Ways to Reduce the Cost of Your Extension

Building an extension will improve your quality of life and add value to your property, making the project a worthwhile investment of your time and money. But due to the cost of extending your home you’ll need to manage your costs carefully and think of ways of getting the most of your budget. In this article we discuss the best ways to reduce the cost of your extension without compromising on quality. 

Buy your own materials

When a contractor is hired for a project, it is common place for them to add their own mark up to any materials they buy on your behalf. You could avoid this by going directly to a builder’s merchant (the same place a tradesperson will get the materials from) so you are not paying for this extra levy.

However, because of the trade discounts the contractor will likely have access to, it could still end up being more cost effective to source the materials through them. You can always check by comparing costs from a builder’s merchant with the quote provided by the builder to see which one is cheaper.

VAT savings 

When you build an extension there can also be VAT costs of 20% on things such as labour, materials and services used. You may not have to pay this if you hire self-employed tradespeople who have an annual turnover below £85,000, which can save you quite a bit of money. People earning less than this amount qualify as sole traders who do not have to pay VAT, so it is not added to their invoices. Also, some extensions are VAT exempt, such as building one on a property that has been vacant for at least 2 years. 

Plan carefully 

When you build your extension also influences the price you may have to pay. There are certain times of the year when labour and material costs are higher than normal, such as December, as there is more pressure for projects to be completed before the seasonal holidays. It makes sense to avoid making any significant purchases at this time of year, as it could reduce expenditure and enable you to stretch your money further. 

Stick to simple designs

The more complex the design of your extension is, the higher the cost will be, as L-shapes and curves require more labour and material resources to be used. Where possible, go for square or rectangular layouts, with a pitched or gable roof. Opting for something like a hip roof will also drive-up costs due to the extra work involved. Consider standard-sized doors and windows that are hassle-free to install and try to avoid building near drains or similar, as groundwork costs will add to your outgoings. 

Avoid last minute changes

Once you have settled on a final design, try to stick to it without making any last minute changes. There will always be unforeseen bumps in the road that need to be overcome and they could add to the cost of the project, but these are largely out of your control. But by carefully planning every detail of the build you can avoid unnecessary delays and costs that could be incurred. Don’t rush the design and make sure you are completely happy with it before moving onto the next stage. If plans do have to be changed, discuss this possibility upfront with the contractor so you can budget effectively. 

Get involved with the building work

While you are not expected to be a professional electrician, plumber, plasterer or bricklayer, there will be plenty of smaller, less technical, jobs on the build that you could take on to save some money. You could be responsible for decorating the extension once it has been built, or clear up at the end of the day. This can help reduce your overall bill and save you money that could be spent elsewhere on the project. Always hire a professional for the more complex jobs, as you want to ensure the work is completed to a high standard. 

Thinking of extending your home?

If you are planning an extension project in Cambridge and want to get a better idea of the options available to you, we are able to help. Book a free consultation and we’ll discuss the project in more detail to see what can be built and the potential value it could add to your home. Call us today on 07984 760 920, send us a message here or email us at info@tereynarchitects.com and we’ll get right back to you.