converting bungalow loft, is it going to be possible?

GDB2222

Albermarle said:

aliby21 said:

Albermarle said:

Would it not be easier and cheaper just to buy a two storey house in the first place ?

it is 'location location'.  This is a great size plot in a great location for me - I am willing to compromise on the building as I can do stuff to it.

I can understand that, but bungalows ( detached )  carry a premium ( in terms of £ per M2 floor space anyway)
Then if you add an extra floor, which is probably what the end result will effectively be, rather than just a simple loft conversion then it will be pretty expensive.
So you might well struggle to recoup costs on resale.
Assuming you get planning permission.

I think this is highly likely to be a money-losing exercise, but it depends a bit on where the OP is located. Around where we live (London) houses sell at around £1000 psf. So, you can afford to spend £1000 psf adding space, and in theory you can recoup the money you put in when you sell. 

aliby21

Thanks everyone, this is proving a really useful discussion. I am coming round to the idea that I have to decide if I love the location etc enough to accept living in a bungalow.  So I am going back and looking at it with the mindset of 'can I live here' rather than 'how can I reconfigure it to the way I want'.  It is not the just cost of the work, the clincher is the disruption, having to live somewhere else for several months is going to make it unworkable I think.  

twopenny

That sounds reasonable.
I'm still struggling with loving the location with a building so small. I'm working my way round trying to make it work for me. 
But see what the builder says.
Can you keep the bedroom away from the living area? Reconfigure. I've planted a small decorative tree outside the bedroom window window and some larger plants to give a feeling of seclusion.
As you have ground could you seperate the bedroom off?

FreeBear

GDB2222 said:

Albermarle said:

aliby21 said:

Albermarle said:

Would it not be easier and cheaper just to buy a two storey house in the first place ?

it is 'location location'.  This is a great size plot in a great location for me - I am willing to compromise on the building as I can do stuff to it.

I can understand that, but bungalows ( detached )  carry a premium ( in terms of £ per M2 floor space anyway)
Then if you add an extra floor, which is probably what the end result will effectively be, rather than just a simple loft conversion then it will be pretty expensive.
So you might well struggle to recoup costs on resale.
Assuming you get planning permission.

I think this is highly likely to be a money-losing exercise, but it depends a bit on where the OP is located. Around where we live (London) houses sell at around £1000 psf. So, you can afford to spend £1000 psf adding space, and in theory you can recoup the money you put in when you sell.

If the OP is planning on making this property a home for the long term, adding value or recouping the costs is a secondary consideration.

Doozergirl

aliby21 said:

Thanks everyone, this is proving a really useful discussion. I am coming round to the idea that I have to decide if I love the location etc enough to accept living in a bungalow.  So I am going back and looking at it with the mindset of 'can I live here' rather than 'how can I reconfigure it to the way I want'.  It is not the just cost of the work, the clincher is the disruption, having to live somewhere else for several months is going to make it unworkable I think.  

Living elsewhere would be almost necessary, unless you're prepared to really suffer.  It affects the builders' ability to work efficiently as well, so there would be some financial repercussions even if you didn't move out.  

If this is the area you like then I'd really consider bungalow living, it's great!  Some lovely doors going straight from your bedroom to the garden would help.  🙂   It's one thing I wish I'd done when building our house - the kids sleep downstairs and the room that backs onto the garden is crying out for doors but I didn't want one child to benefit more than the other. 

We have upstairs bedrooms because it's cheaper to build two storey houses, not because we're genetically wired to sleep upstairs.   Think about it a bit and you'll probably enjoy it.  

GDB2222

FreeBear said:

GDB2222 said:

Albermarle said:

aliby21 said:

Albermarle said:

Would it not be easier and cheaper just to buy a two storey house in the first place ?

it is 'location location'.  This is a great size plot in a great location for me - I am willing to compromise on the building as I can do stuff to it.

I can understand that, but bungalows ( detached )  carry a premium ( in terms of £ per M2 floor space anyway)
Then if you add an extra floor, which is probably what the end result will effectively be, rather than just a simple loft conversion then it will be pretty expensive.
So you might well struggle to recoup costs on resale.
Assuming you get planning permission.

I think this is highly likely to be a money-losing exercise, but it depends a bit on where the OP is located. Around where we live (London) houses sell at around £1000 psf. So, you can afford to spend £1000 psf adding space, and in theory you can recoup the money you put in when you sell.

If the OP is planning on making this property a home for the long term, adding value or recouping the costs is a secondary consideration.

You are quite right that one shouldn't be too mercenary. On the other hand, few of us can afford to destroy a large amount of value in our homes, so it's a balancing act. 

aliby21

Thank you all, this has really helped me with focusing my mind, especially at this strange in between time of year which is conducive to lots of pondering and not so conducive to action.  

It would be a long term home, so not overly concerned about whether what I do increases the value of the property, though I don't want to do things that make it difficult to sell if/when needed. Having said that it is a small property for the size of plot and could do with some changes to bring it in line with the things people now look for when house buying. 

I think if the bedrooms weren't both at the front I'd be happier.  I will have to think about how I could rearrange things.  Currently there is the kitchen and big living room with huge sliding door at the back.  But I am sure with a bit of imagination there will be a way to make it work more for me.  And at least with a bungalow I wouldn't have to worry about coping with stairs when I am old and creaking! 

Albermarle

aliby21 said:

Thank you all, this has really helped me with focusing my mind, especially at this strange in between time of year which is conducive to lots of pondering and not so conducive to action.  

It would be a long term home, so not overly concerned about whether what I do increases the value of the property, though I don't want to do things that make it difficult to sell if/when needed. Having said that it is a small property for the size of plot and could do with some changes to bring it in line with the things people now look for when house buying. 

I think if the bedrooms weren't both at the front I'd be happier.  I will have to think about how I could rearrange things.  Currently there is the kitchen and big living room with huge sliding door at the back.  But I am sure with a bit of imagination there will be a way to make it work more for me.  And at least with a bungalow I wouldn't have to worry about coping with stairs when I am old and creaking! 

I would imagine a rear extension/remodelling would be less disruptive/expensive than your original plan.

Albermarle

Doozergirl said:

aliby21 said:

Thanks everyone, this is proving a really useful discussion. I am coming round to the idea that I have to decide if I love the location etc enough to accept living in a bungalow.  So I am going back and looking at it with the mindset of 'can I live here' rather than 'how can I reconfigure it to the way I want'.  It is not the just cost of the work, the clincher is the disruption, having to live somewhere else for several months is going to make it unworkable I think.  

Living elsewhere would be almost necessary, unless you're prepared to really suffer.  It affects the builders' ability to work efficiently as well, so there would be some financial repercussions even if you didn't move out.  

If this is the area you like then I'd really consider bungalow living, it's great!  Some lovely doors going straight from your bedroom to the garden would help.  🙂   It's one thing I wish I'd done when building our house - the kids sleep downstairs and the room that backs onto the garden is crying out for doors but I didn't want one child to benefit more than the other. 

We have upstairs bedrooms because it's cheaper to build two storey houses, not because we're genetically wired to sleep upstairs.   Think about it a bit and you'll probably enjoy it.  

Would the OP have to move out ( if they had this work done) because it would be a bigger job than a normal loft conversion, and/or because it is a bungalow ?
I only ask out of interest because when we had a loft conversion in a two storey semi, the disruption was not so bad, as the builders mainly entered via the roof and it was only nearer the end when the stairs were put in and related plastering that it got a bit messy.

Doozergirl

Albermarle said:

Doozergirl said:

aliby21 said:

Thanks everyone, this is proving a really useful discussion. I am coming round to the idea that I have to decide if I love the location etc enough to accept living in a bungalow.  So I am going back and looking at it with the mindset of 'can I live here' rather than 'how can I reconfigure it to the way I want'.  It is not the just cost of the work, the clincher is the disruption, having to live somewhere else for several months is going to make it unworkable I think.  

Living elsewhere would be almost necessary, unless you're prepared to really suffer.  It affects the builders' ability to work efficiently as well, so there would be some financial repercussions even if you didn't move out.  

If this is the area you like then I'd really consider bungalow living, it's great!  Some lovely doors going straight from your bedroom to the garden would help.  🙂   It's one thing I wish I'd done when building our house - the kids sleep downstairs and the room that backs onto the garden is crying out for doors but I didn't want one child to benefit more than the other. 

We have upstairs bedrooms because it's cheaper to build two storey houses, not because we're genetically wired to sleep upstairs.   Think about it a bit and you'll probably enjoy it.  

Would the OP have to move out ( if they had this work done) because it would be a bigger job than a normal loft conversion, and/or because it is a bungalow ?
I only ask out of interest because when we had a loft conversion in a two storey semi, the disruption was not so bad, as the builders mainly entered via the roof and it was only nearer the end when the stairs were put in and related plastering that it got a bit messy.

This is a bigger job.  The whole roof would have to come off and there's only one floor of living space underneath to take the brunt.  The lack of an existing staircase means that space has to be found for one downstairs too.