If you have been living in your house for a while now and need more space for a growing family, you might start to consider getting a new house. But if you have not made full use of the space available on your plot, building an extra room is always something you can consider. Planning a house extension is a much cheaper and more convenient option than hunting for a new property. Though planning a house extension is a different matter entirely. The process includes a number of steps, and we will take you through them in an orderly manner below.
How to Plan a House Extension
There are several considerations that you need to make when you want to extend your house and increase the living space. These include:
- Brainstorm over your plan thoroughly
- Determine the total price
- Figure out how to finance the construction
- Properly do your research on planning permissions
- Hire the correct people
- Form a plan for the extension
- Get planning permission for the new plan
1) Brainstorm over your Plan Thoroughly
There are many methods to extend your house. You can consider building an extra room, adding a new floor, covering your open garage to create a room, or extending an existing room into your yard. The options are endless. Though, you need to make a choice based on the type of extension you want to build before you pass on to the next stage.
2) Determine the total Price
It is essential to estimate the cost of the house extension project before you start the process. Once you determine the type of extension that meets your need for extra space, get quotes from builders, architects, and designers for the project. You can do some research online on the estimated expenses of extending a house or adding a room to your house.
When you consider the costs of a house extension, you will need to bear in mind the cost of the construction materials, the service charges for a builder and an architect, the building permit fees, labor costs, and even the cost of living in a hotel or rented space for several days if you decide to move out while the work is underway.
3) Figure out how to finance the Construction
The goal of estimating costs is simple. An estimated price will give you a better idea of the amount of finance you need in order to finish the remodeling project. Based on your judgments, you might be able to fund the project with the help of your savings, borrow money from friends or family for a short time, or get a conventional loan from a bank that you can repay at a later date. While credit transactions are few in Pakistan, you can consider using your credit card to fund the house extension as it works related to a loan taken from a commercial bank.
4) Properly do Your Research on Planning Permissions
Many local building authorities in Pakistan demand that you apply for a building permit and new planning if you want to improve the interior space of your house. Thus, the next step in planning a house extension is to do your research locally about the kind of permissions you will need from the building authority in your city.
Thorough research will tell you precisely what documents you will need to submit for a new building permit along with the plans for the extension and the permit fees. This will make it simpler for you to plan ahead for the remaining steps.
5) Hire the Correct People
The most important detail of any construction project is highlighted by hiring the correct people to achieve the job in an efficient and timely manner. For the most useful results, your house extension requires experience and a qualified architect to design the extension into your existing floor plans and an equally competent builder who can undertake the task and add a new room to your current structure seamlessly.
6) Form a Plan for the Extension
Once you have got a designer on board, it is time to start planning the extension in practical terms. Express your ideas to the designer and work with them to transform the current floor plan of the house.
Please note that many building authorities might need you to mark the additions and changes on the plans that you are submitting in a different color from that of the currently approved design. For example, the LDA clearly states that you should mark all alterations and additions in red, the original plans in black, and any demolishment to be marked in yellow.
7) Get Planning Permission for the New Plan
Once you and your designer have come to an arrangement about the construction plans with regards to the addition to your house, you will need to submit the revised plans along with all the required documents to the particular authority. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to get the approval.
Be sure you meet all the other regulations set by your local housing authority unless your request for an extension will be rejected. You should also mentally be prepared to answer questions or to appeal again in case of a rejection.