforward option and means that you are only dealing with one party for everything from building to finance. At Bon Accord Glass we offer a range of financial options including buy now, pay later and a selection of interest rates to suit your personal circumstances.

Do I need planning permission?

If you are planning an extension then getting permission will more than likely figure in that process. Of course, if you are employing the services of a contractor or architect its normal for them to engage with this on your behalf. That said knowing the basics is never a bad thing and even advisable especially when taking on a project the size of a home extension with the first question you need to answer usually being; do I need planning permission? To help you answer this there is a wealth of information on the Scottish government website here: https://www.mygov.scot/planning-permission/ but the main consideration would be that if:

• you want to build something new
• you want to make a major change to your building
• you want to change the use of your building
• your building is in a conservation area (you may need ‘conservation area consent’)
• your building is a listed building (you may need ‘listed building consent’) then you likely will need planning permission. Of course, your contractor or architect will be able to offer more specific advice relevant to your circumstances.

Where do I start with design?

Of course, once you’ve crossed the administrative bridges around finance and permission you can begin to concentrate on the most important aspect of your extension – the design. Again, as with finance and planning permission, it can be a mine field and the numerous types and styles can leave your head in a bit of a spin. Whether it’s a conservatory style extension or conversion, even within these sub categories they’re can be differences. Luckily the answer to this question is slightly more straightforward; look at photos, visit recent completions and speak directly with a designer. By doing this you’ll be able to work through what you like and the designer will temper that with what is possible, giving you a positive outcome.

At Bon Accord Glass we offer a complete home extension service incorporating design, finance, building and quality assurance giving you a one-stop shop to get your home extension project of the ground. For more information or to book a consultation get in touch with our team today.