Thinking about extending next year? You might want to start now...
I know, I know, it’s July! The children are nearly breaking up, everyone's thinking about holidays and BBQs, and next spring feels a very long way away... but if you’re sitting in the garden this summer looking back at the house and thinking, “Next year, we really must do something about that…”, now is actually a very good time to start thinking about it.
One of the biggest misconceptions around extensions is how quickly you can go from idea to building work. There’s the initial design stage, where we work out what you actually want the house to do. Then drawings, planning (where required), structural design, Building Regulations information, builders' quotations and all those decisions around kitchens, glazing and materials. All of that happens before the first wall comes down.
Good builders can also be booked up well in advance, so if you have your heart set on starting work in spring or summer next year, leaving everything until January can make the whole process feel unnecessarily rushed.
That doesn't mean you need to spend your summer holiday choosing door handles!
Quite the opposite. Starting early gives you breathing room.
You can explore different ideas properly. Think about the budget. Work out what matters most to you. Change your mind without it causing a crisis. And move through planning and the technical stages without feeling as though every week that passes is putting the whole project behind.
I always think the best projects have a period at the beginning where we're allowed to simply think: How does our family actually live? What isn't working? What would make mornings easier? How do we want to use the garden? Where will everyone sit at Christmas? What might life look like in five years?
Those conversations are where the really good ideas tend to come from. So while you're sitting outside this summer with a glass of something cold, have a look back at your house. If you've been saying “next year” for a while, perhaps this is the summer to start putting a few ideas on paper. You don't need to have all the answers yet, that's exactly what the design process is for.
Planning your own renovation?
If you're thinking about renovating but aren't quite sure where to begin, I've created How to Renovate with Confidence, a practical online course through The Renovation Academy.
It brings together the advice I regularly share with homeowners, covering planning, budgeting, design and working with professionals, to help you approach your project feeling informed and prepared.
