House extensions can be overwhelming, but anything can be chunked down into smaller steps that are more manageable. This article will take you through the stages of a home extension at a leisurely pace so you can get a better overview of the process.
Step 1 – Design
The first step to creating a house extension is drawing a house extension plan, and to do this you will needs a draftsman. A draftsman will listen to all of your ideas for your home renovationsand test them for viability by working everything out on paper. If there are any problems with your proposed plans, they’ll advise you of them and come up with alternatives. This is one of the most essential stages of a house extension, as it can save you time and money later on.
In the design and planning stage, you should also be thinking about obtaining a planning permit for a home extension at your address. Some building and extension companies will handle this for you, while others will require you to handle the red tape yourself. Ensure that you ask your builder who needs to arrange the planning permit for a house extension.
Step 2 – Hire a Builder
For a builder to give you an accurate idea of costs, they’ll need to do a site inspection for your house extension. They’ll be looking at issues such as placement of trees near the house, the earth slope, soil quality, and property access, among a host of other criteria. All these things can affect the scope and the cost of the job.
Choose a builder with a great reputation. You can ask them for referrals from previous clients they’ve worked with, or you can look them up online and check for ratings from customers. In addition, you can ask your friends, family and acquaintances for recommendations.
Step 3 – Contract
Once the scope of the job, the completion date and the projected costs have been finalised, you will be offered a builder’s contract. For the best outcome, always ask for a fixed price contract so that you can stick to your budget. Be clear on what the builders contractcovers and get legal help in reading through it if you’re not sure what parts of it mean.
Step 4 – Construction
This is the most exciting part of the stages of house extension – the bit where things start coming together. It’s a real thrill to see your renovation taking shape, but beware: some builders will require you to move out during the building process. You should always ask early on in the design stage if your family will need to move out temporarily during the building stage.
Step 5 – Final Inspection
The final site inspection for a house extension ensures that everything has been completed to standard according to the original drawing a house extension plan. Your project manager will show you around your new renovated house to ensure you’re completely happy with it.
