Lofty Ideas! No.7

Loft Conversions Success Story 1 - Malcolm Sampson

Malcolm Sampson, Barking, Essex Malcolm Sampson from Barking, Essex who added a bedroom and bathroom to his 3 bedroom terraced house, was keen to help us illustrate the benefits of a loft conversion, and how it has improved his living space.

We asked Malcolm some of the questions we all might ask when considering a Loft Conversion.

How long did the process take?

The decision process was easy. We have lived in this house for almost 12 years, and had been interested in having a loft conversion for about 10 of those years. The time had not been right until now, and once we decided to go ahead the development went through quite quickly. We got 2 or 3 quotes, and once we found a company who we thought were right on price and approach we decided to go ahead, in this case it was A & M Loft Conversions.

The plans were drawn up in about July or August last year, and the work got underway in December. The whole conversion was completed inside 5 weeks, and we finished in January.

How did you choose your loft converter?

We had heard various recommendations from people, and A & M Loft Conversions also had an easy to use website. They were quick and courteous, and the lead-time was not as long as other quotes we were given.

Why did you want a Loft Conversion?

The main reason for having the loft conversion was to add extra space to the house, although we also sought advice from various estate agents who assured us we were guaranteed to get what we invested back. A house with a loft conversion is always going to be more attractive to a prospective buyer than a similar one in the same street without one.

Loft Conversion However we really wanted to create a new space for our son. Now he has got his own space, his own bathroom, even sky TV, and is almost self-sufficient!

How much did your Loft Conversion cost?

The initial quotes did vary, but for the money we spent, we feel it was good value. The total cost was between £18,000 – £22,000, but within that we got a brand new bedroom and bathroom in an otherwise unused space! We certainly expect to get the money back, many estate agents informed us that loft conversions are the best types of investment.

What kind of a difference has it made to your house?

The difference is massive. It has really revolutionised the house. There is now far more space and ventilation, and all the rooms in the house now feel warmer due mainly to the insulation that was fitted in the loft. The Colt Roto roof windows add so much light, and we were always interested in the extra ventilation these would provide.

Loft Conversion What is even more satisfying to know is that we are no longer wasting any space in the house! There are no arguments over the bathroom anymore, and although it seems a small thing, it makes a big difference.

Are there any down sides to having a loft conversion?

I would say the only downside is that we wished we had done it earlier. Its one of those things that you look back on, when you have it done you always think, should have done it earlier!

Loft Conversion I suppose the other downside was the amount of rubbish we had to clear out of the loft, you never realise how much stuff you collect over the years.

And finally…Would you recommend a loft conversion to someone else?

Most definitely, the sooner you can make the investment the better.

Our thanks go out to Malcolm Sampson and his family for taking part. We hope you can go on to enjoy your loft conversion, and the Loft Shop roof windows you have for many years to come