Warm boot recommendations please

[Popcorn]

I need some advice. Has anyone has had experience of extensions? the building type - not the hair type.

 

We were given the number of a recommended builder, who I called to get a recommendation for an architect.

 

Architect has just been round and I'm left feeling a bit confused and bewildered.

 

He didn't really sit down with me and ask 'exactly' what it is we want, so we sort of went round the houses and back again by the time he'd realised what were were after. Quite simply, we want the garage knocking down and a room building in it's place with a bedroom ontop.

 

I asked if his plans would go to the council to get passed. He said yes. I then asked if the same plans would go to the builder and the builder would build the extension from them. Answer yes.

 

Then why does he only charge £191.00 ????

 

Am I being a fool if I find another planner that will cost me more, or should I go with this guy?

 

Would it be a good idea to get someone else round and compare the two?

 

I was expecting him to charge a percentage of the cost of the whole project.....so I'm all confused and wondered if anyone could offer me some advice from their own experience and how their archictect came to his price.

 

[Nicola H]

Gina it depends what you want the architect to do for you do you just want him to draw up the plans and get them passed or do you want him to project manage the whole build i.e find the builder for you and oversee the whole thing from start to finish then get the building inspector to sign it off.

 

From personnel experience hubby draws up the plans and submits them to the planning office they are really helpful and will provide you with a pack on the do's and don't's, building regs. etc. then i employ individual tradesmen to do the jobs it is very easy, honest and is usually half the price of using a builder.

 

Ask the architect what he is going to be doing for his money, show him some pictures of what you want it to look like i.e. flat roof or pitched, sounds like he will just do you a standard drawing with measurement changed to suit your property.

 

We had an extension on the side of our house which sounds the same as yours knocking down an old garage and putting a garage with bedroom above, we did it all ourselves and saved about 50% on the builders quote I am sure builders make the prices up as they go along and then add on a bit more for good luck. We have just helped our friends do an extension to their house the same way and they have saved about 50% on the whole build..........

 

Hope this has been of some help to you have fun I love building projects so if you need any more help just ask.........

[Lesley-Jean]

When we had our house extended we only had one chap roung to find out what we wanted and draw up the plans for the council. I think if you know your builder from a personal recommendation you should be fine. They will always "modify" the plans when it comes to doing the work.

[AnnieP]

Our architect drew our plans, got them passed and project managed our extension (a substantial amount of work). He really needn't have bothered, as our builders were excellent and far more on the ball than he was. He charged us 10% of the total cost.... a great deal of money, and I really feel we didn't get value.

 

If our builders had been rubbish however, I guess it would have been great to have him breathing down their necks.

I think if you trust the work of the builders, just get the architect to do the plans and get them passed. Good builders will do the rest.

[Karen & co.]

We are in a similar situation to you AnnieP, our architect has drawn up the plans, had building regs passed and had a costing done, and will charge us a percentage of the build, I'm hoping the builders won't need much project managing as they came quite highly recommended.

 

Now waiting for a start date, and to see if we need to move out while it is being done as most of the rooms in the house will have something done to them

 

Perhaps we could live in the eglu

 

karen x

[Popcorn]

Thanks all.

 

Nicola, some good advice there. I know the builders, and know they won't need project managing, so I guess the architect will do as you have said. Draw up the plans and submit them for us.

 

He did mention something else which I forget to mention.

 

He said that if we have a fourth bedroom built, we need to pave the garden at the front to create parking space, otherwise the council wouldn't pass the plans. We have a drive for one car and a small 10ft square garden next to it, which he said would have to be paved. Do you know if this sounds right?

 

I think I'll get the builder round before we agree on the architect and see what he has to say. If it's a straight forward job, then I guess we can go with him, rather than pay out more for someone to project manage and use their own builders.

[theherd123]

He said that if we have a fourth bedroom built, we need to pave the garden at the front to create parking space, otherwise the council wouldn't pass the plans. We have a drive for one car and a small 10ft square garden next to it, which he said would have to be paved. Do you know if this sounds right?

 

I will check this one out with my dad if you like as he is an architect but it doesnt sound right to me! Why do you need the extra parking space when you already have one?

[Guest]

He said that if we have a fourth bedroom built, we need to pave the garden at the front to create parking space, otherwise the council wouldn't pass the plans. We have a drive for one car and a small 10ft square garden next to it, which he said would have to be paved. Do you know if this sounds right?

 

I will check this one out with my dad if you like as he is an architect but it doesnt sound right to me! Why do you need the extra parking space when you already have one?

 

Sounds strange to me too, but different councils will have different policies. When we were planning our extension, I went to the council planning department and was able to discuss our plans informally with on of the Planners. That was really helpful because, before we had paid anything I knew that our plans would probably be acceptable.

 

Secondly, our architect charged 10% and didn't deserve it. In fact we withheld the last bit and never heard from him again. He didn't visit at all during the build and was really difficult to get hold of. Even the builder was moaning about him. £191 sounds a good deal to me!

[Cate in NZ]

When we had our extension done 3 years ago we had to be able to provide off road parking for 2 cars. The logic to that as explained by our friendly council building inspector is that in a 4 bedroom house chances are that there will be/ could be in the future 2 or more drivers, and they don't want to be actively encouraging on street parking these days as the roads are getting clogged up enough. Round here a new build or extension to an existing house must provide at least 1 parking space for a 3 bed or smaller house and 2 spaces for a bigger build.

At least that's my understanding of the rules. It sounds as if your local council has a similar policy Gina.

[Karen & co.]

Our architect looked at parking space too, we do have enough but there are regulations regarding more than 3 bedrooms needing 2 (or more) parking spaces

 

karen x

[Guest]

Our architect looked at parking space too, we do have enough but there are regulations regarding more than 3 bedrooms needing 2 (or more) parking spaces

 

karen x

 

 

it does make sense - the more bedrooms you have the more people you are likely to have living there - or the more guests you are likely to invite - otherwise, why have more bedrooms??

 

(reminds me of the car-shifting routine in Butterflies.... - anyone old enough to remember that?)

 

Phil

[Karen & co.]

I remember butterflies, with Wendy Craig and 2 teenage sons, didn't one go on to be Rodney in Only Fools and Horses?

 

karen x

[Popcorn]

Kate, that's exactly what the architect guy said about parking.

 

I think I was maybe pigeon holing him into the 'cowboy' category, before I even gave him a chance!! Probably because everybody we know who have had extensions have paid over £1000 for their plans. With council fees ontop we're looking at paying around £500

 

It's a really straight forward job of knocking down the garage and re-building. A house round the corner to us had it done and they too have got a fully paved front garden now, so it seems it's correct.

[Popcorn]

I remember butterflies, with Wendy Craig and 2 teenage sons, didn't one go on to be Rodney in Only Fools and Horses?

 

karen x

 

Great series. We watched an episode recently, and it's really dated. Great though!