[Closed] loft conversions

Depending on the ceiling for house values in the area, adding an extra 'bedroom' would usually add value to a property. Doing this as a loft conversion knowing that you are likely to be selling soon means that you will need to fully comply with Building Regulations (which can be quite stringent for loft conversions) and any Planning requirements. So, you would need to weigh up cost against increase in property value for your extra 'bedroom' (look at prices in your area for similar properties with n+1 bedrooms to get idea of increase in value).

Get an agent round? Good to get their feedback sooner rather than later. Ours was very helpful, list of do’s and don’ts.

I doubt you'll get your money back in just a couple of years if at all. Depending on your roof construction it can be very expensive. For my house I think I'm looking at circa £30k - £40 by the time you've got it fitted out, so not really worth it, I doubt the additional space will add that much to the value of the house even if it added bedrooms - additional bedrooms are no good without additional bathrooms/en suites - nobody wants to have to walk downstairs to go to the loo in the middle of the night. Would maybe add half the build costs maybe.

We recently had our loft converted. At London prices, it cost around £45k. It won't have added that amount to the value of the house, but we wanted the space and didn't want to move.

In your situation, I would look carefully at the local market and see what an agent or two thinks.

Depends entirely on your individual circumstances, house type, location, other houses in the street, average house value in the area, etc etc. etc etc.

No no way can anyone without knowing the area, the local market and the prices fetched on your actual street, advise on if you will profit or lose money.

TLDR: Get a local agent round for advice.

Ensure who ever you get to do the plans actually understands the work involved, a loft i worked in, no fire door at stairs or lower floors, roof windows to high, window in side elevation overlooking another house had to be obscure glass the builder told to use clear, no wired smoke alarms, it cost them a lot to put right.

If you just want to use it as an office do you need to do a full conversion? You can board the floor and roof, add a velux and put in good sized hatch and ladder. That'll give you a pretty usable space for minimal outlay. Probably won't add any value but will make it easier for a buyer to see the potential for a proper conversion.

A full conversion may or may noy be cost effective. Too many variables to sat for sure.

What about full conversion with adding an extra bedroom, I might be able to add even an en-suite. I haven't contact with any local agent yet, but maybe you are right that I should.

We did a loft conversion to our old house which we have just sold. We did it as a "storage space" conversion with a wooden drop ladder. Definitely not a bedroom. Just storage. I mean obviously it had lighting, sockets, plastering, and two velux windows. And we stored a double bed up there. But it was definitely just storage. 😉

Looked like this:

Cost us £2650 (fairly small mid-terrace house). As it was just "storage" we didn't need to bother with buildings regs or planning (allegedly). Wasn't the best job in the world (I had to redo some of the electrics) but very good value for what we got I think.

Not sure how much value it added to the house (very hard to tell with our local market), but it was a great hook when showing people around and we had a buyer within a few weeks of putting it on the market.

Questions were asked about buildings regs, architect drawings etc during the sale. But we just pointed them at the reputable local company that did it and it all seemed fine.

Hang on.. just noticed this thread is 3 months old?? Ah well.