Not everyone is lucky enough to own their own home, and fewer still can own one with space to extend. Those that do have some space to spare can have trouble deciding what to do with it. Depending on how much land is available, it could be possible to put in a conservatory, extension, or outbuilding. With enough space, you could even build a holiday cottage or small rental studio. If you're thinking about taking that route, consider some important things. The purpose of your build is important, and so is the budget you have to work with.
What's It For?
The first thing you need to do is decide what you're extra space is going to be for. You might be thinking about a holiday cottage that you can rent to people staying in the area. Perhaps you're considering a more permanent arrangement where you take on a tenant. Or maybe you want to keep it to yourself for an art studio, writing space, workshop, or even a gym. If you're thinking about renting it out, you need to make sure that there's enough demand in your area. There are many places where you will have trouble attracting travellers.
Designing Your Building or Extension
Once you know what you want, you need a design. You should get in touch with a residential architect company that can design an extension or separate building for you. You can work with them to come up with something that gives you what you're looking for. There could be a lot more involved in the design of some projects than others. You might need plumbing and electricity, for example. Of course, you should think about the aesthetics, as well as the practical aspects.
Tieing Up Legal Matters
If you're building a solid structure, you're probably going to need planning permission. Before you can start building, you need to ensure you obtain it from your council. However, if you're working with architects and builders, they can help you with this process. They should be keeping in mind any regulations when they help you design your home. Another legal issue to consider is that of renting out your new space. You might need permission to do so, so make sure you check first.
Building and Decorating
Finally, you can start the process of constructing your new space. You won't be doing a lot of the physical work, but you still need to be there to supervise. You can periodically check on everything to ensure it's all going well. When most of it is complete, you might want to decorate yourself, or you could hand the job to a professional. If you're using it as a rental unit, you have to think about what's practical and what's attractive. You want to be able to maintain the unit, but it should look good too.
