Deciding to build a granny flat is simple, designing and building the extension can be a lot harder. You'll have a lot of questions to answer along the way. Can you use a general contractor or is is better to use one who has built a lot of granny flats before? Is a template design better than a customised one? Should you let the person who'll live in the flat have a say in what it looks like? Luckily, I'm here to help. My name is Maria. We moved my Mum into a purpose-built granny flat last year, so I've had to answer all these questions and more. I thought it'd be useful for other people to see how we managed the process, so here we are — get reading!
Do You Need to Plan a Home Extension?
Has your family grown in size recently? Maybe you want to give each of your children their own bedroom. Maybe you have had an elderly parent or some other relation move in with you and you need to make more space for them. Alternatively, maybe it isn't your family that needs more space but your business. If you need to run a business from home, then a home extension can provide you with the room for a home office or the extra storage you need.
Why choose a home extension?
Perhaps you acknowledge the need for more space but think that it would be easier to move to a larger property rather than seeking to enlarge your existing home. While moving home is often the first thought of someone seeking more space, it isn't always the best option. Perhaps the greatest problem with moving is finding somewhere else suitable to live. If you don't have kids and work from home, then you may not worry too much about your new location, but if you have a family or need to commute to work, then it becomes more of a challenge. You need somewhere close by, with good access to schools, and at a price you can afford. On top of that, you need to sell your existing property, pack up your life into boxes and then unpack it all again in your new home. Rather than deal with all of that, a home extension is often the easier option.
Do you have space for a home extension?
You might think that there isn't any way to extend your home, but is that true? In most homes, there is plenty of wasted space that can be converted into useful living areas by applying a little ingenuity. When you work with a home extension company, they will be able to talk to you about converting your garage, adding an extension on the rear or side of your home or even adding additional floors to your property. If you need additional space, there is usually a way to achieve it without abandoning your home. Your local home extension company will know which option is best for you and what type of home extensions that your local authority will be likely to consider suitable for approval in your area. Why not call one today and see what changes can be made to your home?