Builder's Charges per sq mtre ?

Doozergirl

JWhite wrote: »

Look, when we bought our bungalow we didn't buy it because it had NOT got a garage, we bought it because it was the right price and it was the bungalow we wanted, the garage, there or not, was inconsequential to us. Not everyone considers a garage as a necessity, we have had 6 houses, 3 with garages and 3 without, in fact most people think "oh, great, extra storage space!"when they see a garage, as most people do not use their garages. In fact I do not know anyone with a garage that has ever put their car in it, only maybe if they are going on holiday but that's it.

The only reason I was suggesting that I would ask the neighbour was to give us an indication of whether we would have to incur extra costs for PP as he has his garage in exactly the same spot in his adjoining driveway as ours would be.

By the way our first house which was a traditional one had 3 bedrooms, the smallest being 6ft x 5ft and I know plenty of other people who have the same size smallest bedrooms or not much bigger ! We could only just squeeze a single bed in it and it was classed as a 3 bed semi so your comments are irrelevant on that score. Estate agents still class it as a bedroom whether or not you can even get a bed in, at least that is what we found when looking at houses !

"they're not all worth more than they should be as a result."

What is that supposed to mean ? A house is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

This is your thread and you're taking it off on a tangent. You're getting advice, like it or not, from experienced people.

If you want simple storage space, build what you like. If you believe that it will add value because it could be a room, there are many factors you need to take into account. We're showing you those. Your builder is selling you a line and I seriously question his integrity. Of course a room can be 6ft wide, but they are generally children's rooms, not living rooms. Peoole don't choose houses for small rooms, they are acceptable compromises. If you purposely build, build It beyond compromise. People will not convert a garage that is 6ft wide into any meaningful room so even the prospect isn't attractive, let alone adding value.

On your street, similar houses will be worth similar prices. I don't know what the average price is, but most of them will have some room to extend somewhere. It doesn't add value. Of course houses are worth what people are prepared to pay and that is usually set by what is available in a market place. One house is not worth more than next door because the garage could be converted. It has the value of a garage, not hope value of a room. If the garage isn't big enough for a car, some people will reject the whole house! Not everyone, but it's always good to spend money with buyers in mind.

This isn't hard. Work out what you want. If you have space to go wider, it will hold more value to others and your house will be more saleable than with a skinny storage room. If you don't, it never mattered but it's unlikely that people will trip over themelves at the prospect of converting, but you have what you want. Mission acheived.

I never understand why garage are so important to most people. They are, in the main, full of stuff that should be and will probably end up in a skip or on ebay.

Leodogger

Doozergirl wrote: »

This is your thread and you're taking it off on a tangent. You're getting advice, like it or not, from experienced people.

If you want simple storage space, build what you like. If you believe that it will add value because it could be a room, there are many factors you need to take into account. We're showing you those. Your builder is selling you a line and I seriously question his integrity. Of course a room can be 6ft wide, but they are generally children's rooms, not living rooms. Peoole don't choose houses for small rooms, they are acceptable compromises. If you purposely build, build It beyond compromise. People will not convert a garage that is 6ft wide into any meaningful room so even the prospect isn't attractive, let alone adding value.

On your street, similar houses will be worth similar prices. I don't know what the average price is, but most of them will have some room to extend somewhere. It doesn't add value. Of course houses are worth what people are prepared to pay and that is usually set by what is available in a market place. One house is not worth more than next door because the garage could be converted. It has the value of a garage, not hope value of a room. If the garage isn't big enough for a car, some people will reject the whole house! Not everyone, but it's always good to spend money with buyers in mind.

This isn't hard. Work out what you want. If you have space to go wider, it will hold more value to others and your house will be more saleable than with a skinny storage room. If you don't, it never mattered but it's unlikely that people will trip over themelves at the prospect of converting, but you have what you want. Mission acheived.

I never understand why garage are so important to most people. They are, in the main, full of stuff that should be and will probably end up in a skip or on ebay.

A lot of people don't have choices about space when it comes to building onto existing properties, like us they have to work with what they have. We have a driveway 8ft wide and we have a tiny garden. To build this "storage" are or garage, whatever you want to call it, will take up a third of our garden so we will have no choice on width as to go any wider would take away our path down the garden. 20ft long is as far as we can go without it taking over the whole garden. We are working on what will be the most cost effective as we are retired and have limited savings. Building a garage with an up and over door was cheaper than building an extention onto the bungalow we believe.

We will get the quotes in and then decide which one to go with.

Doozergirl

There you go, then. It's already decided what you will have. Just don't spend huge amounts on a proper building when it sounds like there isn't good room to convert there or fit a car - it isn't worth the investment.

PP is unlikely to be a problem even if it isn't PD.

Leodogger

Doozergirl wrote: »

There you go, then. It's already decided what you will have. Just don't spend huge amounts on a proper building when it sounds like there isn't good room to convert there or fit a car - it isn't worth the investment.

PP is unlikely to be a problem even if it isn't PD.

South Staffs Planning Dept.just rang me and I explained what we wanted to do and she said it sounds like it comes under Permitted Development but she said to go onto the Planning Portal and just check that the size and cubic metres is correct, that it is not more than 2.5 mtrs in height, but that if the neighbour has one identical it is doubtful that it would cause a problem when selling the property, but she said that what we can do if not certain is to apply for a "Certificate of Lawful Development for Proposed Development" which basically is a certificate saying that the Council has approved the development so that if the property is sold and the solicitor wants to see proof of planning permission it confirms that the council approved the development. That is at a reduced cost of £86.00.