Australian houses are among the biggest in the world. The average size of newly detached houses, built in our country in the last five years is around 235m², but there is increasing evidence that, at least when talking about flats, the average floor plan of the median Aussie apartment is starting to shrink.
Smaller lot sizes and an increased demand for affordable housing have transformed the real estate market in our country into a race against time, in which the overall size of the listed dwellings is now in second place. Affordability and availability are the main elements that influence the decisions of real estate buyers, and for this reason, the listing price of larger-than-median properties has risen consistently in the last couple of years.
Do you live in a suburban house that no longer gives you the square footage required for daily activities? In that case, you will have two choices at your disposal. Number 1) You can try your luck on the market and discover for yourself why the Australian real estate market is in a bit of a crisis at the moment. Alternatively, at number 2, you could utilise the services of home extension builders and expand your already existing property, with a new wing.
What Are the Benefits of Extensions Conducted by Local Builders?
The most obvious one is the extra space you could gain by utilising the offers of builders in Penrith. Home extensions are flexible and can be designed to fit both your aesthetic preferences and the subjective requirements of your family. Do you want, for example, to expand on your living room’s layout, add another bedroom to your floor space, or make your kitchen just a tiny bit bigger? In that case, a home extension could be a solution to keep in mind.
Unlike granny flats, which are secondary dwellings that cannot be directly accessed from the main property and which have a floor plan limit of 60m², building extensions can be as big as you want (well, there are size limits, but they are more lenient), and can be customised in line with your direct preferences. Yes, they will not exactly be cheap, and in some instances, home extensions can cost and take more to complete than granny flats, as the documentation required for the commencement of construction work will be harder to obtain. That said, in most cases, the services of home extension builders will be worth it, as the keyword when talking about these kinds of constructions is flexibility.
How Much Will It Cost?
The answer to this question will depend on the scope of the project, the client’s location, and the documentation required before construction work can begin. Do you live somewhere near Sydney’s CBD? If so, in your case, the total costs of a construction work made possible by locally-known home extension builders will probably be greater than what’s the case for residents of Penrith or Green Valley.
What sums are we talking about? Well, most home extensions will cost somewhere between $2500-$3,000 per m² for work that covers the ground floor. So, for a wing that extends to 60m², you could be expected to pay around $180.000. Moreover, you will also have to consider the price of the documentation required before work can begin. With granny flats, the process is quite easy, as you will likely obtain a CDC, something which was made possible by the State Environmental Planning Policy of 2009. However, for home extensions, things can get a bit more complex.
What Documents Are Required?
With home extensions there is an easy way or a more complicated route. The easiest way to start construction is to obtain a CDC, which will make the construction process go as smoothly as in the case of an ADU. But, at least in Sydney, obtaining a CDC for a house extension is not guaranteed, and chances are you will have to submit a Development Application, which could delay the project and make it so you require council approval. But let’s say this process goes smoothly and you obtain your DA without too much hassle.
After that, you will need a construction certificate, detailed plans showcasing the property’s boundaries, an SEE, survey plans, and a Building Sustainability Index Certificate, as long as the total costs of the projects expand beyond $50,000. As for the regulation that will need to be followed, these will be largely influenced by your local council. With a CDC, for example, the home extension together with the primary residence could cover up to 50% of the lot’s total size. With a DA, however, the maximum size will be determined by the council’s FSR control. As for the maximum height of the construction, you will typically be limited to only a two-story construction that doesn’t surpass 8.5 meters in height.
A Good Financial Investment
The services of local builders will not be free. However, their expertise and the services provided will be much more cost-effective than simply biting the bullet and going for a new property, situated in a different part of NSW. Are you based in Penrith? Do you want to continue living here, and you are not keen on investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in a marginally larger property that could potentially harbour some hidden defects? Then, the utilisation of house builders in Penrith should be one of your priorities.
But what is best for your situation? The services of home extension builders, or investing in a new granny flat? Well, granny flats are typically easier to construct, require only a CDC, and can also be rented out for a supplementary income that will add up over time. Both ADUs and home extensions can significantly increase the market value of your existing property, and both will expand on your lot’s usable square footage.
That said, granny flats are typically a bit cheaper to build than home extensions and are also a more flexible in use. Extensions, on the other hand, do not have to act as separate quarters, and therefore can be constructed next to your dwelling and be accessible directly from it. Are you looking to obtain a supplementary rental income and utilise the construction as a secondary dwelling? Then, a granny flat is the way to go. Do you simply want to enhance your living space and keep the extension connected your main dwelling? If so, the services of home extension builders are what you’re looking for.