It’s incredibly easy to blow your budget out of the water when extending your home. Here are some tips to stay costs in restraint.
Do you really want an architect?
Most architects don’t charge for initial one-off consultations and that they are often incredibly useful. They will offer you advice on design, cost, planning and construction. Unless your project is incredibly simple, it is smart to a minimum of sit down with an architect before you begin. Typically, architects begin to supply a full service for projects with a budget of £30,000-plus but they will facilitate your get the simplest out of your new project no matter size. Hunt for design professionals with a memoir of low-cost extensions. An alternate is to search out an architectural technician, chartered surveyor or structural engineer to provide planning and Building Regulations drawings for a hard and fast, all-in fee.
Don’t under-budget
Too often, when people start to plan an extension, they create the error of thinking they will do lots over is feasible with the cash available. Give some thought to your aims – more room, extra light – and list your priorities. Decide the must-haves as hostile what would be nice to possess. Research the worth of huge ticket items like fitted kitchens. Many off-the-shelf ranges offer value for money. If your project is proving too costly, it’d be best to rethink your plans and style. To work out a sensible budget, think about the value of fixtures and fittings, materials, labour, trades and professional fees, including VAT.
Get realistic quotes from builders
Beware cowboy builders who vastly under-estimate costs simply to win employment. Get a minimum of three quotes to check – and never, ever get hold of add advance. An estimate is simply that – an informed and non-binding guess about what a project may cost. Whereas a fixed-price quote is an agreed price supported work shown on a drawing or specification. The more information you’ll give, the closer the quote is to the ultimate bill. Kindle a full, written breakdown of the worth, so you’ll be able to see all the prices are included and compare like-with-like. Otherwise, you’ll be hit by big bills for extras not included within the original quote, as an example scaffolding. Remember to require references and ask previous clients if their project was finished on budget.
Stick to the plan
Once building work has started, it is tempting to stay adding to your extension or change your mind mid-way. as an example, you’ll end up standing in your remodelled kitchen and ask the builder to change the agreed layout which suggests relocating plumbing and wiring. If you retain changing your mind or adding to your builder’s to-do list, the extra costs will make the first agreed quote, and so your budget, meaningless. If keeping to a budget is a top priority, follow the plan.
Plan for the unexpected
Having said that, it’s good to plan for the unexpected. Sometimes an extension uncovers a maintenance issue, like a leaking roof or outdated electrical wiring which needs fixing. And sometimes it’s definitely worth the cost of adjusting your project along the way if it’s visiting significantly improve the planning or function of your new space, for example, a taller ceiling or underfloor heating. It’s an honest idea to feature 15 to twenty per cent on top of your winning contractor’s bid as a contingency fund.
Act as a project manager
One way to do to stay within the budget is to manage the build yourself, taking up the role of building contractor. This can mean liaising together with your local authority’s building control department, structural engineer and architect still as finding and hiring tradespeople, directing the work and supplying building materials, skips and scaffolding. It’s time-consuming and may be difficult to juggle with full-time employment. To try to to it well, you wish some knowledge of construction, management skills and time. The project might take longer to end but savings are often huge. A builder will add 15-25 per cent on the entire cost of labour and materials for managing the project.
Reuse old materials
Many extension projects involve flattening walls before building begins. Reusing the first back doors, bricks or roof tiles if they’re in fitness, won’t only prevent money but help the new addition to blend with the old. Old kitchen cupboards may well be spruced-up for a brand new utility room rather than thrown within the skip. Salvage yards can even be an honest source of second-hand items that may be cheaper than buying new, like timber floorboards, fireplaces and roll-top baths. Your builder may additionally be able to help, for instance with bricks from a demolition project. Second-hand items are freed from VAT.
Get stuck into DIY
It’s possible to save lots of hundreds if not thousands by rolling up your sleeves and tackling the simpler jobs. What quantity you’ll contribute will rely on your skills and knowledge. Some jobs are best left to the professionals, like trade and plumbing. Botched DIY will be dangerous and really expensive to repair. But the general public can swing a sledgehammer to demolish an inside wall under the supervision of their builder. There are also other jobs you’ll be able to do, like painting and tiling.
Bargain hunt
Find out where builders buy their materials and take a look at them to urge identical wholesale/trade prices. Scour the web and native suppliers for bargains. Hunt down ex-display fittings in showrooms. Attempt to negotiate a reduction for getting multiple items from one supplier, like washing machines, ovens and fridges. Buying discontinued lines can even prevent large sums, for instance, units, appliances, tiles and carpets.
Plan ahead
Planning ahead for your extension project can really pay dividends. Explore for the simplest bargain buys within the sales and store them in your garage or spare room or with family and friends if you haven’t spaced. Don’t wait until just before you would like a brand new kitchen or bathroom or light fittings to look – snapping up a bargain once you see it may result in big savings.
While it takes more effort to stay on a decent budget you’ll still get a good result – and without breaking the bank!
