1. Home Extensions Birmingham – 10 Build Tips
Building Your Home Extension In Birmingham or West
Midlands? Here’s 10 Tips You Need To Know…
Many of us here in the Birmingham area (and surrounding towns) have tried to sell our houses,
failed, and decided to add on or improve our homes instead. I know this to be true because I
have built many of these local house extensions in Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield,
Walsall, Tamworth, and Bromsgrove to name a few. (Click here to see our Home Extensions
Birmingham client feedback )
A home extension is often less hassle and much cheaper than moving, as long as you follow
our golden rules.
Here are the Risk Collective’s top 10 tips for getting the most value from your build, or house
extension in the Birmingham area.
1. Add value to your home
Make sure the build will add value to your home when you come to sell. It is all very well
spending money on a new conservatory, but would you add more value by extending your
kitchen or adding a utility room and downstairs toilet instead? Although you will have to live with
whatever build you decide, it is a good idea to keep one eye on the property market to make
sure that however you improve your home, it will still appeal to a new buyer.
2. Invest in an architect
However simple you think your job may be, an architect can draw up proper plans and will
understand the building rules and regulations – so you donít waste your time submitting plans,
which will be rejected straight away. An architect will also be able to tell you what is feasible and
what will be too expensive – and offer alternatives. Did you know, for example, that if you add
on a downstairs toilet to your property it has to be large enough to accommodate someone in a
wheelchair (even if access to your house itself is up several steps, which a wheelchair cannot
get up! Bonkers, but true).
3. Get three builders or contractors quotes
Even if someone you know and trust has recommended the best builder or best contractor in
Birmingham, make sure you get at least three quotes from three different local builders or local
contractors – and quotes that break down the work they will do for you, so you can compare
prices and make an informed decision of whom to use. Get recommendations from people who
have already had a home extension, ask friends, neighbours and family and drive round for a
couple of weeks and check out whose vans keep appearing at people’s homes – builders with
plenty of work are often the best. It may be worth going for a more expensive home extension
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2. quote if you know you can trust that the job will be done well.
4. Get planning permission for your house extension or building project
It may seem obvious, but so may people come a cropper for the lack of planning permission and
it isn’t that expensive to get. Laws have changed and you may not need planning permission at
all – your architect will be able to tell you if you do, but if you go ahead and build without
checking, you may have to demolish what you started! You can often follow the progress of your
plans through the local council on its website.
5. Certified gas and electric for your home building project
Make sure that the contractors your builders use for the plumbing, gas and electrics in your new
extension are members of the appropriate bodies and know all the latest safety rules and
regulations – Gas Safe for gas, for example. And make sure they use a professional plasterer!
6. Home building inspectors
With or without planning permission, you will also need building inspections where officials
come round to check the work is being done to the correct standard. Make sure that you get
every stage checked – from foundations to finished build. The inspectors often have useful
advice and tips too and may suggest easier ways to do things, or new products available. If you
donët have the appropriate certificate of approval from the building inspectors, you will find your
home difficult to sell.
7. Shop around for home building material bargains
It is often worth shopping around for building materials – don’t necessarily trust that the builders
will get you the best price for everything. You can often find builders’ merchants and timber
yards with special deals and offers. This applies from the flooring to the lighting and tiles.
8. Pay your home extension or new home builder in stages
Never pay for the job up front. Divide payment into at least three stages – beginning, middle and
end. A deposit of a third is a fair start as the builder will need to order materials and pay for
them. Agree the payments with the builder and do not deviate from them unless you are
perfectly satisfied with the work done. Even then think twice – will your builder come back and
finish your job before starting someone else’s if you have paid him all the money? Get them to
sign for every instalment so you have a record of what has been spent so far. Keep all receipts
so you can keep track of the money you have spent.
9. Keep an eye on the build
Make sure you are happy with the work being done at every stage of the build. Ask about
materials used, how tough they will be, how long guarantees last, and so on. Check the
standard of work and donít be afraid to ask your builders to do something again if you feel they
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3. have cut corners or made a mistake. You will have to live with the finished product and should
expect a decent standard of work, whatever the price you are paying. Check the build at every
stage.
10. Snagging list
Before you hand over the final payment, make a snagging list of everything that has not yet
been finished to your satisfaction and which you expect the builders to have done. Make sure
you are happy with everything before you hand over the rest of the money.
Home Extensions Birmingham 2012
Call me, Paul Edwards, for your free, personalized home extension quote at:
CALL 0121 285 4885
(We also offer many other types of high quality building services in the Birmingham area)
Home Extensions Birmingham – Over 30 Years Experience Building High
Quality Homes
Whether you are building a new home, adding a house extension, adding a garage conversion
or a loft conversion, or doing home refurbishments and modifications, Home Extensions
Birmingham has your solution.
From beginning to end, we layout the costs ahead of time for every part of the job. We also give
you payment and work schedules to help every step of the way.
Call me, Paul Edwards, for your free, personalized home extension quote at:
CALL 0121 285 4885
Click here to read more... http://homeextensionsbirmingham.co.uk
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