Garage conversion rough cost ideas

[ThisMustBeMyDream]

Only a few weeks in to looking for my next home, and already I'm fed up waiting for what I need!
I'm wondering if we find a house that doesn't have the garage extended (I need the 4th bedroom, and my budget doesn't stretch to the houses with 4 upstairs rooms!) what it would cost to convert to a usable bedroom. No extra bits like bathrooms and whatnot. Just a nice, finished bedroom. I've attached a house I'm viewing next week that may have potential. There are a huge number of this type of property in my location. Garage size is approx 5.3m x 2.6m. Anyone want to share their costs if they had similar? It will help me decide whether we can do it or need to wait for something already converted.

I'm afraid I can't help with costs but in our old neighbourhood 75% of people had done this exact thing so I'd think it is cheaper and more straightforward than a loft conversion!

I had an internal garage conversion but it was a number of years ago now. However I think what you're suggesting sounds easier as we knocked through and needed beams and things.

It actually wouldn't be too hard a job, the things you need to think about are:

a) You may need planning permission to change the garage into a room, some newer houses have had their permitted development rights removed and in some areas to add a window to the front of the property you need planning. You'll need scale drawings for building regs anyway but there is a cost/delay/stress for planning permission.
b) The insulation in both the walls and floors will need upgrading so the size of the room you get will be around 10cm less on each wall than the current size.
c) If your main electricity supply goes into the garage you may want to consider whether this needs to be moved or not, this does cost quite a bit
d) Cost of the window and matching this to the existing windows you have
e) They will need to build up the floor (generally poured concrete) up to the level of the rest of the house.
f) Whatever else you'll need building regs and FENSA certificates for the new window.

Ours cost about 7k but it was years ago and I think, depending on where you live it might cost you at least twice that if you go with a garage conversion specialist.

I’m converting my garage to a utility/laundry room and having a window put in. I’ve been quoted about £7.5k for the work then the kitchen units on top. That’s including the cutting and the actual window, redoing the floor where it needs insulating and putting in lights/plug points etc.

We did ours recently and it was around £15,000. It’s a large double garage. That was with all lighting , flooring, redecorated - so basically ready to move into. £7.5 k seems a very good price .
As @SollaSollew says - it’s needs full insulation. So our walls came in slightly, ceiling was lowered and floor raised. We needed plans approved by the council and are waiting for a completion certificate.
It was all done and finished in a week with little or no impact on the rest of the house and we are very pleased we did it .
Only thing I would change - we got the radiator under the window. We have full length curtains so in retrospect I wish the radiator was somewhere else.
We had our boiler in the garage so all the pipes were rerouted and a large cupboard with doors built round the boiler so this would have increased our costs

My mum's was a £18k 5 years ago but included ensuite

Around £10k is what I've been quoted

We had ours done in November 2020.

Same size as yours. At the very end (opposite to the window/where the garage door is) we had a wall with a sliding door put in for the tumble dryer, DIY stuff, ladders etc.

Cost £8.5k including the flooring fitted (we supplied the laminate and underlay), the skip and building regs. We used the original door into the room but had a new door frame fitted so the door would open inwards as previously opened into the hallway. We also had the electric meter boxed in. We had our strip light removed and a normal drop light pendant (I'm not sure what this is called, the type of fitting you can add your own shade!) in both the rooms, had one double socket in already and another 5 fitted. Had a window fitted the width of the garage door. The builders also matched the bricks with the rest of the house.

It required building regs but not planning permission. Our builders were well versed in what was required by building control and took photos of progress throughout (I think to prove insulation, damp proof membrane etc), and the building control officer visited once during the building work and at the end, the completion certificate came a few days later via email.

It took 9 days although that was a couple of mornings rather than 9 full days.

Quotes varied between £4200 (if I wanted to pay in cash not through the bank ) to £9500. Went with the same builder who had done others on the street even though we had 5 quotes and they were the second most expensive.

I can inbox you pics of you'd like.

If you can stretch to it, I would consider investing a little bit more to convert the garage to a kitchen.

It would increase the value of your home more to have a large dine in kitchen and a small bedroom, than a huge ground floor bedroom and tiny kitchen. It will also be quieter to have a bedroom at the back of the house.

If that doesn't suit your needs or you don't have the money to fit a new kitchen/make good the old kitchen, I would at least have the work done installing water and gas to the room to be able to change it to a kitchen in the future.