The cost of property has increased in price dramatically over the past 10 years and buying a new property now will set you back way more than it would have 10 years ago.

This is why now more than ever we are seeing people starting to convert and extend their homes as opposed to buying a new one which adds new space and creates additional rooms within your home.

By converting your house, you are benefiting yourself in two ways:

• Number one, you do not have to move out when you outgrow your existing house which can be stressful and very time consuming.
• Number two, you are adding value to your home so, if you eventually do have to sell your home in the long run, you will get a great investment back on your property.

Attic or Loft Conversions

It is time to stop looking at your attic and loft space as just a storage area for your Christmas decorations and photo albums.

This space is a great opportunity to add value to your home. A survey of 110 estate agents found that converting your loft and attic space accounted for a 12.5% increase in the value of the property (source MPK Lofts).

One of the main rooms of choice for this conversion is an additional bedroom. This is mainly due to the somewhat awkward head space that you find within your attic.

However, the room is perfect for bedroom space offering extra room for a growing family or for visiting guests.

You can even double this up with an en suite bathroom which will add even more value to your home and great convenience for staying guests to have their own bathroom space.

Additions

If you do not want to move up in your house, you can always expand outwards.

Ideal rooms to extend within your home will be your kitchen to create that favorable big island centerpiece within your kitchen or add a dining room.

Whenever buying a home, one of the first rooms that you are interested in seeing is the kitchen.

Dubbed the ‘heart of the home’ it is one of the most favored rooms to extend within your house that is also one of the most extended rooms of the home.

Another great room to add to your home is a home-gym, dining room or extra reception room.

Remodeling your home

You do not need to necessarily extend your home in order to create more space.

When you move into a home, the layout and format of the space may not necessarily meet the requirements of what you need for a home.

For example, you may have a small room that is next to the kitchen that is not being utilized.  You might want to organize the space and use it for food storage.   Or you might want to utilize the space for a downstairs wet room or a utility room.

You can also help to create an illusion of more space within your house with the use of natural light. You can replace your windows from old, small traditional ones to big bay windows that let light flood into the home and create the illusion that the room is bigger. Coupled with the correct placement of mirrors, you can bounce light around the room and make it feel larger.