Building prices - do we downsize our extension or go all in?

7 months ago

Hi all - looking for a sense check on some building plans. On the right is the original plan for the GF wraparound extension, but given the price of construction etc now, this is becoming less economically sound given the value of the property (potentially ending up in negative equity).

Another option would be to just go straight out at the back (as shown on the left).

The main points are:

1. Is the side extension worth the cost given I am only gaining 1.3m of width along the length of the property? This is to retain side access (non-negotiable) and provides a boot room, utility, and larger cloakroom + kitchen

2. If the extension was straight out the back, what could be done with the side space and would this devalue the property as a future buyer would need to start again if they wanted to maximise the potential of the site.

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Comments (2)

Jonathan
7 months ago
I think you might be being pessimistic about the larger plan putting you in negative equity and consulting a local estate agent may help (although choose wisely as around my area they all seem inexperienced and clueless).

For me I believe that most of us don’t make commercial decisions on our home as we see it as an investment in the way we live. So you should consider if the 1800x900 island in the smaller plan meets you expectation, and if the tight dining room would be a problem. Personally I think you will conclude that bigger is better- especially as you gain a WC space that is big enough to be a shower room (thereby future proofing this house into your old age.)
darshan_m_naik
Original Author
7 months ago
Thanks Jonathan. I guess the additional complication is that staying in this house long term depends on the children’s schooling. Realistically I have to be prepared to move in 5 years if need be.

The question then becomes, is it worth doing the smaller extension in any scenario or is it better to make do until we know if we’re staying long term (given that the cost is a significant investment too).
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My suggestion woukd be to knock through your kitchen and dining room. Turn your existing study into a utility/bootroom/pantry. Put a door with a keypad lock on it (similarly the side gate) which will really encourage you/the kids to use it raher than the front door. Put your kitchen cabinets floor to ceiling along the stairs wall and continue to the back of the house with the last door being a ’secret’ door into the boot room. At the bottom end of the stairs ne of this run of cabinets' , build a lower level cabinet to house the guinea pigs (following the kitchen cabinet line but not tall so the stairs don’t feel narrow). Don’t worry about your comfy chair but definitely Use the money you save on not building an extension to tidy up your patio and get some comfy chairs out there. Maybe even a glass veranda cover if money allows. Similarly, buy comfy bar stools for your island and you’ll sit there all day. Make sure you have a socket in your island somewhere to plug in a laptop. The kids can do their homeweork there while you potter. The rest of the dining room become a dining/sitting room and your living room becomes a snug/study. These two activities rarely happen at the same time but it means that working from home is not confined to a cupboard. Your front door is then a non-muddy entrance for grown ups and guests. One last thing, if you have a dog, put a hot/cold mixer tap outsude the bootroom to rinse the dog outside before bringin him in. Good luck with it all.
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Building prices - do we downsize our extension or go all in?

Comments (2)

Jonathan

darshan_m_naik
Original Author

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Building prices - do we downsize our extension or go all in?

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Jonathan

darshan_m_naikOriginal Author

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darshan_m_naik
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