news
Boost the value and enjoyment of your home with these simple measures to increase space
Declan Curran from HomeFix Direct shares his tips on how to expand your home
Whether you’re looking to
boost the value of your home or want to create an extra room to enjoy, creating some extra space from within the existing house is a great route to go down. HomeFix Direct is a prop- erty maintenance and repair company based in London, run by entrepreneur Declan Curran. Declan suggests that there are
four key parts of every house that hold potential for develop- ment to unlock extra space and extra value. Which way you chose to develop depends on your budget as well as the hid- den potential of the spaces in your home.
Extend upwards Declan says, “Many people will immediately think of a roof con- version. If you have the potential for an extra bedroom or study in the attic, this is a great way to add around 10 per cent to the value of your home, especially in areas that attracts families. With costs generally starting from £10,000 – £15,000 it can provide a great return on your investment. Make sure you talk to local estate agents about how much value a roof conver- sion could add on. However, as it’s likely that different areas will see fluctuations in added value.
Under the stairs Somewhere you might not have considered is under the stairs. If you’re looking for the perfect place to add in a downstairs
news
Government support for self-build homes ‘increases consumer choice’
New measures announced by the government to help more people build their own home will increase choice and affordability in the housing market, says the Feder- ation of Master Builders (FMB). The measures, announced by Don Foster, the Communities Minister, at the Liberal Democrat Conf- erence, are designed to encour- age take-up in the self-build sector, and include guidance for plan- ning authorities to better identify local demand for self-build, and a review of small sites held by the Homes and Communities Agency to identify more land suitable for small developments and self- build projects. Brian Berry, the Chief Executive
of the FMB, said: “At a time when more and more people are trying to get on to the housing ladder, any attempt to get the self-build market moving is a positive step forward. We know that the self- build sector is an underdeveloped part of the UK housing market,
accountingfor only around 10 per cent of all new homes, which com- pares unfavourably with other European countries such as Germany and Ireland, where the figure is 50 per cent, and Austria, where it is as high as 80 per cent.” Berry continued: “The govern-
ment’s proposed new planning guidance will encourage local authorities to accurately assess the level of demand for self-build in their area, which should in turn lead to local plans making better provision for self-build opportuni- ties, increasing the options avail- able to anyone looking for a new home. Local housebuilders typi- cally champion choice and cus- tomer focus, and will be ideally placed deliver the high-quality custom-built homes many people aspire to live in.” Berry concluded: “Any exemp-
tion from paying the Community Infrastructure Levy needs to apply to all small developments, not just self-build projects.”
loo, wine rack or just looking for a little extra storage space, a renovation could be the perfect solution. For those in semi- detached or terraced houses, under the stairs can sometimes be the only way to go. Make sure you consider headroom, plumbing and ventilation issues before you consider this option though.
Into the basement If you don’t have enough space to extend upwards, maybe downwards is the best option for you. For those who live in areas with a high value per square foot this could be a great option, especially if you have a pre existing cellar. Cellars can be converted for around £100 per square foot, but if you need space to be dug out this will be
news
Industry hits the heights on inspirational evening
The most prestigious evening in the industry diary returned to the Ricoh on the 12 September. 800 heavy-hitters enjoyed themselves as host Nick Hewer and comedian Jimmy Carr took to the stage for the Energy Efficiency & Renewables Awards sup- ported by NatWest. Having established itself in
recent years as ‘the one to win’, scores of successful, shortlisted businesses eagerly anticipated the announce- ment of the award winners. Winners included John Felgate of Stiebel Eltron who won the Contribution to Energy Efficiency and Wilo’s Yonos-Picos, which won the Green Innovation category. There was a host of awards for people, projects
much closer to £300. Prepare to move out your home while the work takes place, but if you are looking to create more space to enjoy for years to come, this can be a great option to explore.
Garage conversion Of course, if you are looking to expand outwards, then an unused garage might provide the best solution, especially as some surveys claim that 90% of homes with attached garages never put their car into the garage. While using the space to add a new/extend an exist- ing kitchen is likely to be expen- sive, simply creating an extra room can be achieved from around £15,000.”
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& products, but as always it was installing businesses that took centre stage, with the ultimate accolade, Energy Efficient Installer of the year, sponsored by Plumb Center, going to Glevum Heating from Gloucestershire. The Energy Efficiency & Renewables Awards 2014 will open for nominations on February 1. For further information on next years awards email:
team@energiseevents.co.uk
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selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.eu
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