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Extend or Build an attached house?
I have a nice house, but a bit small for the growing family in Sterrebeek with a large amount of land around it. I am thinking of expanding the property or possibly moving due to the family growing. My choices are complicate as I could extend the existing detached 3 bedroom house into a large 5/6 bedroom property or I could build another house attached to the current youse of a similar 3 bedroom size. What I would like to do is have someone come round and give me some suggestions on How much it would cost to extend and how much to build another house as an alternative. Depending on the costs and potential resale then I can then make a decission on what to do. I do not know who to contact as an estate agen can give me a retail price for both options and I suppose an architecht can give me a potential cost for both options but all I really want is advice before I get everyone invvolved so I do not waste lots of peoples time.
Any ideas on who to call/talk to?
First of all I would inquire at your commune / division urbanisme, if you would be receive a building permit for an extension / new built. Depending of their reply ..go the other steps. about wasting professional's time, it's their job not their hobby. Re to an estate agent estimation - do not / never sign anything, just inquire ....
Personally I would not do an extension ....too much hassle with permits, builders etc...., but buy another house, fitting to your growing family - there are enough options on the market ...and maybe you will find easily a buyer for your current nice, but small house.
Good luck !
Should not cost you anything to have an informal chat with an architect. He'll know the planning permission process and will likely have a good idea of what you will or will not be able to do.
Moving house is all very well but it's ruinously expensive. That's why people here buy one house and never move, ever.
Guessing your 3 bed detached sells for 400,000 you're probably looking at 20,000 Euro for the estate agent and then your new five/six bed house, depending on where it is, possibly another 100,000 in taxes.
You can do an awful lot of building with 120,000 Euro and you will be adding value, where as moving is dead money and gone forever.
"If I spend 120,000 on extending the house will the property value increase by at least the 120,000."
Don't lose sight of the fact that, whether or not the property increases by the full value, you will still have unquantifiable benefits. For example, if I spend €10K on double glazing my place will it add €10K to the value? Who knows, but it will give me the benefit of cheaper fuel bills and greater comfort.
In your case, you will have more space for your family - a massive benefit when they reach their teens!
""If I spend 120,000 on extending the house will the property value increase by at least the 120,000 I spent on it.""
I don't know. I can be sure that the property value will increase if you spend money on an extension. I can absolutely guarantee that every penny you spend on a house move will be welcomed by the estate agent and the Belgian state.
""If I spend 120,000 on extending the house will the property value increase by at least the 120,000 I spent on it.""
No, it will not. The land is the same size, and you ought to be about same value per SQm in the extended house as the extension cost you to build.
However extension = renovation = 6%VAT.
Newbuild = 21%VAT
Hi Richard, I can't recommend enough Alex as architect, he's can seriously work wonders with urbanism and very genuinely help you decide what's best for the growing family by showing you your options. Ring or email him via his site www.alexandrupatrichi.eu
Richard, you never make money here on renovations or buildings but the question is what would it cost you to move or rent?
Maybe build in such a wY you can died in future and sell as two house?
Alternative become a landlord remortgage and use that to buy a new place tax and all
