Most of us choose to build an extension rather than sell and relocate because of the high expense of doing so now. Weigh the benefits of remaining there and remodelling against the costs of moving before making a final decision.
Renovation and house additions allow you to remain in a neighbourhood you've come to love, which is a major benefit. Keeping the kids at the same school and having easy access to familiar neighbourhood facilities are other important considerations.
The addition may be tailored to your preferences and requirements, and you can include any features or fixtures you want.
Why Consider House Extensions?
Instead of considering a home addition, you should sell your current property and get a bigger one. For these four reasons, it may be worthwhile to consider building an addition to your home:
- You shouldn't feel obligated to relocate if you're happy where you currently are.
- Don't settle for "okay"; make the adjustments you've been thinking about.
- It's possible that adding on to your house might be less expensive than buying a new one.
- You might have sentimental ties to your existing residence that make moving out seem like a daunting prospect.
Keep in mind that relocating is an expensive and time-consuming endeavour. You need to start by selling your current house and then finding a new one. A bigger home will be more expensive if you now reside in a smaller one. When you factor in the cost of relocating, changing banks, and other expenses, you may find that building an addition to your home is more cost-effective than starting over somewhere else.
What Is The Cost Of A House Extension?
Building expansion costs in Australia may range from $1,900 to $3,600 per square metre, as estimated by evaluation specialists and design architects Archicentre Australia.
This estimate takes into account "excellent access to your site and no substantial structural renovations," but the actual cost may vary widely depending on the scope of the work, the quality of the materials used, and the expertise of the builder you choose.
You should know that a brick veneer expansion will cost less than a wood frame extension, and that a double brick extension will cost the most.
The following should be added to the above construction expenses if a wet area is to be included as part of the extension:
- Bathroom/en-suite: $12,000 – $28,000
- Kitchen: $15,000 – $40,000
- Laundry: $6,000 – $15,000
You should expect to pay as much as twice as much if you want to add a second story to your house, since this would need stairs, structural work to the existing building, and roof work.
Nonetheless, there are many who argue that, contrary to intuition, "bigger works may attain a more inexpensive price per square metre."
Professional expenses may also include those for a land surveyor, soil testing, and a structural engineer. Add 10–20% of your budget as a safety net in case anything unexpected occurs, like finding asbestos in your ceiling.
Other Home Extension Expenses To Consider
While roofing, cladding, insulation, internal cladding, windows, and doors make up the bulk of a home's basic expansion expenditures, there are additional factors to think about as well.
- Air conditioning and heating
- There may be additional fees if you want a bathroom or kitchen.
- Higher prices are to be expected for higher-quality materials and fixtures.
- The expense of having plans created as well as council fees
- When the expansion is finished, it will be furnished.
Waterproof exterior walls are used to encase additions to homes. They won't be move-in ready since they need necessary finishing touches like furniture, window coverings, and lighting. When estimating how much a kitchen or bathroom will cost, it's important to include the price of plumbing and any necessary fit-outs. Just how much would it be to renovate my kitchen or bathroom?
Renovating A Bathroom Typically Costs:
- $2,500 to $15,000 for a budget bathroom
- $15,000 to $25,000 for an average sized bathroom with mid-range fittings
- $25,000+ for a high-end bathroom
To begin the process of remodelling a bathroom, the outdated one must be torn out. Bathroom remodelers won't have to remove your existing fixtures if you're building on to your house, but you will still have to pay for demolition and other work. The plumbing work includes installing things like pipes and sewage systems. The wiring, lights, and plugs will all need to be replaced, so call an electrician. These factors might drive the price of a new bathroom up towards the upper end of the range.
Renovations To A Kitchen Typically Cost:
- $10,000 to $22,000 for a budget renovation
- $22,000 to $35,000 for a mid-range kitchen
- $35,000+ for a high-end kitchen
Similar to the bathroom, the price will not cover demolition of the existing kitchen but will include upgrades to the electrical and plumbing systems. Until you hear estimates from kitchen installers, plumbers, and electricians, it's difficult to say how much money you'll need to invest in a new kitchen.
Remodelling a kitchen or bathroom is more expensive than most additions to a house. Are you unhappy with the size of your present kitchen? If so, how would you want to see that room repurposed? Try to envision how you might make the area seem larger. If your kitchen isn't already open plan, you may make it seem bigger by installing larger windows or removing a wall.
It's possible you'll want to add a bathroom to your home addition, but how big of a bathroom do you really need? A private bathroom in a guest room could be unnecessary if there is already a spacious bathroom in the home. It's a better option financially than a full bath and could work for the addition.
What Can I Build For My Budget?
It may be more cost-effective to expand an existing home rather than relocate or construct a new one from the ground up if you need extra room. Before we get into the details of some recent projects, including their costs and scope, consider these helpful hints for making the most of your home renovation:
Identify Your Needs
Consider whether you want to add additional general living space or a room with a particular function, such as an extra bedroom, before you start the extension process. Thinking about your goals for the completed addition helps provide the groundwork for developing a workable brief and design.
Set A Brief
Thinking about how your house will react to the addition is the next step after figuring out your reasons and how you want to utilise the increased space. Width and natural light are two factors you should give special attention to.
Hire Experienced Designers
You may make the most of your home remodelling project with the aid of a professional architect or designer, but you can also do it yourself if you come up with the blueprints, hire a structural engineer, and hire a reputable builder.
Assess The Opportunities
You should have some idea of how you want your house to look and function before meeting with your designer. Be adaptable and open to new ideas; you never know what can happen.
Consider The Rest Of The House:
New living space is always welcome, but the benefits of a home expansion project may be maximised by returning to first principles and thinking about how you want to use the area. The most effective plans often include rearranging the home's layout and doing other kinds of renovations.
Cost Versus Value
It's tempting to get carried away with the exciting possibilities of an expansion, but it's important to take a step back and consider the financial impact on your home's worth. If this is your lifelong home, you may have different goals, but in general, you shouldn't invest more money in a renovation project than the project will add to the house's final worth.
If you want to know how much your home may grow in value, you can do some research on comparable sales in the area, or you can use the extension value calculator provided by the Office of National Statistics.
Know The Guidelines For Planning
Permitted development (PD) rights may exempt you from submitting a conventional planning application. However, your PD rights may be limited if your home is located in a conservation area or an area of exceptional natural beauty, or if the property you want to expand is on a designated list.
Make A Project Schedule
Though certain difficulties are to be expected, a well-planned programme should come together with little adjustment along the way.
Protect Your Project
Protecting both the new additions and the existing structure from any mishaps that may occur during construction is a top priority, so be sure to have the appropriate insurance coverage before breaking ground.
Engage Skilled Builders
Make careful you include enough information so that bids can be compared fairly when putting the plan out to bid. If you just give potential contractors a rough blueprint, some of them may try to overspecify in order to make up for their low bids, while others may quote very low in order to make up for their lack of experience with the project by charging for unnecessary add-ons. Builders that are currently swamped may charge more, but there is a good reason they are busy.
Efficient Management
The project manager has to maintain a tight leash whether the work is being done in-house or by outside experts. The responsibility for getting things done quickly and effectively falls on their shoulders.
How To Save Money On Home Extensions
Remember that there are other expenses beyond construction to consider when planning a home addition. Before agreeing to an extension, it is important to calculate all of the associated expenditures to make sure you won't go over your set budget. Start with a complete cost analysis, leaving no stone unturned, and be sure to include in:
- Lighting
- Flooring
- Furnishings
- Painting
- Exterior painting if needed
- Heating and air conditioning
- Excavation work
- Curtains or blinds
Extending a house often costs more money the larger it is. If an 80-square-metre addition is out of your price range, think about if a smaller one will suffice. Based on the quality of the inclusions, a 60m2 addition may save anywhere from $20,000 to $75,000, which is enough to cover the cost of most, if not all, of the furniture, drapes, and other features.
Converting a garage into liveable space is a more affordable option than constructing an addition to your house. Although the total cost may be anywhere from $7,500 to $20,000, this is still a significant savings over the cost of a traditional house addition.
A garage conversion might be a great option for homeowners who don't want to give up any outside space but have a smaller lot. However, depending on the regulations in your area, you may not be allowed to convert a garage without also possessing a second garage or carport.
Reducing Or Managing The Cost Of Your Project
Getting Expert Guidance From A Competent Architect Pays Off.
They will be able to assist you in realising your extension's primary goals while keeping your expenses in check. Their goal is to help you save money while still achieving your goals, therefore they will provide advice on how to use funds wisely and point out areas where more spending is unneeded or may be cut.
Get at least three to five estimates from reputable construction firms (your architect should be able to assist you in creating a tender list) before beginning any work.
An architect's input on the construction contract might help you avoid unpleasant surprises later. They may check the contractor's progress to make sure they're sticking to the plan and requirements.
Shop Around.
Designers and builders may often get special pricing. If you'd rather do part of the work yourself, Construction Materials Online is an excellent online resource that provides retail customers with trade rates. Especially recommended if you're in the market for flooring, wall coverings, or fixtures for the lavatory or kitchen.
Obtaining Home Extension Quotes
You should thoroughly examine all bids received from regional builders. What kind of demolition and digging are involved? If not, they are costs you'll have to bear. The costs of such house additions are often included by the builders' quotations. If one quotation is much higher than another, several factors may be at play.
If you're not sure what's included and what's not in the builders' estimates, you should inquire. You should include everything in a quotation. If it doesn't, it's a red flag that the builder is attempting to undercut the competition in order to get your business. However, these extra charges will be added at a later date if you don't ask about them now.
What Licences And Permits Are Required For A Home Extension?
Building an addition to your house, or doing any other major structural modification, would need securing the necessary permits and approvals from the local municipality.
You should find out how much they will cost in your area and include it into your plans. You may need the following before you can begin construction on a house addition:
- Building permit
- Demolition permit
- Development application (DA)
- Town planning approval
While it's true that your builder and/or architect will handle this for the most part, it's still important that you have a firm grasp on what specifications are necessary and how much they could cost. When considering applications for permits, local governments pay special attention to those that:
- Change the look of a home significantly
- Invade the privacy of your neighbours
- Change a heritage-listed structure
Complying developments provide for quicker approval times for some construction projects, often being awarded in as little as 10 days.
If your project consists only of interior renovations, you probably won't need planning permission, but it's a good idea to double-check with the local government while you're doing preliminary research.
FAQs About Home Builder
The cost of fitting out a two-storey extension will largely be dictated by the room types you’re adding – a kitchen downstairs will be more expensive than a living room; adding an extra bathroom upstairs will be more costly than another bedroom or a home office, for example. Add these figures to your budget for a good idea.
Measure twice but cut only once to reduce the cost of an extension. Making changes or mistakes that waste labour and materials is a major factor in the final bill for many projects. Measuring everything on site, rather than off your plans, will help reduce wastage. Having accurate, scaled plans in the first place will help.
Thirdly, single-storey extensions frequently include the price of a new kitchen, which increases the cost per metre. There are various costs for each metre of space, including materials, professional services, labour and taxes.
Adding an extra two storeys will give you lots of space and can add real value to your home, plus it could be a cheaper option than moving. In addition, a double-storey extension proves particularly cost-effective, which means it could be worth upgrading a planned single-storey extension to one with two floors.
Single-storey extensions cannot be more than 4 metres in height. Your single-storey extension must also satisfy the general extension criteria to be considered permitted development. In addition, the materials must appear similar to the original exterior, and only half of the area around the original house can be extended.
Worth It To Build Home Extensions?
Extensions to existing homes aren't cheap, but relocating to a bigger dwelling might be much more costly. The price of the property isn't the only thing you'll need to account for, however. You may expect these to be among them:
- Sales commision for property
- Conveyancing home marketing
- Performing housework, such as cleaning and/or decorating
- Potential for Maintenance or Alterations
- Moving expenses
When the two options are compared, it is common for a home addition to cost less than a relocation. The convenience of not having to leave the house during normal construction operations is another perk. And if you ever do decide to sell, that extra square footage may more than pay for itself in increased asking price. Home additions are a wise investment from a financial and psychological standpoint.
A building addition is a big task and may be expensive, so don't start it until you're prepared. Initiate the process by deciding on a price range and gathering bids from several service providers.
You deserve a backup plan. This will make sure that any costs that arise as a result of problems or delays with the supplies are taken care of.
Extension costs may be reduced. Work like painting and decorating the interior may be done by you. The greatest approach to save costs when adding on is to do as much work as possible yourself.
Since selling a home and relocating is still a costly endeavour, many people are opting to build an addition instead. Weigh the benefits of remaining there and remodelling against the costs of moving before making a final decision.
Renovation and house additions allow you to remain in a neighbourhood you've come to love, which is a major benefit. Considerable weight should also be given to practical considerations, like maintaining your children's enrolment in their current school and maintaining access to familiar neighbourhood services.
It's your chance to make the expansion exactly what you want it to be, down to the fixtures and finishes.