Monday, 3 October 2011

Are You Planning a Loft Conversion?

More and more homeowners are choosing to stay in their current homes and invest in a loft conversion, rather than moving home and paying for all the extra expenses that moving entails. This should come as no surprise – there are many benefits to loft conversions. Birmingham, and other major cities, feature competitive housing markets, and persuading buyers to take an interest in your home can be difficult.

Loft conversions are a good compromise for a growing family. They allow you to expand your home without spending a lot of money. The cheapest loft conversions can be a tenth of the cost of even a small flat, and for that price you get the convenience of staying in your own home, the utility of extra space, and the value of an investment that should increase your home’s value, should you decide to sell in the future.

While you’re getting the loft conversion work done, you can also take the opportunity to get other minor improvements carried out, such as upgrades to your heating system, or some extra loft insulation added. There are many great loft insulation offers online.

Things to consider before commencing work

Before you sign off on any loft conversion work, it’s a good idea to make sure that you’re well versed in all of the legal considerations. If you’re a leaseholder, and you want a loft conversion for an upper floor flat, then you will need to get permission from the person who owns the freehold. If you live in a terraced or semi-detached property, then you may need to consult your neighbours before you start work – especially if the work will involve touching any shared walls.

Insurance is another important consideration. You may want to invest in an insurance backed warranty, so that your home is covered not just for the duration of building work itself, but for any loft conversion related problems that you encounter over the next ten years.

When you go looking for a company to perform loft conversions in Staffordshire or your local area, make sure that you ask about their credentials, and also ask to speak to satisfied customers. Don’t just read testimonials on their websites – ask to speak to some customers in person. Any reputable company will be happy to put you in touch with some previous customers, and a face to face conversation (or a telephone conversation if you prefer) will give you a much more realistic view of the company, the builders, and the quality of their work, than some carefully edited text on a website.

Loft conversions require a lot of planning and paperwork, and the building process can be a little stressful, but it’s far less hassle than moving house, and works out less expensive in the long run too. Even something as simple as choosing loft ladders UK or the right sort of timber windows can be a complicated matter if you are unsure of what you are doing. If your family is growing, and you feel like you need more space, then a loft conversion is a great way to give yourself and your family the breathing space that you require, without having to uproot and move away from your much loved family home.

This post was written by James Harper on behalf of Buckley Loft Conversions, for expert loft conversions Staffordshire and loft conversions Birmingham. James writes on subjects relating to home improvements.