Ludlow Engineering and Land Survey

Which Major Home Improvement Adds The Most Value To Your Home?
Most major home improvements add value to your home but do you know which one really add the most value irrespective of the housing market ups and downs? Read on and find out…

Loft Conversion
A few years ago it was only on rare occasions that you got your money back on a loft conversion let alone see a profit. In recent years however you were far more likely to get your money back and maybe even make a small profit. Whilst this is good news it is not the same everywhere so depending on where you live you may make money or lose money. Note: You can compare costs for Loft Conversions at: http://loftconversionsupermarket.com

Home Extension
Adding on a home extension has traditionally been a winner in that you can add on up to 15% of the value of your home with a decent extension. The key to profitability here is to ensure that you don’t over spend or put too fine an extension on a small house. Clearly if your house is in a leafy superb and worth 500k then a 50k extension will give you a profit. Note: You can compare costs for Home Extensions at: http://extensionssupermarket.com

Conservatories
Again, a few years back you would be lucky to get back the cost of the materials let alone add value to your house. This is not surprising given that conservatories were of such poor quality and were too hot in the summer and freezing in the winter.
Nowadays the conservatory norm is of a much higher specification and with an endless range of designs they make a superb addition to your home. As for profitability it is still hit and miss given that the right house in the right area will see a profit whilst the wrong conservatory in the wrong area will see a loss. Note: You can compare costs for Conservatories at: http://conservatories-supermarket.co.uk

Basement Conversion
I’ve heard it said a few times recently that within a few years we will all be digging out the underneath of our homes. With an increasing population, fewer home and not enough building land then they might be right but I seriously doubt it mainly because it costs a lot more to dig out and build downwards than it does to build upwards.
The average cost of a decent basement conversion will set up back upwards of 100k and you would only get your money back if your property was in prime areas such as central London. If you do a basement conversion, do it for the space as you will surely lose money on this one. Note: You can compare costs for a Basement Conversion at: http://extensionssupermarket.com/html/basement-conversion.html

Garage Conversions
Traditionally, garage conversions were not a popular way of extending the home but in the past few years this form of conversion has risen dramatically. When you start to look at the numbers for a garage conversion it only takes a moment or two to see why it has become one of the most popular methods of enlarging your home.
Look at the cost of the average garage conversion which comes in around 10k and you can see that no matter which way you look at it you have added a room to your house for 10k. Now if you live in the south east you can add 30k to the price of your house if you add on an extra bedroom showing you a huge profit with very little outlay. This one is definitely a winner but it still not the best one. Note: You can compare costs for Garage Conversions at: http://garage-conversions-supermarket.com

Solar Panel Installation
You’re probably thinking why I have bothered to include solar panel installation as everybody knows you won’t get you money back. Whilst this was true in 1996 when the first UK solar panel installation was carried out a lot has changed since then. Yes, it’s true that solar panel installation got a lot of bad press because of long payback periods and expensive installations costs but times have changed.
In 1996 the average cost of a UK solar panel installation was 30/35k but due to technological advancement and mass production solar panels now cost only a fraction of what they once were whilst at the same time producing a lot more energy. Combine this situation with the huge rises in energy costs and we now have a totally different scenario.
The average cost of a UK solar panel installation now comes in at around 10k whilst the average cost for energy (gas & electric) comes in around 2.5k pr year. If energy prices remained the same –  and they won’t – the average paypack period for your solar panel installation would be 5 years.
We’re not finished just yet because the life expectancy of  today’s pv (photovoltaic) solar panels is anywhere between 20 to 40 years. Again if we take an average lifeapan of 30 years as the solar panel lifeapan and then took into account the rising costs if energy over that 30 years the actual saving you are likely to make would be in excess of 80k which undoubtedly makes this form of home improvement an out and out winner.

Lets not forget that you are also contributing massively to reducing your carbon footprint and doing your bit for a greener planet in the process. Check it out for yourself and book a free solar survey at SolarPanelsSpermarket.Com

About the Author:

About The Author
Tom Norris is the Managing Director of the QFJ Media Price Comparison Network and writes passionately each week in Compare Prices Supermarket Blog about home improvement and renewable energy issues.

Land title surveys

Determine Accurate Property Lines with Land & Property Surveys

Land surveying is a critical component in design and construction in almost every aspect of real estate development. As the first step in real estate development process, it is the job of a Land Surveyor to collect all the information pertaining to an area. This includes marking the boundaries of land, creating maps and legal descriptions, and planning and organizing the development of the property. A surveyor creates a stable foundation of useful information on which people can build their homes and communities.

On the residential side, land surveyors are typically hired when buying or selling properties, or making home improvements such as adding a fence, improving landscaping, adding a pool or more square footage to a property.   Commercially, land surveyors are utilized for subdivision requests, and mortgage financing.  When looking to start a build, improve an existing build or refinance a property a land surveyor should be one of your first hires.

There are some highly proficient Land Surveyors in Los Angeles, California who offer a wide range of surveying services.  Before contacting one, it is important to understand the types of surveying services that are available, so when you make a surveyor inquiry you know what to ask for.  The following are commonly requested surveying services:

Aerial Topographic Surveys: Very large properties or those with rugged/rough terrain may require an aerial survey to map the topography. Some cities require maps to show an entire area’s topography, even beyond property lines, in order to determine buildable area, environmental impact, and building setbacks.

A.L.T.A. (American Land & Title Association) Survey: When refinancing or purchasing properties valued in excess of $1,000,000, title companies will require individuals to purchase title insurance. The purpose of an ALTA survey is to inform the buyer of what they are getting, and the insurer of what they are insuring. The survey maps created by professional land surveyors conform to the ALTA standards, showing the property lines, visible utilities, buildings, and features such as driveways, pools or play courts
Architectural Surveys: When planning for improvements to a property such as a building remodel or addition, adding a swimming pool, a new patio or landscaping, an architectural survey is often necessary to obtain proper permits. An architectural survey will show property lines, all visible utilities, buildings, walls and fences, hardscape and landscape.
Boundary Surveys: The oldest of survey services, the boundary survey is a tool used to set out property lines for new construction or to settle property line disputes on existing properties.  The boundary survey will show the beginning and ending points of the property.  Specifically, the survey will show buildings, walls, fences, utilities and all other significant features within five feet of the property lines.
Land Easement: An easement allows the property owner to grant the right to use a portion of land without assuming liability for that portion and without giving up ownership. An easement can be granted for landscaping, ingress and egress, or any other purpose that suits the parties involved. The surveyor provides a legal description of the purpose and location of the easement, along with its drawing.

Apart from all this, California Land Surveyors also cover other aspects of surveying like Prevailing Setback, Property Line Adjustment, Record of Survey, Roof Height Certification, Roof Plan, Slope Analysis, Staking etc.

Working with a professional land surveyor will provide you with informative information that will help you make important decisions on your construction or financial project.

When you starting any project related to real estate, make sure you seek out the professional opinion of a state licensed land surveyor.

www.survtechsolutions.com Welcome to Land Surveying 101 with Amy Vitale! SurvTech Solutions Tampa Land surveyors presents a new web series featuring some of the more common types of surveying services and their descriptions. The series is hosted by model, actress, professional wrestling diva, The Italian Princess Amy Vitale. For more information on Amy, visit http