Essential tips before you embark on an extension
If you are planning an extension for that extra bit of space, or you want to simply freshen up your home and create something different without moving house, there’s going to be a lot to consider. But before you start any work, you should look at the practicalities of what you are about to embark on. Here are some essential tips to make the process run more smoothly.
1. Plan your budget
It’s important to set a budget before you start any renovation project. Make sure the budget is realistic and includes a contingency for any unforeseen costs and fees along the way. Know what you want and create a checklist including prices of everything. You could include a ‘must have’ and a ‘nice to have’ list to help you prioritise and keep within budget.
2. Decide how you will pay
You may have some savings to cover the cost of your home renovation work but if not, you will need to consider your finance options. Depending on how much you need to borrow these can include a mortgage top-up or a personal loan. Credit always comes at a cost and you pay interest on what you borrow. It’s important to compare interest rates between the different providers. You can use our popular loan comparison tool to make sure you choose the most suitable option for your needs.
There are grants available for home renovation work. It’s important to review the terms and conditions to check if you are eligible as this could be a substantial saving on the overall cost of the work. Grants available include;
Home Renovation Incentive Scheme: you may be able to claim tax relief on repairs, renovations or improvement work under the Home Renovation Incentive Scheme.
Energy efficiency grant: If you are upgrading your home to make it more energy efficient contact the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The SEAI provides grants to homeowners who are upgrading their homes to make them more energy efficient. If you are claiming an SEAI grant, your supplier and installers must be SEAI approved.
4. Get a quote not an estimate
When getting prices for work always ask for a quote instead of an estimate. An estimate is an educated guess with no legal standing whereas a written quote is binding as long as you don’t make changes to the work. Look for as much detail as possible in the quote with a breakdown of the costs. Make sure the quote includes VAT as this can be a big chunk of the cost that can be overlooked.
You may need to notify your home insurance provider before you start any renovation work. They will more than likely need to know if you are staying in your home while the work is being completed or if you will be moving out. They may need to know what type of work is being done and a rough idea of completion date. After your renovation is finished, you may also need to review and update your policy as your house may be worth more. This will need to be taken into account to ensure you have the right level of cover should you ever need to make a claim.
House prices are continuing to rise and your house may now be worth more following the renovation. So now could be a good time to review the mortgage interest rate that you are paying. You may be able to get a lower rate from your existing provider or from another mortgage provider. By switching to a lower interest rate you could save a substantial amount over the lifetime of your mortgage.