Are you looking to transform your home but don't know where to start.

Here are some tips from SAV Developments.

1) Build an extension.
Extra living space is a holy grail for all home owners. If your plot is big enough and you don’t live in a conservation area, one of the easiest ways of increasing your space is by adding an extension.
An extension is one of the simplest ways to create extra living space.
Expect to pay from around £20.000 for a simple, single storey extension.

2) Create a bigger kitchen.
Structurally, this is similar to adding living space, although more expensive, as you have to factor in plumbing, power points, kitchen units and appliances. But it's money well spent as giving your kitchen as much space as you can is a good move, according to the Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association’s chief executive Graham Hayden. 2The kitchen has undergone dramatic transformation", he says. "Once solely used for cooking, washing and mundane domestic chores, today it has become the hub of the home, the room everyone congregates in and the place where we cook, work, socialise and entertain".

3) Factor in another bathroom.
A second bathroom is becoming more important in modern homes, and extending to create an extra one is a good option. Although the ground floor isn’t the obvious place for a bathroom, it can be useful solution for large families. If you are building on top of an existing single-storey extension, walls below may need to be strengthened.

4) Create a utility room.
Relocating a washing machine and tumble dryer out of the kitchen frees up valuable space, and creates a dedicated area to dry clothes and do the ironing. Incorporating one into an extension is a great idea, but you can also build into a back of an existing garage or incorporate one into a roomy downstairs loo. As long as there is a water and waste pipe supply nearby, costs should be minimal.

5) Add a conservatory.
One of the more cost-effective ways to add space is with a conservatory. Many available today rate very highly in the design stakes. Choose the style which complements the rest of your home and make sure it’s in proportion to the size of the house and garden, as adding a large conservatory to a small garden can have an adverse effect on resale price. Most conservatories are made of glass, which means south- and west- facing ones can become very hot, so think about blinds and cooling systems.

6) Basement conversions.
Using the space beneath your home is a great way to gain extra room as you’re effectively adding an entire floor to the footprint of the house. Converting an existing cellar is the easiest option, but it is also possible to dig out a new basement. Converting-which involves waterproofing, adding windows and possibly improving access – comes in at around £15.000. Digging is a different ball game, with prices starting at £80.000. Moving is pricey, it can be as high as £50.000 on expensive properties. That kind of money pays for half the conversion, and it will add value to the resale. Basements are naturally soundproof so they’re ideal for family rooms, kitchen-diners or a home cinema.

7) Loft conversion.
Loft conversions top the home improvements list in terms of value for money. Not every loft can be converted – you need 2.4m of headroom and some styles such as trussed roofs are more difficult to convert. Incorporating an en-suite bathroom also makes sense, and when you are selling it’s a real plus point. A loft conversion can also have other uses- a den for teenagers, for example, or a home office – but its location at the top of the house makes it ideally suited for a peaceful night’s sleep. A standard loft conversion will set you back in excess of £15.000.

8) Create an en suite.
Small box rooms off bedrooms that don’t have independent access are ideal candidates for transforming into an en suite. The nearer the room is to the water pipes and soil sack, the easier the refurb will be.

9) Install a wet room.
A spacious downstairs toilet or small second bathroom is great to have, but think about whether the space could work harder. Turning them into a wet room maximises their usefulness. A wet room is fully waterproofed, so you don’t need a shower tray, meaning you can squeeze everything into a smaller space. It should cost around £4.000 plus the cost of the suite.

10) Create a home gym.
Probably best in a basement or downstairs room (for soundproofing purposes), a home gym is a good use of unused space. Make sure you have enough space not only for equipment, but also to use it safely; head height in particular is important. Some equipment will need power and you may also want a TV or stereo to help ease the exercise routine, so check you have enough electrical points. Flooring should be easy to clean – rubber is a good option – and mirror is useful to make sure you’re doing the exercises correctly.

If you need further advice on how to improve your home and add value to it please contact us at the earliest convenience. We will be happy to help!