Thursday, March 17, 2011

Need Extra Space? A Loft Conversion Could Be The Answer

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. London and the south east house prices are very fickle often declining, 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}.


What do you do if you really need that additional living space? Think about a loft conversion as it will likely increase your house’s value as well as providing the extra room. A leading high street building society – the Alliance and Leicester – discovered that a well planned and built loft conversion can see the value of your property soar by as much as £40,000.There is also no need to move home with all the upheaval and extra costs associated with moving.


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”. Building regulations are a separate issue and still very necessary to comply with as the loft conversion will be a room for people to live in.


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.


Loft conversions have lots of advantages over traditional extensions so what are they? Well there are many. Whatever kind of house that you own it is very likely that it 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. Most home extensions will require planning permission which can take months whereas a loft conversion will probably not. 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. Your electricity bill should be reduced also. 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 total price for your loft conversion is dependent upon a number of things such as whether plumbing work is required to move tanks and pipes, the floor structural requirements and the actual size of your loft to name but a few. Whatever the final price it should always be a good 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.

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