Home extensions are the best way to add space and improve the functionality of your house. In addition, it also helps increase the value of your property which makes it a good investment. However, there are times when you need home extensions, but you’re on a tight budget, so you should be mindful of your decisions.
Fortunately, there are various ways to keep the project within the budget. That way you can still have home extensions and you don’t need to spend more money.
In this article, we’ll explore more of the ways to have a successful home extension project within a budget.
1. Plan and prioritise
Before anything else, you should plan the things you need to do according to your needs. Identify the elements of having home extensions, and figure out which needs to be done first. Once you’ve finalised your plan, ensure to stick to it. If not, making changes in the middle of construction can cause more money.
On the other hand, if things are well-planned and they went accordingly, you can easily manage to stick with your budget.
The three major priorities when planning a home extension are budget, design, and paperwork. If you don’t have the breakdown of the budget, it’s more likely that you’ll spend more. The design should also be finished before the construction starts, and no one can start anything if the permits and requirements are not yet done.
2. Consider having a partial extension or a second floor
With a limited budget, you can also limit the space for the home extension. You can choose between having a partial extension or a second floor.
The partial extension is ideal if you have an initial room that needs extra space. For instance, if your kitchen needs more counted, a partial extension can already address the needs.
On the other hand, if you need an entire room, like a bedroom, you may opt for the second floor. The second floor is ideal in this case since it’s more affordable than extending the first floor. Besides, it doesn’t require the same foundation the first floor requires, you just need to remove the roof.
3. Consider prefabricated options
Nowadays, you can find various companies producing prefabricated home extensions. This kind of home extension is already made, and they’ll just deliver it to your home and have it installed. So instead of paying for labour, you can just order the size that fits your space. When it comes to the installation, it might take less than a week, given that you already hire a plumber and electrician.
So if you like this idea, you can search online or look for local home extension companies and see if they offer this option. Usually, a prefabricated home extension comes with a few designs and size options, but you can also have it customised.
4. Try DIY
Do you often do projects yourself? Of course, building a whole home extension may seem a bit too much, but you can always ask for some help from the people you know. However, when it comes to plumbing and electricity, it’s advisable to hire experts.
If you’re not used to doing heavy work, you can do easier things like painting walls, decorating the place, and doing landscaping. They’re not too much to do, but they can still put off a few bucks from your total bill.
As you know, aside from the materials, labour costs can be a bit high, especially if you’re on a budget.
5. Opt for cost-effective materials
Speaking of materials, there are also ways to save money since they’re the most expensive part of building a home extension. Some of the alternatives you can try are:
- Redo or refurnish current elements. Instead of buying new ones, you can improve what you already have.
- Incorporate used (but not abused) materials. Recycling should be implemented not just because you’re on a budget, but also to help the environment.
- Pick readily available over custom-made. Custom options usually cost three times the price of the readily available materials.
- Research the price before buying. You can also compare the price from one store to another.
- Buy in bulk and sell the excess later. Buying in bulk is cheaper, and you can sell the excess materials at their actual price.
There may be other options, but these are the most ideal when it comes to sticking to your budget.
6. Obtain multiple quotes
Whether you’re trying to see the price of the whole project or looking for the builders to hire, it’s recommended to obtain at least a few quotations from different builders. With this, you’ll be able to hit two birds with one stone, knowing the most affordable price and finding the builders you can trust.
When builders ask for an affordable price, you should still look for others. In addition, make sure that the quality of work isn’t compromised given the pricing.
If you’re looking for a building, you can research online or ask people you know, especially the ones who recently had a home extension. After that, look for sample projects, and see if there’s something similar to the design you want.
7. Consult with the professionals
It’s a common misconception that hiring experts can prevent you from saving money, but it’s the opposite. When you hire designers and architects, they know their way around space, so they can give reliable tips to save money during construction.
In addition, they can also recommend the right materials you can use that aren’t expensive yet sturdy. So instead of guessing things you’re not familiar with, it’s easier to hire an expert that can help you analyse the best design for your home extension.
Final thoughts
Are you getting more excited to have a home extension? Remember that if you’re on a budget, avoid things that can cost you more money. In addition, try to keep on track of the expenses and always follow the plan.
If you want to share your experience with any stage of having home extensions, from planning to the finishing touches, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
