Buying? Where to get advice on the work you want to do.
Can you believe that the stamp duty deadline is almost upon us?!
It feels like yesterday that it was a blip on the horizon and we put in an offer on our dream house.Everyone I speak to seem to be buying, looking or renovating at the moment, hopefully putting the government subsidy to good use!
But where do you start with assessing the opportunity for upgrading and adding value to your (new) home?
What work can I realistically do?
Getting Ideas
New kitchen? New bathroom? Loft conversion? Infill side extension? Knocking some walls around? There are so many great places to get inspiration and ideas for what you could do.
Facebook community groups are a fantastic (free!) goldmine of ideas and support. I am a member of the Rockett St George Interior Advice Forum, Farrow and Ball colour lovers, Renovation talks - house extensions, conversions, refurbishment and Home Decor & Interiors UK to name a few.
Like me, there are quite a few professionals hanging out in there too, dishing out complimentary advice on your ideas and questions -so make the most of the free tips! The golden rule is to put in more than you get out of the groups and everyone is happy :)
I’m a member because I love seeing what people are working on and doing my bit to support homeowners with their passion projects.
Where to start? Harvest ideas.
Great - 34,000 Facebook enthusiasts interrogated you Rightmove plans and at least 84 people agree that removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room is a solid move. And they also suggested that you won’t need to sell your middle child to pay for it. Always a bonus. Now what?
Before you book a builder, focus in on the style and look you want to go for. What do you like? What suits the property? You’ll also want to get a handle on what styles come with a hefty price tag and what is suited to DIY.
“Hint: a frameless glass box rooftop extension and mosaics hand crafted with love from precious stones fall in the former category. I suffer from shiny object syndrome too…”
Platforms like Houzz and Pinterest are amazing for exploring design ideas. You can create idea boards on Houzz and look for designers and contractors near you. Pinterest has an example image for pretty much anything and any situation you can think of (try small under stair wc) and I always use it as a starting point for collecting ideas for all my projects!
Check out my Pinterest boards as a starting point!Getting Quotes
The trick here is to be specific about what you want. Telling a builder that you ‘want a 3x4m extension’ and expecting a reliable answer is about as informative as asking a car salesman ‘how much is a car’.
When you are looking at styles, keep your budget in mind. This may be guided by what you can afford (now & later), what the ceiling price of your property is and what you’re willing to part with (ie what represents a good investment to you).
“Remember; there is a critical difference between your budget (what you’re willing to spend) and the construction cost (what the cost of the work you asked for is).”
To get specific about what you want to achieve, start with writing a detailed description. Include the size, style, material types, quality, what the use will be, any fixtures needed like plumbing/lighting/electrics etc.
Consider whether you will supply fittings or do you want the contractor to supply them. If they are getting them, do you know what or any specific requirements (like a soft close toilet lid or USB sockets)?
“Tip: only leave others to decide what you don’t care about. And even then, tell them what you don’t want! ”
Supplement your written description with pictures - it’s ok to show them what you don’t want too (just make sure it’s clear!).
You may need an Architect or structural engineer to support you with preparing plans and specifications if you project is complex. If you’re unsure, just reach out in one of the facebook groups above or a local practice (or drop me a line!). We’re a friendly bunch generally.
When you are ready to get some advice on the cost and timescales of your proposed work, research reputable companies and get at least three written quotes to compare. Make sure they’ve all quoted on a like for like basis too.
Do I need permission?
There are a few types of permission you may need for your work.
Planning Permission
Listed Building consent; and
Building Regulations Approval
If you are working with a designer they will be able to advise you - and some builders offer to take care of necessary approvals for you (handy, less paperwork for you to think about!). Just check they have experience with this because fag packet submissions can come back to bite you later if they don’t know what they are doing!
“Tip: You may also consider getting a Certificate of Lawfulness to prove work you do is legal, even when you don’t require formal permission to do it (called Permitted Development Rights). This is particularly useful if you are looking to sell again.”
In the first instance, have a root around the Interactive House on the Planning Portal. This is a surprisingly user friendly and little known resource. Again, it’s my go-to starting point for many jobs.
Wow - you made it all the way to here!
Thank you for reading, and cheers to that! Hopefully you found this helpful!
If you did, please share on social media and shout about my blog and resources to anyone you know in need of a bit of support (or just cheering up whilst the building dust flurries around them - I get it!).