This phenomenon may make it more difficult for families and people that want to move, but cannot because of this housing issue. Fortunately, there is another option for those that want to change their house or living arrangements and can’t afford to move: renovate what you have.

Rather than moving to a different house and spending all of the money involved with that, including movers and trucks and such in addition to the actual cost of the new house, it is both easier and more cost efficient to add on to the house you’re in.

This option is a win-win situation because you get to stay in the same place, yet still get to make any and all the changes you’d want to make your ideal living situation. It is also easier on the wallet, making it a great option for any homeowner.

At Next Level Extensions, we are specialists who know how renovations and home improvements in Perth are your best option, not only here, but in any city or community across Australia. With the rate of housing projected to climb even higher within the next year and possibly beyond, our programs look better and better.

With the total adjusted home sales up by 4.2% by the end of last year, some people are turning to home renovations in Perth suburbs to create the home they always wanted.

For example, let’s say that a family would like to move from a one-storey to a two-storey house for either aesthetics or for functional reasons, such as to make room for more children or other relatives coming to live with them. With the housing market the way it is, they might not be able to afford this move.

However, all hope is not lost! Rather than moving to a house with a second floor, they could just build a second floor onto the house that they already own. This would not only be cheaper than a total move, but less stressful, especially if new children or relatives are on the way. We, being 2 storey home builders in Perth, could easily complete this project with minimal hassle.

Imagine another scenario: a growing family has become tight in their current living arrangement and needs more space to move around in and store things. They would like to relocate to a place that’s roomier, not necessarily that has two floors, but just has more space for anything they need.

In case, this family too may or may not have enough to be able to pull off the relocation, but they would more than likely be able to renovate their current house in a way that extends the ground floor or re-allocates rooms to create more space. Next Level Extensions can do this as well at both an affordable and low stress rate that’s, cliché aside, good for the whole family.

Let’s draw up one last situation: If only for the sheer fact that the family thinks it looks nicer, they would really like a house with a better outdoor patio area, although this of course is practical as well for outdoor sitting, cooking, and entertaining. Again, rather than moving to an entirely new home with this equipped, it would be more beneficial to build an outdoor living area attached to the house that they already have.

Due partially to our expertise and experience in home improvements and renovations, any one of the families in these three scenarios could enjoy the home that they want or need, and still have money left over for other things they want.

The rise in new home prices isn’t going to go down any time soon, at least not in the foreseeable future. However, rather than worrying about it, Next Level Extensions makes it easier than ever to combat this housing cost increase by providing simple additions to any home.

This gives hope to those families and any people that wouldn’t have another way to afford their ideal living arrangements otherwise. Although prices for new homes may go up, we continue to provide high quality home extensions and friendly service.

These homes, and the landscaping surrounding these homes, help bring character to a neighbourhood. There are policies in place that regulate the construction of new home and additions to existing homes. When planning to build an addition onto your home, there are some considerations you can take to ensure that you retain the original character of your home and neighbourhood.

Plan an Addition of Comparable Size

When planning house additions in Perth, look at the neighbouring homes and create a blueprint that outlines an addition that keeps your home to a comparable size to other homes. This means that you shouldn’t have a second storey addition that’s extremely tall and juts over the front of the house if your neighbours either have single storey homes or modest second stories.

Western Australian housing codes request that second storey additions be built onto the home so that the home still appears as a one storey home from a front street view. Although it’s not required of additions, 2 storey home builders in Perth can help you design a structure that doesn’t jut over the front of the home or rise too high in the back.

Construct an Addition within the Structure of the Roof

Homeowners who find it important to retain the integrity of their home’s structure and the character of the neighbourhood can work with a builder to design an addition that’s built into the roofing structure of the home. Many homes have storage areas in between the ceiling and the roof, and these can convert to living spaces without affecting the structure of the home.

Homeowners can create an upstairs family room, additional bedrooms, or even a small apartment like living area for a college student or family member in the attic space. House extensions in Perth don’t need to be extensive or involve lots of construction. By exploring all of your options when working with home renovations you can find a solution that meets all local council regulations and provides the additional space you need in your home.

In most cases, your builder is familiar with current design codes and won’t recommend any structures that would violate current regulations. It’s best to speak with 2 storey home builders in Perth before mentally visualising your home’s new addition. This way you don’t get your heart set on a certain design only to find out that it’s against current building codes. If you and your builder know that your renovations don’t violate any codes, it’s best to let the council help you deal with a disgruntled neighbour who just doesn’t want construction going on next to his home.

Talk with Your Neighbour before Construction

When planning to build onto your home, you will need to apply with the local council and get approval. Before you lodge an official application, consider speaking with your neighbour about proposed construction. This can help your neighbour understand exactly what you’re doing, and probably help alleviate any issues that arise from prospective renovations and extensions. Encourage your neighbour to voice their concerns, although don’t feel pressured to change your plans if they fall within your legal rights to build.

Apply for Approval

There’s always the chance that no matter how nice you are, a neighbour will have a problem with you building onto your home. However, when you apply for approval, the council will review your application and determine if consulting with neighbouring properties is necessary. If the council finds no violations of current building codes in your application, any neighbours who voice objections will be informed that your construction is legal and non-objectionable.

In rare cases, some plans for second storey additions in Perth are found to violate a building code or two. The addition may stick out too far and block a neighbour’s view, or planned window designs may disrupt the privacy allotted to all neighbouring properties. A simple change of plans often fixes these violations and does not cause a huge disruption in the construction process.

Linked Home Extensions

If your family is growing and you need the addition of a family room, or you want to add on a studio or office space to your home, a linked addition is a great way to add an extension. Because a linked extension does not affect the structure of a historical home, it’s actually the preferred type of extension in Claremont. A linked extension is just what it sounds like. Instead of attaching an addition onto the current structure of the home, a link is made between the new addition and your home. This can be a covered walkway, an enclosed walkway, or a link that’s custom designed to your taste.

This type of extension is perfect for those who don’t want to worry about a home renovation. Perth climate is often hot, so a linked extension can be designed to take advantage of certain angles to ensure that one section of the new structure doesn’t get too hot or cold, making the room uncomfortable. Claremont prefers that additions are one storey and designed to either match the current look and feel of the existing home or built with materials that distinguish old architecture from new architecture.

Choosing the Best Design for a Linked Structure

Depending on your needs, a linked home extension in Perth can consist of building a number of rooms within the structure or having one large open room. Your budget and space constraints help determine the size of the addition. If you’re looking to build a small office or studio space, you may just want a large open area that allows you to move freely. If you’re adding space because your family is growing, an extension with a couple of rooms is ideal for a family area, guest bedroom, and a bathroom. No matter what size of extension you need, taking advantage of linked construction helps you maintain the integrity of your historical home and enjoy a contemporary dwelling at the same time.

What’s Different about Renovating a Period Home?

Two storey home builders in Perth will tell you that in basic terms, restoring a period home is mostly the same as renovating a modern home or apartment, but the cost of upgrading a period home can be very expensive if the rules and regulations provide a list of specifications where cheaper alternatives are not available. However, many traditional materials will last much longer than modern day cheap substitutes, so if you look at the renovation over a long period of time, you’ll be saving money.

Restoring a period home is a very different challenge to upgrading a relatively new home because you can’t just go to your local timber centre and pick up everything you need. Sourcing some materials will take time and effort. Nevertheless, if you have found a fixer upper that is also a period property, there’s a lot of self-satisfaction in completing the task.

Some Things Can’t Be Changed

Where buildings are listed as having great heritage by government departments, they will have restrictions placed on the property which tell you what you can and can’t do if you want to make alterations or additions.

Before you agree a deal for some home extensions in Perth, you will need to check with your local authority to find out if all of your plans can be carried out. For example, the rules might tell you that you can’t add a second level or remove some of the fixtures or features of the period home.

Making the Most of Local Resources

There is a good chance that you will be able to find fixtures and fittings for your period home in the local area, because a lot of period homes were constructed with local materials, a long time ago. It will be to your advantage if you can find out more about the period and style of your property before you begin the work.

Your local library will be able to help you with photographs and plans of period property in your local area which will help you make sure that you can preserve the look and character of the property.

Your state or territory will be able to introduce you to the primary heritage body who will have a list of contractors and suppliers who will specialise in your type of work.

You will have to work closely with an architect, a designer or a builder who has great experience in bringing period homes up to modern day standards, but with a large look back into the past.

Where you would like to match the original paint colour, an expert will be able to get samples of your old paint and deliver an exact match for you.

When you’re looking at house extensions in Perth and you have a period property, it’s important to maintain the legacy of Australia’s architectural past as you upgrade your home and the value of your property.

It doesn’t matter if you’re an expert or not, incorporating a few of these ideas into your home without spending too much money can give your home a modern edge.

Yellow has Replaced Pink

The new pink, for 2013, is yellow. To make small additions across the interior of your property, yellow is the most important colour for your accessories this year.

Your home will always enjoy a fresh coat of paint as it is still one of the cheapest and quickest ways to update the interior of your property, but if you want to make some further drastic changes you might consider home extensions in your Perth property.

Timber Floors Can Revitalise Your Rooms

This 2013, laminate timber flooring will give the impression of being good in most homes, but doesn’t come with the price-tag of real timber. As a floating timber flooring, they cost much less than tiles, look really good and apart from an occasional polish, you won’t need to spend much time on maintenance.

Where wood is your favourite finish, another good for 2013, is to purchase stack panel timber for feature walls. Made from eco-friendly timber, these are small pieces of wood stacked together and are often used to present a great finish in kitchens and living rooms.

Would You Consider Digital Printing on Your Tiles?

Instead of purchasing heavy stone, digital printed tiles give the same look, but at a fraction of the cost and are definitely the next big thing. You can lay them on the floor or on the wall and they’ll quickly remind you of a luxury hotel bathroom.

A popular feature tile currently use mosaics, but if you want the most up-to-the-minute in vogue look, it is better to choose tiles that have multiple textures all in the same sheet, mixing glass, stone and metallic finishes.

New for 2013

Those in the know are suggesting that large pendant lights are the best look for the year, suspended over dining room tables or beds or kitchen benches. Being environmentally friendly, LED lights have become extremely popular as they are very cost-effective in comparison to other lighting options.

Semi or completely suspended vanities will be seen across all bathrooms during the year because not only do they look good, but they help the room appear to have more space in it.

When you speak to your two storey home builders in Perth, they’ll tell you that kitchens will be supplied with coloured bench-top appliances providing a little bit of a retro theme without spending too much. White appears to still be the most popular colour for kitchens.

Plantation shutters and curtains are making their way back in this year and provide a great way to introduce sophistication and colour into a neutral space.

These few ideas will put you in touch with what’s happening with interior design in 2013 which you’ll need to know about if you’re considering house extensions in Perth this year.

You have the opportunity to add green facilities and utilities to your property which will reduce your regular bills and which will make your property more attractive if you choose to sell or rent. To renovate your property is to think more about sustainability than expenditure.

Adding Value to Your Property through Renovation

Education is important to find out which options are available to you for every item you need to purchase, as you upgrade with a house extension in your Perth property. When you talk with your architect and builder, for every part of the process, you can ask them about your green option.

During the planning process it helps if you are thinking about the running costs of your building and its efficiency over its long-term future.

If the renovation is for an investment property, it could be argued that the investor won’t receive the everyday benefits of turning the property into an environmentally friendly operation. Nevertheless, tenants are requesting that they move into green homes and where a tenant has a choice of properties they are more likely to choose the green option because they know that their bills will be lower.

Homes with Energy Efficient Ratings

When you purchase a refrigerator, you know it comes with an energy efficient rating so that you know whether the fridge is going to cost you a lot to run or much less. While this doesn’t happen for properties yet, it is sure to be an expectation in the near future because potential homeowners or tenants are already asking the right questions about the greenness of the property before they purchase or rent.

Families will be looking for properties that are cost efficient and green at the same time. This combination is already forming part of many marketing activities for real estate agents across the country. It won’t be long before every property has an energy efficient rating which could prove the difference between selling a property quickly and at the right price or receiving a lower price because you haven’t added efficiently to your house extensions in Perth.

It may be easier to design and build a green environmentally friendly home as opposed to changing your current property by renovating it. However, you can create a wish list and see what is practical and affordable and you may be able to include the majority of your items if you work closely with your renovations experts.

The installation of photovoltaic solar panels is an obvious way to reduce energy costs, but some properties hold covenants that restrict the look and appeal of an area. Some architects have found very good ways at disguising solar panels so that they don’t become an obvious eyesore.

When you’re looking at renovating or adding second storey additions to your Perth property, it pays you to think ahead and be environmentally conscious, and consider the energy efficiency of the property when the work is finished so that it adds value to your property, but also helps the environment over the long term.

It’s not just the main fire that causes the problems. Burning embers are responsible for destroying a high number of houses as they fly through the air and land through broken glass, in piles of dead leaves and in gutters.

1) Planning Saves Lives

Planning ahead is the most important factor which may save your family’s lives. There are a number of actions you can take, preferably before the fire season begins, but later is better than never.

Here are a number of actions you should take as soon as possible:

• Clear leaves and other debris from your gutters because they are easily flammable.

• Wherever you store a woodpile as a fuel source, keep it away from your property.

• Cut your grass short and rake up leaves.

• Make sure that your garden hose reaches the outsides of your property lines.

• Take your recycled newspapers and cardboard to the recycling centre often.

• Keep paint and flammable liquids away from your home.

• The valve of LPG tanks must face away from your property.

• Keep your pool chemicals away from other potentially dangerous and flammable chemicals.

• Make sure that your insurance policy is up-to-date and includes bushfire cover.

2) Managing Your Evacuation Plan

One of the advantages of adding house extensions to your Perth property is the ability to make sure that you can evacuate your property easily and effectively. Make a plan for all of your family to be able to leave your property easily and practice a number of safe routes out in case of emergencies.

Make a list of treasured possessions that you’d need to pick up and move in an emergency and don’t forget to include your pets in your planning.

Don’t hide in your swimming pool if a bushfire comes close to your home because the temperatures will be too high to keep your head above water. Nevertheless, keep the water in your swimming pool as the Fire Service may need to use it.

When you’re upgrading with a home addition in Perth, choose safety windows to protect your home. You may know you need to keep one smoke alarm on each level in your home, but making sure they are well tested is very important.

Bushfires can move at an incredible speed, therefore the amount of planning and preparation you do in advance could be the difference between you managing to look after your property and family, or failing. If you live in an area where bushfires are a strong possibility then taking the advice of the Fire Service could reap dividends at a later stage.

If you’ve made any home additions to your Perth property, they will probably now be the cleanest part of your home. Your target is to make sure all of the property looks as new as your recent home extensions.

Ask Your Friends for Help

You aren’t asking your friends to help you clean your property to prepare it for sale, but asking them to look at your property objectively. They can show you areas that need attention that you may never have even noticed.

While you have your friends in your home, ask them what needs decluttering from your property, because you will see those items every day and treat them as part of the furniture.

Your neighbours will be able to tell you if you have removed almost every smell or evidence of animals inside your home, because you may not notice the telling signs anymore. Your pets won’t like it, but clean and remove their food and water bowls during an open inspection day and find out if your neighbours would like to look after your animals for the day.

Making the Most of Light and Air

If your home is an area you share with animals, not everyone will enjoy your enthusiasm or their trailing smells. Some people are allergic to animal hair, so it will be essential that you clean your property, remove all dog or cat hairs and allow as much fresh air into your property as possible to make it easy for visitors to breathe clean air.

Before you prepare for a home inspection, open your curtains and blinds so that as much light as possible will show off your house both from inside and outside. Opening as many windows as possible will help keep fresh air flowing through your property. If it’s a hot day, keep your house cool, but if it’s a cold day, keep your house warm.

Many people suggest that you can change the personality of your house by having fresh flowers available in different places around your home. This gives it a touch that most of your competitors won’t even think about.

If you don’t have an eye for design and decor yourself, ask an expert to advise you about the placement of your furniture, any additional artwork or any other elements that help add style to your property so that it will come alive for potential buyers.

Keep Important Documents Available

Although it is doubtful that you will be negotiating a sales price as people walk around your property, you should have everything available just in case anybody wants to ask you questions or ask to see proof of any documentation. You never know, you might complete a sale with the first person who walks through your door, so it helps to be prepared.

If you’ve added any home extensions in your Perth property, showing people the plans or pictures before and after will help them see which work you have completed recently.

When you arrange for an open house inspection via your real estate agent, you will only get one opportunity to make a lasting impression on the people visiting your home. There are a number of simple tips that can help you make your property stand out from the many others that will be up for sale in your neighbourhood and the more you implement, the higher your chances of selling your property quickly.

The Easiest Option: Clean Your Home

Although this should be the most obvious selection, people often forget that they need to keep their home extremely neat and tidy as well as exceptionally clean when you are organising an open home inspection. Even when you don’t sell your home during the open home day, you will still increase the opportunity of selling your property more easily if you keep it in a perfect condition until the day you move out.

When you look at cleaning your property, you are not just considering the main rooms that people are going to look at more closely than others. It is the overall impression you make on potential purchasers that could become the difference between selling or not. This includes your garden and outside areas as well as every single room inside your home.

If you’ve chosen to make some second storey additions in Perth, your cleaning procedures must begin the day that the work finishes. This includes vacuuming your entire property inside, dusting, washing, scrubbing and buffing everything up so it looks brand-new. Whatever you do, don’t forget to make your entire collection of kitchen appliances look new by cleaning inside ovens, cupboards and any food areas. In your bedrooms, cleaning inside your wardrobes is mandatory because people always open wardrobe doors to see if all of their clothes can fit inside.

The sooner you can clean your entire property, then the easier it will be to keep it in pristine condition for when any visitors arrive to look over your home.

Clear Away the Clutter

To a trained eye, what other people call clutter, you will describe as your personal effects. These are your little pieces of pottery that have no value, but your four-year-old bought it for you on holiday and all of your family photographs. The more that you can clear away inside your home, more clear space will show around your property. Just clearing the shoes away from the entrance area can reduce the amount of hazards that potential viewers may trip over.

Where you need only keep your rubbish and waste bins outside your property, they should look perfectly clean with lids on to prevent people being able to see, well, your rubbish.

The more inviting you make your property, the more chance you give yourself for a quick and high-value sale.