Lack of housing stock forces people to extend and convert for extra room.

If you're currently trying to move house of you're thinking you might move home, to get the extra space for a growing family or a the hobby / work area you've always promised yourself, then prepare for disappointment.

Estate agents around the UK are lamenting the fact that there just isn't enough housing stock on the market, to offer people 'just what they're looking for'.

Would-be home movers are being forced to settle for less or are staying put and increasing the living area of their present homes.

Aside from saving all the costs associated with moving home - legal and stamp duty fees, not to mention removal costs. Extension and conversion costs are very attractive and you also get the benefit of having a direct hand in how that extra space is planned and laid out.

This means a garage can easily become anything from a larger kitchen to en-suite annex. Working from home or about to embark on a new career from home? A garage conversion or extension can add the space you need and by incorporating exterior doors, you can even make your 'office' open to visitors without them having to walk through the rest of your house.

And if you're after more leisure space or room for those pesky teenagers, then converting the loft to become a cinema room or den can give both parties some breathing space. Of course, once those same pesky teenagers have left home, you can revert back to your original plan of a en-suite master bedroom!!

When you're arranging quotes, check with the companies their payment terms. Some may offer payments in instalments as the work progresses, whilst others may have their own terms & conditions regarding payment.

Look out for offers like free flooring, electrics or drawing of plans. Small jobs compared to the overall cost but any savings, that make the most financial sense to you, are always worth exploring.

This article first appeared in our weekly homeowner newsletter dated 24th October 2011. Click here to read the full newsletter.

Solar hot water incentives and underfloor heating

If you're thinking of installing underfloor heating as part of a new build, extension or renovation, then you shouldn't neglect solar hot water to power it.

Government incentive tariff's (similar to the current Feed-in Tariff's for photovoltaic electricity generating panels) will start paying out next year, with some pilot scheme and installation incentives already being trialled in the Governments Green Deal.

Underfloor heating runs on lower water temperatures than traditional central heating and when coupled with ground or air source heat pumps (both also eligible for tariff payments under the proposed 'Green Deal') or solar hot water panels, can make a real difference to your energy bills.

And many homeowners are now prepared to spend a little extra in return for a heating system that is not only highly efficient, but has lower running and servicing costs.

Whether you're thinking of heating the whole of your downstairs, or you're just thinking about one room - a garage conversion for example - especially where it may be difficult to include your present heating system, then underfloor heating may be for you.

photo credit: emilian robert viol

This story appeared in our weekly homeowner newsletter dated 12th September 2011. Click Here to read the full newsletter.

Home improvements for the 22nd Century

The current economic climate has led to all of us having to tighten our belts, including how we spend money on home improvements.

These days, it's not enough that it looks pretty - many homeowners are addressing home improvements with a serious eye on the future.

With another energy company recently announcing price rises above 8%, solar panels are being seen by many homeowners as a way of future proofing their energy bills - by generating a good proportion of the energy their homes use themselves.

The Governments solar subsidy and payback tariff scheme has done much to promote the early uptake of solar energy by many homeowners - particularly solar panels that generate electricity. That'll change even further with the forthcoming introduction of a similar subsidy scheme for renewable hot water generation, which it's hoped will stimulate a similar interest in this area of renewable energy.

Another way you can 'future-proof' your home is to think about your needs when you're older. If stairs are going to make your home difficult to live in, why not consider a ground floor extension? An extra bedroom and/or bathroom will always add value to your home, whilst making your home suitable for someone who's going to struggle with stairs.

To this end, garage conversions are a popular choice as much of the structural work will already be in place, reducing overall conversion costs and time to completion.

Of course it doesn't have to be a bedroom straight away. The extra downstairs space can be anything from a purpose cinema room to an office.

Take a look around your home and see if you can identify any areas that you could start future proofing now, and remember home improvement quotes is on hand to give you an instant online expectation of costs without having to suffer endless salesman visits late into the night.

*This article first appeared in our weekly homeowner newsletter dated 4th May 2011. Click here to read the full newsletter.

photo credit: robin zebrowski

Home Improvements that don't need planning permission (usually)

If you've been thinking about a new porch or a conservatory, or perhaps converting your loft or building an extension, the chances are the thought of having to get planning permission first has put you right off the idea.

What you may not have realised is that many home improvement and building projects don't require planning permission, provided a few simple rules are followed. If in doubt, your local planning office will be able to advise or ask your chosen installer / contractor - they should know what's allowed and what isn't.

The Government has relaxed the planning rules on what is 'permitted development', in an effort to remove much of the red tape surrounding home improvements. You'll still need to comply with building regulations though.

For example, you've probably noticed one or two new porches appearing in your neighbourhood. The good news is that for any porch that's under 3 square meters in floor size, planning isn't required. The rule used to be that it couldn't project more than a metre from the front of the house - that may have changed but always check with your preferred installer.

Converting your loft into a usable everyday family room also doesn't require planning permission. This includes fitting Velux windows, although check with your conversion company as these may have to face away from the street facing side of your home.

If you need a little more room and have been thinking about an extension, then you'll be pleasantly surprised to know that a single storey extension doesn't require planning permission if you're extending up to 15% (70 cubic metres) or less of your home's original floor space. This doesn't include previous extensions. You can't build higher than 4 metres (for a pitched roof) or 3 metres (for a flat roof) and the extension shouldn't 'move' your home closer to a road.

You can also build on top of an existing garage as long as it doesn't go any higher than your existing roof, and obeys the same boundary restrictions.

Dreaming of new windows and doors? They don't need planning permission either, including turning existing windows into bay or bow windows. If you're after a conservatory, then the rules are usually the same for a single storey extension, particularly regarding nearness to surrounding boundaries. Again, your installer will be able to advise you further.

So, there's lots of improvements you can get straight on with, although it should be noted that if you live in a listed building or a conservation area etc, then there may well be a few 'hoops to jump through' in order to get permission to carry out any of the improvements we've mentioned above as well as a few we haven't. And because there's no guarantee that permission will be forthcoming, you should never engage a contractor or start work before obtaining permission.

You've heard the story of the Farmer who applied for permission to build a home on the site of a static caravan and who was refused permission? He surrounded the caravan with bales of straw and secretly demolished the caravan and built the house in its place. Much later, he removed the bales of straw.

It was only when he was overheard bragging about his achievement by a local planning officer that he was 'found out' and ordered to knock down the bungalow.

photo credit: gareth davies

Why you should use an Architect

From a modest remodelling of your home to doubling it's size with an extension or a complete new build / barn conversion etc, you'll find your project goes a lot more smoothly with an architect involved.

An architect will discuss your ideas and transpose them onto paper in a set of drawings that will satisfy both council planning departments and the contractor who has the job of turning the drawing into bricks and mortar.

Architects will be aware of all the relevant building regulations, so their involvement at the start will hopefully smooth out any planning wrinkles later on, including issues arising out of building inspections, which happen at crucial stages of a build / re-model.

And having an architect on your side means you've got an extra voice when discussing any issues with your contractors.

Most people think of an architect as just someone to draw up the plans but get a good one and you'll see just why they're so good. They'll be able to offer their own suggestions on your ideas and hopefully inspire you with what's possible within the space you're adding. As well as keeping up to date with planning issues and suitable materials, they'll also have loads of knowledge on fittings and latest trends.

Decide to do it yourself and if the plans fail to get approval or your contractor runs into trouble during the build / remodel, then you'll probably end up having to hire an architect anyway, to fix the problems. With no architect on board, It'll also be up to you to liaise with your contractors and keep the project on schedule (and budget).

So hiring an architect could actually save you money. Money you can spend on better fittings or a nice holiday whilst the builders get on with it back home.

Recent changes in planning laws meant you may not need planning permission for a straightforward loft conversion and very often those conversion companies will be able to provide their own design drawings anyway but for any project that's not going to be 'off the shelf' or involves planning applications, then time taken to find the right architect for you will be time well spent.

Planning your own Extension? Start by clicking here and getting that instant online quote. Genuine online quotes there and then, based on current UK prices where you live.

Click here to get your Garage Conversion quote now.

Extend outside the box: Introducing ExtensionQuoter.co.uk

Probably the most value-adding way to grow your home is to add an extension, and that’s why we’re adding a brand new site to our Quoter Family: ExtensionQuoter.co.uk

With Extension Quoter, you can get instant online estimates for extensions, without paying a penny or seeing a salesmen.

What’s more, we can back up our estimates by helping you find local tradesmen to build your project. Our network of over 5,000 approved home improvement companies stretches from the Isle of Wight to Inverness and beyond, and we'll save you money by helping you find three of the best tradesmen in your area.

Whilst the housing market is showing the first few glimmers of a recovery of sorts, many homeowners who desperately need more internal space are still extending rather than moving.

Extensions represent an excellent way to increase the size of your home, particularly because they don’t have to be very large to have a huge impact on your house. Rather than building a whole extra room on the side of your house like a conservatory, an extension simply increases the size of an individual room (or several rooms).

This means that even a small extension goes a long way towards opening up your house, whilst retaining the style of the original building.

Extensions are also an environmentally friendly way of building onto your home – because they’re made of bricks and mortar, they require less heating than glazed conservatories through the winter months.

If you’re starting to feel like your family is growing out of the space you have for them, and you could use a few extra feet on the kitchen or the living room, head to ExtensionQuoter.co.uk now to find out how much you can save.