Newbie here!

[Mallaya07]

Hey people, newbie here. The hubby and I moved into our new home in July last year; it's a pretty dated semi-detached with a complete revamp required. We've instructed an architect who's helping with plans for a ground and first floor extension; as well as a loft development into rooms. We expect that he'll be ready to make the application for planning permission forward in the next week as we are carrying out quite extensive work, well outside of permitted development.

 

We are both professionals in fields outside construction and, to be fair, not the most handy people; we are therefore engaging the services of professionals in the building field to undertake the work. Given the advice to engage the services of a builder months ahead, we've started considering how to do this. It was in the process of trawling the internet that I stumbled unto this trove of information yesterday. Hey all ✋

 

I've quickly identified that the hubby and I have been pretty naive with respect to our expectations as to cost. The cost of building seems to be no joke, at the moment! 

The hubby thinks we might be able to save a fortune by engaging different professionals for each area of work; rather than engaging one builder who is able to deliver the whole project. (By 'builder' I mean the professional who will set up the concrete structure). He is of the view that most builders bring in these third party professionals anyway - so we might as well engage them directly and cut out the middle man. I would argue that the builder may actually have contacts within these other professions (for services like like plumbing, electric, carpentry, plastering, heating) and may be able to get the work done at a discounted rate as part of the entire project.

 

I would be most grateful for your valued views on whether it makes more financial sense for one builder to carry out the entire works; or whether we may in fact save by engaging the builder to deliver the water tight structure, and then we look for professionals to complete the next stages.

 

Thanks all!

 

Mallaya

 

 

[Thedreamer]

I usually recommend the book home builders bible, gives a good grounding and worth a purchase from amazon.

 

Architects can be very good at inflating costs.

 

I did our self build project on a sub contractor basis, where I choose the trades and also supplied the materials. It gave me control over the time, cost and quality of the labour and materials. I did use one contractor more than others, spoke with him a few times did my research and he was great during the build. You might get your recommendations of other trades through a contractor like that.

 

 

[Thedreamer]

and welcome to the forum ?

[Mallaya07]

On 09/02/2021 at 21:32, Thedreamer said:

and welcome to the forum ?

Many thanks. Book ordered.