Convert or Sell:
Turn Your Current House into Your New Home
By Rich Conlin and Paul Gibbs, Managing Directors of The Loft Room
Thinking of moving house? Think again.
Thanks to soaring house prices, the top of
the housing ladder is well out of reach for
many people. In fact, just getting your foot
on the next rung can be a struggle. And even
if you can afford to, we all know how much
hassle moving can be.
So, what’s the alternative?
Most people move primarily to gain extra
space, but this can also be achieved by
upgrading your existing house; for example,
with a loft conversion.
Loft conversions are an extremely versatile
and cost-effective way to transform an
existing property — rather than moving into
a new one. Especially for homeowners in
areas such as London, where extending
outwards isn’t often an option, working
68 - www.refurbandrestore.co.uk
upwards is the best way to create more
space and make the most of your home.
Far from being just an out-of-sight space
to dump the Christmas decorations, your
loft can make a stunning master suite, cosy
guest bedroom, sophisticated home office
or dream teen den. But where do you keep
all those Christmas decorations once the
loft room is gone? If done right, your loft
conversion can help to optimise storage
space too — you just have to get creative!
If you have a little one on the way, it could
become an extra bedroom. If your lounge
is cramped, consider turning it into a den
for children or teenagers. If you work from
home, why not turn it into a study?
We look at three key reasons why converting
your loft is preferable to moving to a new
house…
1. Stress
Firstly, moving is stressful. The excitement
of having an offer accepted quickly turns flat
when you then have to deal with solicitors,
estate agents and removal companies.
Moving can also mean more than just a new
house: it could mean a new area, school or
neighbours. Which won’t necessarily be a
good thing.
In comparison, a loft conversion allows you
to stay where you are with little disruption to
your life.
Although many people are understandably
wary of having builders in their home, they
needn’t be with a loft conversion. A good
company will recognise how building works
can unbalance your home and make it a top
priority to ensure your experience is as pain-
free and un-intrusive as possible.