This is my first post.

My plan didn't attach

have attached a copy plan as picture?

I would not consider purchasing this property with the intention of building another storey. The current layout, and lack of side facing windows is problemmatic especially as it seems that most of the light for the internal rooms comes from a large skylight. This will reduce the potential for a first floor extension. There are ways to get around this by introducing a light-well through the centre of the building, but at considerable cost. Due to the limitations and the current poor flow and plan I would only consider it for a renovation within the existing ground floor building unless you want to spend some really big dollars to do it properly, and risk overcapitalising.

Best of luck looking elsewhere

Dr Retro

of Dr Retro House Calls

Hi Laraine,

A few years back I did a project in collingwood on a similar type of extension scope on one of the narrowest sites I've worked on. The existing house was in poor condition and only had 2 bedrooms so a full blown reno/extension was in order either way. It pretty much involved demolishing everything except for the front two rooms, but we went up and this is what we achieved:

You're realistically talking $500K ballpark (possibly more depending) do something like this going up on a 2nd level and likely requires some planning acrobatics to achieve approvals, as in this area of Kensington I'd put money on that you have sightline heritage controls that will dictate the upper level positioning. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's not possible or not worth doing.....assume there are there other examples of 2 storey development in the area/street?

We've done plenty of this sort of thing in various formats so feel free to contact me directly if you want to run something by me briefly, as I'll be able tell you pretty quickly what likely costs will be if you're contemplating certain options on specific properties...........

Typically we can usually find a design solution for whatever you want to do, but the question is how much money is able to be thrown at it and is it then worth it or not.......sometimes it's actually only worth it if you achieve the additional amenity and "go the whole hog" so to speak.....as much as there is a risk of overcapitalising (which in inner suburbs is actually hard to do unless you go stupid with finishes, considering land value etc), equally there is risk of undercooking a renovation and spending relatively a lot of money "rearranging the sock drawer" so to speak and arguably not actually achieving good value for a lower budget spend/ minimal functional upgrade outcome combination, if you understand my drift......

This general scope/cost weighing up, particularly on heritage properties is our speciality & bread & butter line of work

Hope this is considered helpful & relevant information for you at this point

Cheers PD :)

Paul Di Stefano Design

www.pauldistefanodesign.com

instagram: @pauldistefanodesign

No problem Laraine......good luck with working through it all......it's a process of weighing up/considering your options but the important thing is that you have the appropriate & accurate information (and/or advice) when making significant (financial) decisions, and we recommend that people in similar positions to yourself do exactly what you have done here, that being in the process of purchasing a property seeking some answers to some practical/logical questions around design potential and associated costs if renovation/extension is likely.....feel free to run anything by me like this as required

Cheers PD :)