Loft conversion or wait

[Laurajames369]

Hi we have a two bedroom house and a 18 month old , we are TTC baby number 2 ,

we not sure if to go ahead with loft conversion had quotes and going to cost us in region for everything 70k to 80k. Will have to borrow on mortgage .

not sure if to do the loft conversion now , or wait till I’m pregnant / have the baby, in order to save more and be in better financially situation.

i have already got the quotes , if I decide to wait , will the loft conversion company’s still be happy to do it ?thanks

Would it definitely be cheaper or a better option in terms of location to do the loft rather than move? If so, I’d do it now - it won’t be cheaper to wait and then it’s done before the baby is here (hopefully).

Oh, and if you decide to wait, the loft company will be happy to re-quote, I’m sure, but it won’t be for the same price. We ended up extending first and then doing the loft. It was 25% more by the time we got round to it, at least.

I’d be looking to move house OP instead of the loft conversion - it would be more straightforward and you may find a more spacious property.

That said - if you plan to still go ahead, I’d have the works starting in the next couple of months - I wouldn’t want to be having the house as a building site if you had a newborn around. It’s already going to be a juggle with one child…

In regards to quote, they will likely still be happy to do it but the cost might change due to the price of materials.

I’d just do it as price will likely increase and easier to do it before baby comes along.

Who are you thinking is going to be sleeping in the loft room, within the next 5-10 years? Surely you'd all want to be on the same floor at least for the foreseeable?

Hi was thinking me and husband on top floor and two kids on second floor , in own bedroom

Have you ever done a big project like this before? Building work is extremely stressful when it goes well, ruinous when it doesn't. I wouldn't entertain it with a toddler and while TTC. Just finishing a full renovation now (including roof conversion), and have swore blind to always move and never do it again.

Also, think carefully about how you will feel sleeping on a different floor to your young children. You may not feel at all comfortable when the time comes.

I'd recommend moving to somewhere with 3 beds on the same floor. Save yourself the stress and mess.

Builder in North London here. A few practical bits that might help you decide:
Quotes: most are only valid for 30–90 days, so check the date on yours. If you’re leaning towards going ahead, it’s worth asking whether they’ll hold the price if you commit by a certain date.
Check what the £70–80k covers: structural engineer, building control, party wall surveyor (if you’re semi or terraced), and whether the loft needs planning or comes under permitted development. These are sometimes extras and can add a few thousand.
Party wall: if you share a wall, notices need to go to neighbours about 2 months before work starts, so that sets the earliest start date.
Living through it: most of a loft conversion is done from scaffolding outside, so you can usually stay in the house. The messy part is the last few weeks when the stairs are put in and the opening is made. Typically it’s around 8–12 weeks on site.
Borrowing: a further advance from your lender can take a few weeks and they may want a copy of the quote, so worth starting that conversation early whichever way you go.
Hope that helps, best of luck with whatever you decide.

I would be trying to save as much of it as possible rather than adding to the mortgage. Borrowing rates are only set to increase.

For a loft conversion on a two bed, the ground floor space is surely going to be quite small for a family of four. We did a loft conversion, but we already had three large bedrooms and a bathroom on floor one and a dining kitchen, good size living room, downstairs shower room and dining room on the ground floor.

I would just move house, as I did when we had a two bed house.

One thing worth checking before you decide is whether it pays for itself. Have a look at what 3-bed houses on your street (or ones with a loft already done) have sold for compared with yours - sold prices are free on Rightmove. If the gap is bigger than the £70-80k plus fees, the loft makes sense on money as well as space. If it's smaller, moving might work out better, as a few people have said.

Also check whether the £70-80k includes VAT, and keep 10 to 15% on top for anything that comes up once the roof is opened.