Adding an extension to your home is an exciting project, but it can get very expensive. There are many things you need to consider, from designing your extension to the final touches. You can do quite a few things yourself, but with projects like this, you will need professional help.
Some building companies like Colebuild, a construction company in Singapore, will even help you with the design work for your extension. Otherwise, here are some tips to help you get going – and save money along the way.
Keep it Simple
You may have big dreams of adding a complex and beautiful new aspect to your home, but the truth is that the more complicated a design is, the more expensive it will be. If you are on a tight budget, you need to keep things simple.
- Square or rectangular spaces with pitched roofing will cut costs dramatically.
- Have an idea in mind about what you want and then take it to your designer. Be very clear about what you want. With all due respect, architects are often artistic people and can be inclined to get carried away.
- Look for a draughtsman or designer with a track record of doing more realistic, simple and cheaper designs.
- Work with reputable designers and builders.
- Then you want to stick to the design when you start building as much as possible to reduce extra costs creeping in.
Plan and Budget Carefully
Decide on your budget and then keep to it strictly. There are always going to be things that go wrong. Make sure you plan for this, too. To do a good budget, you will need to decide on what materials and details you want to include. Be meticulous. Plan down to what your plug socket and light fitting requirements are. Plan wall colors, too. All these things add up later if you are forced to make last-minute decisions. The stress of the extra cost and chaos will also take a lot of the joy out of your project, so just plan, plan, plan before you lay one brick.
Sidestep Complex Groundwork
Removing trees, incorporating drains and other buried amenities makes for complex and therefore expensive building work. Make sure you know where all these amenities are on your property in your planning phase, and then avoid building over or near them as much as possible.
Choose the Best Time of Year to Build
Time your building for when there is good, dry weather. It is one of the easiest ways to save. Poor weather causes interruptions, which can lead to higher labor costs, and more hidden costs creeping in over time. The faster you build, the cheaper it will be. Poor weather additionally causes damage, which also increases costs.
Stick to the Rules
Make sure your designs and building operations comply with your local building regulations. You can’t avoid the control fees, but you can avoid the nightmarish situation of having to demolish and then rebuild if you have not complied with regulations, not to mention any fines you may incur for doing this. If you live in a character cottage or home that is a heritage site, your restrictions will be greater than normal. Make sure you know what they are, even for minor adjustments, or you could find yourself in a lot of trouble.
Last Thoughts
This is just the tip of the iceberg; there is a lot you need to take into account when doing an extension. But don’t let that stop you from realizing your dream! Do the budgeting and the groundwork well and you will be just fine.
