Most of us prefer to have an attached garage with the house we are planning to purchase. A garage is still a selling point for family homes. But as the time passes by, the garage becomes more of a junk storage. Also, over the last few years, our cars have got bigger than our garages. So, instead of parking our cars in the garage, we use it more as a graveyard for junk. And if you vacate the garage, your houses seem to burst with all the stuff.
If one is short of livable space, but has a garage, he can always consider converting the garage into a spare room, be it a den, a master suite or an extra bedroom, as needful. You can easily make an additional space at very low costs, rather than moving or building an extension.
Now, the first and foremost thing that is required to be done for absorbing the garage into a room is to ask for permission from the local planning department before planning any kind of construction work. Usually, one won’t require planning permission but still we have to abide by the Building Regulations.
The next step is to figure out the garage conversion cost
- Decide on what you want to use the room for. If it is a bedroom, one has to consider the closet space, the location of the doors and the windows. If there is a breaker box, or a hot water tank, it is a better option (in regard to the cost), leave them as it is rather than asking for a licensed professional move them and they can be concealed.
- The next step involves calculating the cost for converting a garage whereby you take measurements and draw out scaled plan for garage conversion. This includes electric wiring, water fittings, flooring etc. If you are adding a bathroom, estimate the space required, and for that take an estimate for the cost of a sink, a toilet seat, a shower, pipe installation, etc. Now you can call and get quotes from different contractors.
How to cut on garage conversion cost?
Step 1: DIY
One can reduce the garage conversion cost by simple DIY methods. Yes, there may be some fields that require a professional to be hired, but the more you do yourself, the more you save.
Step 2: Store the Building Material
Try to buy the material on sale before the conversion and store them until you are ready to begin with the conversion. Just be aware of any sales on the materials you need for conversion.
Step 3: Avoid Extra Expenses
Avoid adding on extra windows and other amenities in the garage conversion. Resist the tendency to overspend just to make the room look less like a garage because you cannot change the fact unless you reconstruct the house.
Step 4: Have Choices
The last but not the least is to have multiple quotes on any work that is to be contracted out to professionals. Many people just pick the first quote that they get without doing any comparisons.
