How to Choose Between a Home Extension or Granny Flat?

Investing in a home that aligns with your short-term needs is a wise decision. However, most of us focus on immediate requirements, forgetting that our housing needs are bound to change over time.

The good news is that you don’t have to compromise or buy a new home to accommodate changing needs.

Today, Sydney homeowners can enhance their living space while adding value to their property. Two great ways to do this are by building a home extension or a granny flat. With expert home extension and granny flat builders, you can create large sociable spaces, a well-equipped gym area, a rental unit or something else that can serve you for years to come.

Now the question is, should you get a granny flat or a home extension? While both increase the space and market value of your property, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of each option. Read this article to know which of the two will best cater to your lifestyle and preferences.

Understanding Your Options – Home Extensions Vs. Granny Flat

Home Extensions

Much like everything else in our lives constantly changes, so do housing needs. Families grow, and your home’s liveability decreases. When this happens, you have no choice but to seek ways to enhance your living space.

Home extensions are the most cost-effective way to improve your home’s living space. Plus, with the right home extension builders in Sydney, you can achieve a stylish design that adds value to your home, earning great worth in Sydney’s real estate market. Home extensions come in different shapes and sizes; you must do a little research to find one that meets your household needs.

Granny Flat

A granny flat is a self-contained living space built on the same property as your primary residence.

Unlike home extensions, granny flats in Sydney can be attached to your primary home or as a separate unit. Whichever way you choose, you can expect it to include anything from a single large open room to a well-planned and fully self-contained 4-bedroom dwelling. However, your granny flat space should not exceed more than 60m2.

The Pros of Doing a Home Extension in Sydney

Enhanced Living Space

Planning a home extension can help fix existing problems, enhancing your overall living space.

Does your bedroom have a pile of things with no place to store? How about your kitchen? Is it always stressful to cook there? With expert home extension builders in Sydney, you can rest assured that your bedroom, kitchen, and other areas that crave space will be readjusted and transformed to meet your needs.

Customisation and Personalisation Options

Who said you only have to settle with the ground floor extension?

There are many ways you can design your home extension to suit your style without compromising your housing needs and the value of your property. For example, you can build a studio in the garden to accommodate your teenage kids or ageing parents. You can also experiment with a range of construction materials to create an interesting contrast. With the right home extension builders in Sydney, your imagination is your only limit.

Value Addition

Sydney’s real estate market is competitive. Potential home buyers are always looking for homes that will meet their growing needs and the options are not in great supply.

Investing in a home extension is the best way to earn your property enhanced market value, especially if you plan to sell in the long run. Nevertheless, it is important to trust home extension builders in Sydney to get the job done right. A well-designed and well-executed home extension will earn a reasonable property value compared to a merely extended structure.

The Cons of Getting a Home Extension

Complexity

Home extensions are more than expanding your home. There are lots of rearrangements and adjustments that need to be made to ensure you achieve your dream space.

Factors like zoning regulations and architectural cohesion can also complicate the process. Not to mention, there is a high risk of damage to your existing property. That said, the construction process can take longer than expected, which can be disadvantageous if you need immediate results.

Cost Considerations

Another common problem that people face when extending their homes is going over the budget.

While home extensions are generally expensive, there are a lot of unforeseen snags that can happen when construction work begins. If not planned for, such complexities can significantly affect your financial situation. We recommend you ask for professional advice before you set a budget for your home extension project. You can also hire well-reputed home extension builders Sydney who use the best materials and labour, without draining your wallet.

Design Harmony

As much as home extensions allow you to experiment with many designs, the results aren’t always pleasing. New designs may not seemingly integrate with some features in your property.

To prevent such a problem, getting a professional opinion on your desired design is always better. Expert home extension builders Sydney have the right expertise to provide you with a range of designs that can match your style without compromising the aesthetics of your property.

The Benefits of Building a Granny Flat in Sydney

Additional Income Stream

Need more money to help you pay for a mortgage or the growing bills? A Granny flat in Sydney is your fastest ticket to achieving that.

Granny flats are self-contained and offer more privacy. That means you can rent out the unit and generate more income to help pay the mortgage. If you don’t like the idea of dealing with tenants, you can set it up as an Airbnb and use the little extra money to pay your growing bills.

A Safe Space to Home Elderly or Distant Relatives

It’s always a good idea to have your ageing parents close to you. This way, you can watch over them and ensure all their daily needs are met.

Building a granny flat is one of the best ways to ensure your parents are in good hands while still maintaining privacy. Moreover, you can use granny flats as an area for your adult children to live while attending university. It would also make an excellent place for guests to sleep over for a night or two.

Quick Construction

Granny flats are considerably easier and more affordable to build as the primary structure already exists and needs just a few modifications to create a stunning self-contained unit. Also, the fact that they should not exceed 60m2 makes it easier and more manageable.

With expert granny flat builders in Sydney, you should be able to use the unit in less than 6 weeks. Also, in most of the cases, the approval takes as little as 10 days.

Versatility

You can use a granny flat to meet a variety of your needs.

Want to achieve a healthy work balance? Why not transform it into a home studio and complete all those projects you’ve been putting off? How about your teenage kids? It is time to give them some privacy? However you choose to use it, a granny flat in Sydney will always meet all the housing needs. To add another layer of fun to the mix, they are cost-effective; thus, you don’t have to stress about high utility bills.

Common Challenges Associated with Granny Flats

Space Consumptions

While it’s possible to own a 2-bedroom granny flat in Sydney, the unit should not exceed 60 m2. The more bedrooms you have, the less space left. However, there is a way around this. With the planning expertise of granny flat builders, you can acquire a space-efficient granny flat by utilising multifunctional furniture and space-efficient designs like an open-layout kitchen.

Regulatory Considerations

You will need to acquire the necessary permits before you build a new granny flat in your Sydney property. Once you get the approval, you can rent out the property.

However, if you live in a different state, you must check with your local authorities. To make this part easier, consider contacting the team of Brickwood Homes. As a trusted building company in Sydney, we know the ins and outs of the real estate industry and can acquire the necessary permits for you in no time.

Making the Decision – How to Choose Between Granny Flat Construction or Building a House Extension in Sydney?

Truth be told, both granny flats and home extensions are an excellent investment if you are looking to add value to your property. However, you need to consider your specific needs before making a decision.

Your specific needs should be your guiding compass. If you want to build something that will generate more income in the long run, a granny flat makes a perfect fit. Conversely, if you want to enhance your living space to accommodate your growing family, a home extension makes the perfect match.

When it comes to budget requirements, a granny flat will be suitable if you are looking for affordability. However, if you are willing to spend a big chunk of money to enhance your existing home, consider hiring home extension builders to deliver the best. Your specific needs should be your guiding compass.

Have you decided what you want for your property? If yes, trust Brickwood Homes to bring your vision into a stunning reality. Whether you need a home extension to accommodate a home office or a granny flat to create a small rental unit, we have granny flat builders and home extension experts to deliver exceptional results. Contact us today to get a free quote!