Blog

Prevent Building Problems – Hire an Independent Project Management Co.
Want to prevent building problems? How you choose to organise and oversee your construction project will have a huge impact on its outcome. In this blog we share the sad story of a recent client of ours who came to us looking for help after they experienced serious...

How to Get the Best Builders’ Quotes – Top Tips
How do I get the best builders quotes and how can I continue to control my build costs during the construction phase of my building project? In this blog, we’ll share our top tips and explain how taking a methodical, step by step approach will get you more accurate...

Home Heating Experts – Virtual Advice Service
Are you looking for a home heating expert to help you resolve your home's ongoing heating issues, or to suggest a new, better way to heat your property? Is so, we'd love to help. Heating Advice that's 100% Impartial CLPM are home heating experts and we offer a fully...

How to Renovate a Grade 2 Listed Building
Planning a Victorian or Edwardian house renovation? Renovating listed buildings is a fascinating process and highly rewarding - but can also be stressful and complex. In this blog, one of our architectural practice clients, Allister Godfrey from the award-winning...

How to find the right project manager for your build
Planning a major home renovation, extension, or new build project? Then it makes sense to have a construction project manager organise and oversee your build. But how to find the right project manager for your build? In this blog we outline what things to consider...

Home Extension Advice : Part 2 : Tender – How to Get the Lowest Builders’ Quotes
Searching for home extension advice? Want to know how to get the lowest builders' quotes? In this blog, the second in our series outlining how best to organise your building project, we'll pass on experience when it comes to finding and selecting the best builders and...

Reclaim VAT on New Build – Don’t Miss the Time Limit
Want to understand how to reclaim VAT on your new build project? Here at CLPM we work with dozens of self-build clients every year – and although most VAT refunds for DIY housebuilders go smoothly, this is sadly not always the case. In this guest blog Gerry Myton,...

Quantity Surveying at CLPM – Meet Alison Maddison
My name is Alison Maddison, and I am an experienced Chartered Quantity Surveyor. Having graduated with a Maths degree, I joined a management training programme at a major contractor, and through them I gained my RICS chartership. Over my career, I have worked for both...

Permitted Development Changes September 2020 – Good or Bad News?
Permitted Development Changes in England The Prime Minister has both announced - and hinted at - some major changes to Permitted Development rights for England as part of his Build, Build, Build campaign. From September this year we are to understand that homeowners...

Estimating Build Costs: How to Make Sure Your Designs are Affordable
Planning a major building project? Estimating build costs early - while you're still in the design stage - is critical to make sure your plans remain affordable. In this blog we explain how getting a professional to estimate your construction costs at this early stage...