If you’ve been looking to move home because you need the space, but have realised that it’s not really a great time to relocate, or you haven’t got all the money you need, a loft conversion could be the solution.

Loft conversions are ideal for those that need the extra room and it’s a great way to invest in the house too, as it can add up to 20% more value to your home. With this in mind, Kingsmead Conversions want to help you save money, so you have more to spend on kitting out your brand new room.

How to better budget a loft conversion

Simply being aware of how to better your budget when investing in a loft conversion, could save you hundreds of pounds. Keep an eye out for honest workers, research a few companies, compare their quotes, make your choice and carry on checking up on the work to ensure that all calculations meet your expectations. Eliminate any chance of surprise by taking the process step by step.

If you’re looking to reduce the cost of your loft conversion, take note of these handy tips:

Find a company with no hidden extras

You may find countless loft conversions companies that offer cheap and inspiring work, however, what’s important is that they do not fool you with their hidden extras. These hidden extras can include materials, extended working hours and changes to your plans, thus adding to the cost of your loft conversion. Find a company that is honest about the work they do and this will help everyone involved stick to the plan once it’s passed the planning and design stage.

Get multiple quotes

If you haven’t had a loft conversion before, it’s likely that you don’t know what to estimate the work at. Once you have multiple quotes, you will be able to get a feel for a reasonable price and make a choice based on good, solid research.

Be cautious – don’t always accept the cheapest quote

So, you’ve been given a really cheap quote and it’s in fact one of the first to get back to you. Wait to hear back from the other companies you have contacted. Just because they’re low it doesn’t mean that they’re the best choice. A shockingly cheap quote could mean that the workers have missed something out and could mean that they may realise their mistake part way through the conversion. This could leave you with a half-finished loft conversion or mean that the work is now twice as expensive as the estimate. By going with a company that’s slightly more expensive can mean that they’ll be solely focused on your project and not several others, meaning that there’s less room for expensive mistakes. Also, if the company costs a little bit more, their work has the potential to be of a higher standard too.

Confirm a solid quotation, an estimate doesn’t have you covered

Once you have made a decision to go with your favoured company, have them write up a solid quotation. This will give you the opportunity to review it when checking your calculations later on down the line. A quotation will also be ideal to see the breakdown of the work.

Check your calculations and talk to your chosen company

It’s OK to check in to see how the work is looking, ask about the project and see to it that they’re happily on target. This way you can get a good indication for the completion date and hopefully this means the work is well on track.

Keep your design simple

A loft conversion should be a cost-effective choice and if you’re looking to stick to a budget then keep your design simple, you can still have a stunning transformation.

DIY: recycle and sell old materials

Keep the materials that have been pulled from your loft. Sell old radiators, roof tiles and bricks. Recycle timber floorboards and doors – take these materials to large waste management centres. The materials will be scrapped appropriately and responsibly, not to mention you can get money in return if you go to the right place.

Kingsmead Conversions have a wealth of experience, transforming lofts into luxurious, hidden gems of the home. If you’re looking for the right people that’ll do the job flawlessly the first time around, count on our highly trained experts to provide you with free design and planning for fixed price conversions with no hidden extras. Based in Buckinghamshire, we cover a number of areas, including Bedford, Oxford, High Wycombe, Milton Keynes, Watford, Hemel Hempstead, St.Albans, Harpenden and Luton. For a fully managed service, call us today and let’s get you penciled in.