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The Increasing Demand for Loft Conversions

By: Emma Eilbeck BA (hons) - Updated: 26 Sep 2012 | comments*Discuss
 
Loft Conversions Loft Builders Housing

Why Such a Big Demand?

Loft conversions may not have crossed your mind five years ago, but with the DIY boom and the growing cost of moving house, more people are starting to look upwards at loft conversions to create extra space in your house.

The average cost of moving can cost up to £1,000 once you have taken into consideration all the costs associated with your mortgage your legal costs and Home Information Packs. On top of this you will also have to pay the increase in house price that you will need to pay for moving to a house with extra room. In many cases you can convert your loft for as little as £10,000, so it is easy to see why people may choose loft conversions and to stay at home and convert what they already have.

The Housing Market

The credit crunch has made it a lot harder for people to sell their houses and even harder for people to get mortgages, so if you want to get more room then it may be easier to consider a loft conversion. A lot of people cannot afford to move house in the current economic climate, but they still might need extra space in the house, or want to extend the family. A lot of people are struggling to sell their houses on the housing market and conversions could make houses easier to sell as it will make them more attractive to potential buyers.

Creating a 'Granny Room'

It may be that you do not want to move house but need the extra space for a growing family or you may want to move a loved one into the house such as a parent. Creating a 'granny room' is one of the main reasons people have loft conversions or extend the loft. Putting a parent into a retirement home may not be the best option or something that the family wants to do, by creating a living space for them in the loft you have the comfort of knowing they are close by, but you are still able to carry on your life in separate rooms of the house. Building a loft conversion will also be a lot less expensive than paying for a retirement home.

While you are staying put if you do decide to convert your loft then when it comes to selling your property you will find that you have increased the value of your home.

For those that want to be kinder to the environment a loft conversion is also a way of cutting down on new built properties and being kinder to the environment by decreasing the need to build any new ones.

DIY Boom

The DIY boom hit the UK in the late 90s and since then people throughout the UK have been embarking on home renovation. You will not be able to do everything in your loft such as windows and electrics but you can do a lot of the work yourself such as decorating, planning, and floor boarding, so many people will decide to convert their loft just for fun or as part of a home renovation. If you don’t fancy the idea of converting your loft yourself there are plenty of loft builders that have also popped up that will specialise in converting your loft.

Loft conversions are only set to increase in popularity, as pressure grows on house prices and people try to find more extra space. Whether you are converting your loft to make money on your house or just for some more living room for your growing family, there has never been easier, with building restrictions loosening and loft builders increasing, it is becoming increasingly easier to convert your loft.

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