- Poor Planning
- Make sure you fully explore your options, poor planning and leaving your vision to be interpreted by an architect or building can leave you with regrets once the works have been completed.
- Thinking to yourself ‘maybe we should have had a downstairs toilet’ or ‘maybe it would have been better with the lounge at the back instead of the dinning room’ or ‘maybe we should have checked the size of the games room as the pool table does not fit without hitting the walls with the cue’. Its east to get caught up in the excitement rushing to get the plans submitted so you can get the build on the way.
- If you are not confident to measure out your space get help from family, friends or a professional as this is a key process that should not be rushed. Make simple sketches using a scale ruler position rooms and furniture to make sure your vision will work. You will be surprised how different the final draft is to the one you start out with.
- This effort is also useful for the architect and builder, the more information and details you provide the easier it is for them to achieve your vision.
- Being too vague deciding what you want
- Often boulders are asked to quote based only on the architect drawings. This can be risky as unless the architect has specified everything you are leaving key materials and products to be interpreted by the builder.
- Be as specific as you can, such specifying internal doors you like i.e. solid medium oak 4 panel Tudor design with floral obscure toughened glass to the top 2 panels. This information is available when you search the products. Also, flooring, kitchen and bathroom tiles, kitchen manufacturer etc. The list can also include the specification of items along with asking the builder to provide sample, like the thickness of flooring, Pilkington grade tiles or Dulux range of paint.
- This will also makes the reviewing the quotations easier and like for like so you don’t get deceived by selecting the cheapest quote and getting ripped off with them providing cheap products or materials.
- Cowboy Builders
- Often decisions are made on the builder to use solely based on the quotation with no back checking. This is risky as you are entering into a form of contract, you need to treat as if you are hiring an employee on a temporary contract.
- Ask for references for you to call and discuss completed projects. Ask to visit any ongoing project they are working on and if possible, have a trip out and do a drive by so you can see how the site is set up, if its clean organised at a standard you would be happy with at your home.
- If the builder refuses to do this it is a big red flag, they could be hiding poor workmanship, poor service, unhappy clients or even a con artist. Its better they walk away, and you wait a bit longer than let a builder from hell loose on your home.
A great why to help yourself achieve this is to employ a professional to assist you with each step of the process. With construction experience and technical knowledge they produce specifications, carry out inspections to give you piece of mind your savings are being spent wisely. If you would like to find out more about the services available, visit X-TensionBuildingConsultants.co.uk