As a family grows or needs change, so do the requirements for a house. A home extension is a chance to expand on the layout, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, or storage capacity within your home. And if you’re considering extending your home, you’re certainly not alone – house extensions continue to rise in popularity as more Australian homeowners seek to improve their current home without having to relocate.
A home extension requires careful planning to ensure the desired outcomes are achieved. So, what key factors should you keep in mind when planning a home extension? As the leading home extension experts in Perth, we’re here to provide homeowners like you with an outline of what to expect in terms of planning, budgeting, and executing an extension that ticks all boxes.
What Will a Home Extension Involve?
Home extension projects generally include extending the layout of the home out into the backyard, reconfiguring the existing layout of rooms, or expanding up with the addition of a new level.
One of the biggest considerations of a home extension is the structural work involved. Removing or altering load-bearing walls without proper planning can compromise a home’s structural integrity, which is not only dangerous, but will cost more to fix later down the line.
A well-designed extension will also significantly increase the house’s market value. For homeowners, this means the property can fetch a higher price if it is sold or leased out in future. A home extension may also be tax-deductible – helping owner-investors save on the overall cost of the work.
Planning for a Home Extension
Planning a home extension will involve addressing what needs to be changed in the home, as well as the cost of the project. Here’s a step-by-step guide covering the process of planning for a home extension:
Set a clear goal
Consider what you want the home extension to achieve. Adding a new room is very different from renovating a bathroom, which is why the goal of the extension needs to be defined from the start. Costly last-minute changes can be avoided when there is a clear, established objective for the extension project.
Determine a budget
The average house extension project in Australia costs $2,000 – 4,000 per square metre. Depending on the size of the extension, the total cost of the project can add up to tens of thousands of dollars. Setting a budget will allow you to source and review quotes to ensure the home extension stays within projected costs. Be realistic about your budget and wary of contractor quotes that are unusually low.
Our extension budget guidelines include:
- Under $90,000: Targeted Upgrade, renovating select spaces or a smaller-scale extension
- $90,000 to $150,000: Substantial Renovation, multiple rooms or a mid-size extension
- $150,000 to $250,000: Major Transformation, extensive rework or a larger extension
- $300,000+: Premium Rebuild, full-scale transformation with no constraints on scope
Understand the approval requirements
Before any work begins on a home extension, you’ll need council approval. Check with your local council for the required building approvals. You don’t need to understand all the approval requirements — an experienced contractor like Venaso Selections will manage the paperwork and submissions on your behalf with full compliance.
Choose a contractor
To get the most out of your home extension, partner with a contractor who has extensive experience and resources to bring your vision to life, like Venaso Selections. Aside extensions, we also specialise in full home, laundry, bathroom and kitchen renovations, working closely with our clients for a result that adds long-term value to the home.
Create the new design and layout
Our in-house design team will refine the design and layout for the home extension based on your vision, using 3D digital renders to help you visualise the proposed design. You’ll be able to view the extended layout of the home, as well as finer details like the placement of power points and choice of materials.
Make arrangements for construction
We will provide you with a timeline for when you can expect to step back into your new home. To avoid delays, all products and materials for the build will be ordered 8 weeks before the start of the build. We’ll also issue a payment schedule outlining the fees at each stage of the process. When the home extension is completed, we’ll arrange a walkthrough of your new home for a first look and final inspection.
Planning a Home Extension? We Can Help.
Venaso Selections are home renovation specialists in Perth that deliver masterfully designed extension projects to improve the value and function of a home. With over 10 years of collective experience and an in-house design team, we can manage your entire home extension project from the initial design to the final touches.
We partner with household brands in Australia like Fienza, Caesarstone, and Adp to supply high-end fittings and finishes. Get in touch with our team today for tailored advice on how to plan your home extension.