Setting Out Your Objectives

Before starting on any kind of building work in your home or business, you need to know exactly what your objectives are, the resources that are available to you and how you are going to achieve those objectives. You also need to consider whether or not your ideas are practical and achievable within your anticipated timescales. Do remember that the planning of any work, whether it is on a large or small scale, takes time and patience.

The scale of the project will obviously dictate the amount of time it will be necessary to spend on the planning. If you think that your project is too small to warrant the time spent on reading all of the chapters and issues in this book read it anyway – you may be surprised how some of the bigger issues can be scaled down to help in the smaller projects.

Setting Out Your Budget

Once you are satisfied that your ideas are realistic, you need to decide on your budget, and check you have the financial resources to carry them out.

It is important to understand that any decisions that you make in the planning stages of any home building or alteration work can have cost implications later on. These cost implications need not be to your disadvantage. If you study this book and the areas relating to cost-saving exercises, you may find that you have more to spend on your furnishings etc.

Setting Out The Technical Aspects

If you have little or no knowledge about the technical aspects related to your project or the logistical problems that building work involves, you will need to contact an architect or specialist designer, depending on your requirements. For example, any work that involves alterations to internal or external walls will require the advice of experienced people.

While builders and contractors will have had experience in carrying out the work, it is important that you satisfy yourself in the first place as to whether structural calculations and drawings will be required.

Architects’ and engineers’ rates vary, and can run in excess of £80.00 per hour or a fixed fee as a percentage of the project. However, if you do not start off on the right track, it could cost you much more in the long run.

For example, if an architect or engineer carries out any provisional work such as outline proposals, or any other work on your behalf for an agreed percentage of the project value, and for some reason the project does not proceed, his fee may be payable at an hourly rate. This could soon mount up to a considerable sum if a full set of working drawings and specifications are involved.

Architects, engineers and designers will also know what is required to obtain planning permission (if needed) and building regulation approval. If the architect has submitted drawings, calculations and any other information to the local authority in order to obtain planning approval/consent, there may also be additional disbursement costs that you will be liable for.

It is worth obtaining estimates from the various professionals before engaging in any form of contract, as their charges can vary drastically depending on their workload. Architects and designers are market-led and in boom times may have many months’ work booked in advance. They will therefore have the upper hand when negotiating fees, so be patient and shop around. Consider speaking to friends and relatives who may have had similar work carried out on their properties, as they may be able to point you in the right direction on a number of aspects of the project.

Do remember though that it is you who will be employing the various different people. So you must feel comfortable about them and carry out the reference checks where necessary.