At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many offices were shut and employees were forced to quickly adapt to working from home. While at first many employees found that chaotic, people soon adapted to remote working and discovered the benefits of working from home. For this reason, the demand for home offices has significantly risen in the UK, as many people wish to continue working from home for the long-term. In this blog post, we explain where to start with a house extension for a home office and outline the important things you must consider before you begin to build your home office.
1. Check If You Need Planning Permission
The first step you must take on your journey to building a home office is checking whether or not you will need planning permission to build your office extension. Whether you require planning permission or not, it is essential you complete a Building Regulations application. This application will ensure your extension adheres to all the relevant codes and laws.
2. Take Out Site Insurance
Even if you are planning to build a small office extension, you will still require site insurance. For the majority of homeowners, their home insurance policy will not cover structural changes to their building, of any size. This is why site insurance is essential to cover a homeowner against any unforeseen accidents or issues that may arise whilst the office is being constructed. It is also important to note that if a builder has insurance, their insurance will most likely only include liability cover, making site insurance essential still.
3. Work Out How Much You Want To Spend
To ensure you do not overspend, it is essential you set a budget prior to starting your home office project. It is recommended that you budget an extra 10-20% over your budget, to use for unexpected problems and costs. Establishing a realistic budget can help make design choices, such as the size of the office, etc, and will ensure you don't spend more than you can afford.
4. Find The Right Designer
You may have a clear image in your mind of what you want your office to look like, for example, you may be planning an ultra-modern, industrial office or a rustic office based on biophilic design. No matter what ideas you may currently have, it is important to find the right designer who can turn your ideas into a reality. Start by looking locally for a designer, or look for recommendations online.
For house extensions Derby residents will love, get in touch with BDS Architecture. We can help you turn your home office dream into a reality. For more information about how to plan a house extension UK based, contact us today.
Image source: Unsplash
