Which would you prioritise? Garden landscape, side alley extension or loft conversion?

[Thisisthelifewevebeengiven]

Hi, as per the thread title I would like all three done, we have the funds to do one of them soon but I don’t know what I want most. Ideally we will do them all at some point but who knows 🤷‍♀️ and I don’t think any of them are more needed than the others, but if I share my ideas would you help me decide?

Garden landscape:-
We have a LARGE back garden that is very steep, it has a smallish patio area (about 6ft deep) at the bottom, steep steps to the next level which is large and inclines to the next level which does the same and the top level we had flattened and laid bark (for trampoline) has now overgrown...I would like to level the two large sections and border them with raised flower beds/benches with decked steps leading to the next layer and completely deck the very top of the garden. It’s a big job.

Side alley extension:-
We have a alley that runs the length of the house and then outbuildings that run parallel, one big, one smallish, outside toilet.
I would like to cover it over, have nice ceiling windows and double doors at the end (to the back garden) and have a utility room, downstairs loo, small study area (very small) and storage all along for shoes/coats etc....

Loft conversion:-
We have 2 doubles and a small single currently, 2 children with their own rooms and no plans for more but what happens when the youngest needs more space? Most of our neighbours have done a loft conversion and it’s a big loft space and ideal to put the stairs in the current master bedroom making it a slightly smaller double and we would still be able to keep the small bedroom without losing it to a stairwell.

We are currently absolutely not in any urgent need for any of these things and they would all be nice to have and we would manage fine without them I’m sure...so which should I prioritise? Which would you choose?

Wait and do all at the same time, or at least the two building works. Building works makes si much mess and disruption, I wouldn't go through it twice if you could do it once. Failing that loft conversion for when youngest is about 5 years old and would appreciate a larger room.

I think loft conversion last because living through it during a pandemic would be a pain, the disruption to your existing bedroom etc. Between the other two it’s a top up, in the summer would you likely be outside a lot? Do you feel like you need more space in the house?

If you do the side alley will there still be access for lanscaping?

I assumed loft first, as this could increase the home valuation and give you options in the future!
What’s the access like? Is the only easy access to the rear from the side that you might cover with the side extension? If so, the rear garden should be done before access is blocked?

Yes, the only access to the back garden is where we would have the side extension but it doesn’t make too much difference with regards to being able to do the landscaping (apart from the mess) as a mini digger wouldn’t make it up the initial steep bit so would be done manually (that’s why it’s such a big expensive job)

My youngest is 8 and has a mid sleeper, with storage and a desk underneath and a big Ikea cube storage along the other side (and not much else) it’s fine for now but.....🤷‍♀️

I’d love them all and they would all be useful but if we only ever have the money to do the one, I can’t decide what I want/need the most. I should buy a lotto ticket 😂

Your house now sounds like a good home for your family now. Don’t spend money you don’t have.
There would be a lot of mess from the garden works. I would definitely do that before spoil, materials and builders needed to be walked through the house.

Loft, then garden hard landscaping and extension together.

You'll probably need scaffolding for the loft and rear access is also handy but (not essential) so the side extension should come after.

I've had a garden landscaped and it had to come through the house as it was a terrace. Trashed it despite best efforts of the team and it was a 1 week job, not what you are describing.

Might be worth speaking to builders/garden designers to check you can do everything you want. It might alter things/make it cheaper to just move!

With building work, once it is done it is done. Gardens need time to mature so, ideally, get started sooner rather than later.
Also, with Covid, presumably there are fewer problems (read: expense) doing outdoors work at the moment.

I would start with the garden, then the loft, and leave the side extension for last. You will definitely want the side access for the other two jobs I think, and with summer a few months away, you will be glad to have nice outdoor space for the children to play.

Having said that about the garden, if you realistically think you will only ever be able to do one of the three jobs, it’s worth considering which will give you the biggest return on investment. I expect the loft might add the most value if it will give you extra bedrooms?

I would do the garden last, no matter how careful the builders are you can guarantee that SOMETHING will get damaged in the garden while doing building works.

I think the downstairs would make the most difference, but it makes more sense tondo the lift first (more room to escape to while the work is being done downstairs)

I'd do the garden first as the extension would limit access.
It would mean that whilst other work was happening you could at least escape the relative calm of the garden.

Loft conversion wouldn’t be a pain during lockdown as all the work is done from the outside until the awful day when they knock through the landing ceiling to make access up to the new rooms. Doesn’t it really depend on how urgent your need for extra space is? I think I would ask builders their advice.

I'd just move if I needed all that doing!

It’s a real pain when you’ve lost your side access. Side extensions needs PP also, could you not do a rear as you have such a large garden space and rejig the downstairs to get everything you want?

In terms of the other two, garden will add most to your quality of life at the moment but won’t add much value wise I wouldn’t have thought? So as long as you are definitely in this house for the long haul and will be able to do the loft in the future, I would do the garden now and loft/rear next.

Having just completed an extension and seen the mess the builders made of our garden I would do the garden after the side return extension. You could possibly do it after the loft conversion depending on access and where materials can be stored (hopefully not on your newly laid lawn).

IdblowJonSnow I think you may have mis read my thread, I don’t NEED all that doing I would like to do it all at some point but have the money to do one of them now without depleting my savings.

I love that my house still has so much potential in it and have no desire or need to move.

Thanks to those who shared their thoughts, it’s made me think about things I hadn’t considered...I think my preference was for the side extension as that would be the most beneficial for me but I can see the logic In doing the others first.

If you can’t do it in one go, do the loft first as it’s the best investment use of funds. We none of us know what the future holds so increasing your equity is always a good idea. People have been doing loft conversions for 40 years now, so they’re a known quantity for builders and surveyors.

Then do the side return in tandem with the garden, the plants and turf going in last. This will actually save you some money versus doing it separately as the materials and machinery are much the same. A side return is a big leap into the unknown as nobody really knows what’s happening until the digging starts.