Don't move!! Extend?

A question about : Don't move!! Extend?

After looking at house prices in the area we want to stay in, it looks impossible for us to get anything better at a price we can afford. So I am tentatively researching the possibility that we could build a small extension on the side of our house to use as a study/playroom. Has anyone done something similar? Will it add value? Where do I start with the whole process? All hints, tips and money saving ideas welcome?

P.S We are complete building novices. A bit of painting and decorating is all we've ever attempted. So keep technical terms to a minimum.

Thanks

Sarah

Best answers:

• If you've got your hair still, now - don't do it!!
  You'll need to be VERY much in control of whover does it, but so long as you've got the finances worked out & sgreed, in writing, you'll have an idea of it's worth to you.
  Ask local estate agents if it's going to add value & PROFIT!!
  The planning office will let you know if you need FULL planning approval - depending on it's size, you may not - saves a few Ј$Ј$ & time. They'll even have a look at a drawing you've done yourself, so long as it's got sizes & is reasonably accurate, to give their opinion.
  Things people seem to want downstairs, are utility rooms & toiulets - have you got these/space for??
  & don't forget the mess builders - even good ones - will make.Everywhere else will need tarting up, after!!
  Then you'll need carpets/curtains/furniture....
  Probably be cheaper than moving, though.Then you do it & sell up anyway!!
  Want to see the pictures, of ours????
  VB
• We have a ground floor extension on the back of ours - extended the dining room to gain a room for the kids and toys and also the computer.
  It didnt cost that much really - we opted for a flat roof instead of pitched which made it cheaper. Things to think about cost:-
  1. Hire mini digger to dig out small footings - check with your planning on what the building regs are in your area regarding how deep foundations need to be for a single storey extension - that'll help you work out costs of groundworks.
  2. Bricklayer to do blockwork and price up bricks/blocks you require. Bricks start about 23p each but unfortunately for us the ones we needed to match our existing ones were 40p each - ouch!
  3. Carpenter/ flat roofing firm for the top. Price a upvc window to go in ~Ј300 fitted.
  4. I plasterboarded internal blockwork, electrician put in sockets and light then I got a pasterer to skim over. Then 2nd fix stuff like skirtings I done myself, along with decorating.
  It all took longer than I expected but nothing horrific. It was worth it. It was better than moving - we like our house, like our neighbours, but don't like spending on conveyancing, stamp duty, estate agent fees etc. which would've been the price of the extension.
  One thing that comes to mind - do your house sewer pipes run under where you intend to build? That will up the price of the groundworks.
  Let us know how it goes!
• The best thing you can do is to get a friendly estate agent in and see what he/she thinks the increase in value would be...
  It really depends on these factors:
  - the area of the country you are
  - what you use the space for
  - the quality of the workmanship
  - the loss relating to what the area was previously used for
  We've just done a massive project - L-shaped extension and digging out of a basement. The extension is brilliant, but is used as a kitchen / dining area and half of it used 'unworkable' space.
  For us, extending was definitely worth it (living space and added value)... but digging out basements only really works in high-value areas.
  Cheers
  John
• Extending is a great idea. I am an insurance worker-NOT A Builder. To give ourselves more usable space I built a car port at the side of the house from timber and corrugated perspex. Materials cost approx Ј400 but we now have an extensive dry area down the side where we can sit on summer evenings and evenBBQ on damp days.
  Flushed with success we decided to build a conservatory(no planning permissions needed). From the original quote of Ј15,000 we have eventually got down to approx Ј7,000. I have dug the footings and am to labour for the brickie with my son's help in half term. I have sourced a supply only conservatory for Ј2,900(4metres by 3metres) and my brickie is going to help me erect the top half.
  The knack is to use friend's recommendations and be prepared to come home from work and pitch in. Most building work is common sense. Give it a try-hope this helps.
• We thought about extending.We gave up.
  Architects wanted daft money to do the needful.
  Builders weren't interested for months to come.
  Rough estimates were daft.
  All in all it was a very disheartening experience and we decided to move.
  We've really stretched ourselves but we're chuffed.
• You sound as though you are living in a disused railway station.