Converting a garage into a bedroom is a great way to add extra living space to your home, and it also helps increase your property’s value. In this blog, we will answer all frequently asked questions about this type of conversion and add some tips that can help you.
Get advice about converting a garage at a cost-effective rate from one of our experts.
Many houses in the UK do not fully use the extra space their garage can provide. Instead, a lot of times, what we see is a garage that is filled with clutter and old furniture.
According to Virgin money, converting a garage can significantly increase your home’s value by 10 to 15 per cent. This will depend on whether your property has off-road parking, and it will also depend on where you live.
A garage conversion is also a great way to add more space to your home, and it is generally less expensive and faster to complete than building a house extension. The work itself is also less complex regarding planning permission.
It is essential to consider the conversion’s cost in relation to the value added. That is, will the work cost be lower than the value you’ll potentially be adding to your home? Speak to garage conversion experts to get quotes for the work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to local estate agents to get estimates of what they think your property will be worth after converting a garage. This will help you decide if converting a garage into a bedroom is worth your home’s time, money and effort.
The most popular garage conversion, making up 29% of garage conversions in the UK, is a garage-to-bedroom conversion.
On average, a garage conversion in the UK costs for a single garage is £6k – £10k, and the cost for a double garage conversion is between £7k – £12k for a standard room.
The cost will depend on the size, the conversion style, the current state of your garage, the quality of materials, fixtures and fittings, and the labour cost.
According to a report by Santander bank, out of the 9.3 million private garages in the UK, 650,000 have already been turned into bedrooms. And a further 470,000 privately owned garages will be converted into extra living space. Its worthwhile looking into the potential upside you may get when converting a garage into a bedroom can have in a push in value for your home.
The other garage conversion types are an added home office, kitchen extensions, utility rooms or sitting rooms. It goes to show just how many homeowners are choosing a more efficient and potentially cheaper option to add more valuable space to their property.
Santander bank calculated the average conversion costs to be £6,300 once it has been plastered and decorated. When you compare the conversion price to converting the average loft, with costs reaching £30,000, you can see why many homeowners are looking into the alternative of converting a garage instead.
Not to mention the cost is much cheaper than building an extension or buying a new house.
The job is more straightforward if you have an integral garage. If your garage is detached, this might be a more complex job involving knocking down walls. This can add more to the cost.
Ask a garage conversion specialist to do an inspection and give you some quotes so you can better understand what needs to be done and the cost involved.
Get in touch if you need more information about garage conversion.
You usually don’t need planning permission for a garage conversion, provided the work is internal and doesn’t involve extending the building. However, it is best to check with your local authority’s planning department first.
The process will be less straightforward for houses located or listed in conservation areas. We advise you to speak to your council’s building control department before starting any work. This is to ensure you are complying with building regulations.
Even though a garage conversion can add more value to your home, we advise you to consider whether losing your garage could devalue your property.
John Woodhall from Rightmove says, “‘For two-car families in an area where parking is zoned or at a premium, a garage will be more valuable than an extra room.” However, converting a garage will pay dividends if you have plenty of space off-road to park your car and the job is well done.
Not all garages are built equally. Some are old, poorly constructed and could be asbestos ridden. However, if your garage was built in the last 30 years, is made with brick or block and is structurally stable, it is more likely that you could converting a garage with very little fuss.
Consider getting advice from a surveyor at the building control department of your local council.
Make sure the cost of converting a garage is lower than the value it adds to your home.
Many families consider moving as their families grow or their children get older and need a bit more space in the house. In this case, if your decision is based on more space, converting a garage might be cheaper than moving into a bigger house with more room.
Converting a garage into a bedroom has many benefits, especially when compared to an extension or moving house. Here are the top eight advantages:
Are you planning to convert your garage into a bedroom?
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