Does Building Your Home Extension Have To Be Stressful?
We may be healthier and wealthier than previous generations but most of us are also much more stressed. We’re also living in some of Europe’s smallest and least energy efficient family housing stock.
There comes a time for many households that the family home becomes just too much of a squeeze, and a home extension becomes the ideal solution.
Dilemma
As a family you have a dilemma – you need more room for your growing numbers but the cost of moving just doesn’t stack up financially. The alternative of trying to manage a home build or house renovation on top of the normal pressures of family life seems just to much.
There is the additional worry of the cost – everyone seems to have a building horror story of ever rising pricing and builders not turning up when required. So what do you do? Try and put up with the space that you have or take a fresh approach to the whole house extension process.
Building works don’t have to be the drain on your time and energy that you fear they may – creating your special home space should be a pleasure not a pain and there is one person who is a key player in your home building team who many people don’t even know exists. You can employ them even before you have your planning permission. This person is your construction project manager.
As Kevin McCloud of Grand Designs fame comments, “The project manager is the most important person to employ after the architect. One individual who takes responsibility for seeing the whole project through from start to finish.”
Employing a Construction Project Management company to co-ordinate your home build, renovation or extension will save your sanity, your time and your money. Most importantly, your home build project does not need to be “Grand Designs” scale – anyone looking to have a single or double storey extension or loft conversion will benefit from the skills and experience of a project manager.
Things to think about before starting a project!
Commitment
- Once you make a start, you must be prepared to get involved more than you think you will – it is not possible to get what you want from the build unless you have the time and determination and time to be really involved with it. Remember, a build project can last well over a year!
Research
- Decide what changes you want to make. Research how best to change and use the space that you have available. Understand what you can do to increase the footprint. Remember, ask around, check with friends and neighbours who have undertaken a project. Word of mouth is so valuable.
Plans and planning
- Get your design plans drawn up by a reputable architect. Check if you need planning consent for extension and renovation works. Planning drawings are key to ensure what you want to achieve can actually be built. Remember, design your dream home and compromise where needed.
Seasonality
- Remember to think about when you want to start. Never underestimate how cold it can be if you start building works over the winter months. Or how hot in the height of summer. This might have an effect on the build.
Costs
- Once all your planning is complete, ensure you have a budget that will cover your plans. You can appoint a QS company to produce a cost estimate, and help you with tendering for your build team. This will take away a lot of stress and worry for you. Remember to add professional services into your budget, there will be consultation fees that you do not realise you need!
Independent Project Management
- Consider who will oversee your build. Can you manage this yourself? You can ask your contractor, your architect or you can approach an independent project management. Getting a proper programme for the works is important – you will need to oversee each point. Remember, managing all the works that need to happen at specific times and making sure key milestones are met can be challenging.
CLPM
If you just want to some advice, we can talk you through our Services and outline how our Construction Project Management team can help. Our teams are very experienced. We can be on hand to manage the whole process, or provide support as and when needed.
Call 01923 896550, email info@cl-pm.com or complete a contact form to find out more.
If you are planning to extend, renovate, self-build, make your home more energy efficient or overhaul your heating system and are interested in some independent expert advice then do get in touch. Call 01923 896550, email info@cl-m.com or complete a contact form.
