The pros and cons of converting your garage

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Lots of people like the idea of converting their garage into a functional space and potentially adding some value to their homes. However, it’s vital that you research the process and understand all the ins and outs before pushing ahead. Garage conversions don’t always produce the desired results, and that’s because some home-owners take the hit and hope approach. That’s never sensible, and the information on this page should help to set the record straight. You’ll find a list of the pros and cons below, and they should ensure you leave no stone unturned and always make the right decisions. With that in mind, let’s get started!

The pros of converting your garage

There’s no getting away from the fact that converting your garage should mean you have more usable floor space in your home. You could use the extra room as a home office, games area, or guest space. There are no limits to what you can achieve. Converting a structure that is already standing sturdy is much easier and cheaper than building an extension. So, if you have to choose between those two options; it always makes sense to work towards a conversion instead.

Converting your garage will also add value to the property and encourage potential buyers in the future to make better offers. People are always going to pay more for a house with five bedrooms than they are for a home with only four. You get the idea, right? Working towards a garage conversion might require a lot of hard work, but the price of materials is minimal, and you can reduce the costs dramatically if you take the DIY approach according to https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/garage.htm and other sites. Of course, you’ll need to check how that affects your home insurance before pushing ahead.

The cons of converting your garage

Just as there are many positive outcomes when you choose to convert your garage; there might be a few adverse ones too. For instance, there are situations in which you might have to apply for permission from your local authority. That is especially the case if you will change the exterior of the structure in any way. Your neighbours might have to give their permission for the work too. However, with a decent lawyer or architect in your corner; it is possible to overcome all those hurdles.

Contrary to popular belief; you don’t have to convert the entire garage. You could build a false wall and leave around six feet for storage. That would mean you can still keep your garage door or buy a new one from sites like https://www.vps247.co.uk/garage-doors. When you decide to sell your home; having clean and fresh doors always helps to add some curb appeal. However, there’s a problem. If you convert the entire garage and turn it into a spare bedroom or office; you’ll lose all of that storage space. Unless you have a massive shed in your garden, that could become an issue. You’ll also have to install some windows.

The procedure you need to follow

If you decide that converting your garage is the best option on the table; you need to follow the process outlined below to ensure you work within the law and avoid getting into trouble further down the line.

Work out what you want to do with the garage and how you want to use it.
Get in touch with your local authority to find out if you need to apply for permission or not.
Contact local tradespeople and ask them to come and give you a quote for the work.
Search online to see if it is possible for you to reduce the cost of materials.
Call real estate agents and ask them to come and value your property.
Instruct the tradespeople to start work.
Ask a safety expert to come and assess the structure.
Call the real estate agents and ask for a new valuation that includes your conversion.

People who follow that procedure will stand the best chance of making sure their garage conversion works in their favour.

Now you’ve come to the end of this post; you should have all the information you require to make an informed decision about whether or not to push ahead with your garage conversion. You are the only person who can make that decision, and you should never rush into anything. Take the time to talk about the idea with your family, discuss the pros and cons together, and then attempt to reach an agreement. In most instances, it’s possible to convert a garage into a functional living space in less than a week.

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Get their look: Open-plan garage conversion

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You’d never have guessed that this open plan garage conversion in Sicily was once upon a time a place where vehicles would have been repaired. It’s obviously a former industrial or commercial building with nods to its previous incarnation in the exposed zinc pipes and painted bare brick walls.

What would probably have been a fairly dirty workplace has been completely transformed by the owner into a bright, pristine, white box for relaxed living.

Click here to see some more of the interiors & exteriors we’ve featured in our Get their look series.

Is your home running short of space?

If your home or holiday home is feeling a bit cramped and you’re thinking about the possibility of moving, then there are a few alternatives that you might want to consider before you go to all of the hassle of viewings, coping with solicitors and all of the problematic processes of a move.

Rather than going to pastures new, have you thought about extending your existing place? There are many different ways to create new space in your current location, if you have the room to do so.

Loft conversion

This can be a really quick job that creates an extra room if you currently have some loft space that isn’t being used effectively. What feels like a wasted space can easily be converted into a new bedroom or an office.

Conservatory

A conservatory can add a significant amount of space to your property and can been done fairly cheaply. Perfect for enjoying the warmer weather and can really brighten up the entire feel of your downstairs area. Spending time where you are experiencing more daylight even impacts your mood and your well-being.

Outdoor building

If you need some extra space for storage then you could buy a shed for the garden. You can get all kinds of sizes and materials to store the bigger items that are taking up room around the property.

If you’re looking for something bigger for living space, then you could opt for a building to be erected outside if you have enough room. Take a look at some Armstrong Steel reviews for some feedback from customers who have chosen steel buildings to create extra property. They could turn out to be a lot less expensive than you think and could be the perfect option for an office or a living room.

Garage conversion

If your household is one of the many that don’t use the garage to park their car in, then you could use the space for something much better. A garage conversion can transform your living space and give you the opportunity to expand your living room, dining room or kitchen area. Or you could simply add plenty of garage shelving and give yourself as much storage as you need, so the rest of your home looks and feels better.

Improve your storage options

If you have lots of items, maybe toys that are frequently in use, are you storing them wisely? Try to opt for dual purpose storage options; storage boxes that can also be used for seating, when you buy a bed, buy one that has storage drawers built in and look into options for built in wardrobes and cupboards. There are so many inventive ways of creating extra space and if you can get a good joiner, you can create storage space practically anywhere.

If you’re starting to feel that your home is getting too small to live in then take a look at all of the available options and get some quotes for the different possibilities. Moving home can be really stressful and time-consuming, so if you’re already happy with your current location then make the most of the alternative ways to create extra space.