Really would appreciate advice from those that knows...

I am thinking of changing the attached double garage to living space. I
would extend the back and produce another living room, bathroom and study.
This would be accessed from the hall and could also be closed off to form a
seperate annex.

The house is a typical 70's style with the flat roof garage attached to the
side and there is room to park about four cars in the drive. I haven't
looked in to the cost of this yet but am wondering whether the loss of
garage is a problem, whether an annex adds much value, etc.

Any views really would be appreciated.

NewDiy wrote:
Really would appreciate advice from those that knows...

I am thinking of changing the attached double garage to living space.
I would extend the back and produce another living room, bathroom and
study. This would be accessed from the hall and could also be closed
off to form a seperate annex.

The house is a typical 70's style with the flat roof garage attached
to the side and there is room to park about four cars in the drive. I
haven't looked in to the cost of this yet but am wondering whether
the loss of garage is a problem, whether an annex adds much value,
etc.
Any views really would be appreciated.

We converted one last year, almost identical to this.
Firstly, the flat roof will have to go, it needs to be pitched, secondly,
all windows wil need to be fire escapes, because you are effectively
removing a way of escape (the large door, and possibly a smaller one?)...as
long as you have factored these into your costings, you should be fine...the
floor was lower than the house floor, but only by 150mm, meaning that we
couldn't get any insulation under it, but it was allowed anway - you can
only do what is do-able and most BCO's are understanding of this.

You need to get plans drawn up before anyone wil price it, but I'd guess
that you won't see much change out of 12K just for the conversion, the
extension you speak of can be priced yourself @ £1000 per m2 of floor
area...this is a ballpark figure.

In article , NewDiy
writes
Really would appreciate advice from those that knows...

I am thinking of changing the attached double garage to living space. I
would extend the back and produce another living room, bathroom and study.
This would be accessed from the hall and could also be closed off to form a
seperate annex.

The house is a typical 70's style with the flat roof garage attached to the
side and there is room to park about four cars in the drive. I haven't
looked in to the cost of this yet but am wondering whether the loss of
garage is a problem, whether an annex adds much value, etc.

Any views really would be appreciated.


Sooner or later you will want to sell the place. It might be an idea to
talk to some local estate agents who (hopefully) should be able to give
you an idea as to which is the greater asset, the garage or the extra
space.


Adrian
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"NewDiy" wrote

Really would appreciate advice from those that knows...

I am thinking of changing the attached double garage to living space. I
would extend the back and produce another living room, bathroom and study.
This would be accessed from the hall and could also be closed off to form
a seperate annex.

Only my opinion, but my GF and I were house shopping for the last six months
of last year, trying to find our dream home.

Speaking to Estate Agents, they said garage conversions were like
conservatories, didn't add any value to a house and were personal taste.
Indeed, from our constant looking at the properties for sale at the time, it
seemed people found it difficult to shift a house with garage conversions.

If you "need" the extra space and it's all you can afford/cheaper than
moving, do it. But it may be better to build an extention or move into a
bigger place.

I could think of nothing worse than having a house that won't sell, or
buying a house without a garage.

NewDiy wrote:

Really would appreciate advice from those that knows...

I am thinking of changing the attached double garage to living space. I
would extend the back and produce another living room, bathroom and study.
This would be accessed from the hall and could also be closed off to form
a seperate annex.

The house is a typical 70's style with the flat roof garage attached to
the side and there is room to park about four cars in the drive. I haven't
looked in to the cost of this yet but am wondering whether the loss of
garage is a problem, whether an annex adds much value, etc.

Any views really would be appreciated.


Well if your garage is anything like ours you would have to build a big shed
to hold all the junk/useful items that are stored in it. Car stays out side
all weathers, no room in garage!.

Dave

"J" wrote in message
...

"NewDiy" wrote

Really would appreciate advice from those that knows...

I am thinking of changing the attached double garage to living space. I
would extend the back and produce another living room, bathroom and
study. This would be accessed from the hall and could also be closed off
to form a seperate annex.

Only my opinion, but my GF and I were house shopping for the last six
months of last year, trying to find our dream home.

Speaking to Estate Agents, they said garage conversions were like
conservatories, didn't add any value to a house and were personal taste.
Indeed, from our constant looking at the properties for sale at the time,
it seemed people found it difficult to shift a house with garage
conversions.

If you "need" the extra space and it's all you can afford/cheaper than
moving, do it. But it may be better to build an extention or move into a
bigger place.

I could think of nothing worse than having a house that won't sell, or
buying a house without a garage.
As its a double garage, could you not convert half and keep half as a
garage? That's what we did and it gives you the best of both worlds!

Tom

On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 20:46:31 -0000, "Tom"
wrote:

|"J" wrote in message
...
|
| "NewDiy" wrote
|
| Really would appreciate advice from those that knows...
|
| I am thinking of changing the attached double garage to living space. I
| would extend the back and produce another living room, bathroom and
| study. This would be accessed from the hall and could also be closed off
| to form a seperate annex.
|
| Only my opinion, but my GF and I were house shopping for the last six
| months of last year, trying to find our dream home.
|
| Speaking to Estate Agents, they said garage conversions were like
| conservatories, didn't add any value to a house and were personal taste.
| Indeed, from our constant looking at the properties for sale at the time,
| it seemed people found it difficult to shift a house with garage
| conversions.
|
| If you "need" the extra space and it's all you can afford/cheaper than
| moving, do it. But it may be better to build an extention or move into a
| bigger place.
|
| I could think of nothing worse than having a house that won't sell, or
| buying a house without a garage.
|As its a double garage, could you not convert half and keep half as a
|garage? That's what we did and it gives you the best of both worlds!

Could you hide a caravan round the back where non of the neighbours can see
it. One caravan used as an extra bedroom you can get away with, one used
as Residential accommodation and you will have the planning people on your
back.
--
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method of accessing usenet. GG subscribers would be well advised get a
newsreader, say Agent, and a newsserver, say news.individual.net. These
will allow them: to see only *new* posts, a killfile, and other goodies.

J wrote:
"NewDiy" wrote

Really would appreciate advice from those that knows...

I am thinking of changing the attached double garage to living space. I
would extend the back and produce another living room, bathroom and study.
This would be accessed from the hall and could also be closed off to form
a seperate annex.

Only my opinion, but my GF and I were house shopping for the last six months
of last year, trying to find our dream home.

Speaking to Estate Agents, they said garage conversions were like
conservatories, didn't add any value to a house and were personal taste.
Indeed, from our constant looking at the properties for sale at the time, it
seemed people found it difficult to shift a house with garage conversions.

If you "need" the extra space and it's all you can afford/cheaper than
moving, do it. But it may be better to build an extention or move into a
bigger place.

I could think of nothing worse than having a house that won't sell, or
buying a house without a garage.


I agree, I am looking to move at the moment and houses that have had
their garage converted into a room are a non starter as I want a garage!
It does seem that these converted houses are less desirable than the
houses of the same design that have retained their garages, going by
time on the market, selling price etc. One of the issues is that houses
with an integral garage typically don't have the room on the plot for an
external garage and buyers that want a house with a garage may buy one
without if there is the potential to build one their selves.