Under the Gumtree

How to build more space for your home

If you’ve got closets stacked to the brim, winter clothes stashed away under the bed and extra furniture gathering dust in the basement, it might be time to think about adding some extra space. Have you ever thought of extending your home? There are a number of different approaches you can take, depending on your house and what best suits your needs – from kitchen extensions to loft, basement, shed and garage conversions. We’ve asked Rachel from MyBuilder.com to offer some expert tips on extending your home without extending your budget:

1. The magic number 3
Anyone who’s worth their salt in the construction industry will agree: get at least 3 quotes from different builders. Knowing your options will give you bargaining power and could save you valuable pounds. Cheaper doesn’t always mean better, but that’s for you to decide. The most important thing when looking at the numbers is to make sure you’re comparing like for like. Generally, there are 3 basic types of quotes to look out for:

• Quotations: the actual price you’ll pay for the cost of work
• Estimations: a ballpark figure based on a relative understanding of variables at hand
• Guestimations: exactly what it sounds like, a guess, which seldom works in your favour

Always ask the builder for a breakdown to ensure clarity on which type you’re getting. You can post details of what you need done through MyBuilder, and get multiple quotes, references, and photos of past work.

2. Vision decision
Saying you want more room in your house is way too vague. Map out your vision. Know what you want. Find pictures, even clip images out of magazines to illustrate your wish list. This helps bring a common understanding of the end goal and facilitates the conversation with your builder. Clarity and good communication can help avoid overages and blunders.

3. Making a small effort saves you big time
Having a good relationship with your builder could save you a massive headache as well as massive costs.  Communication is at the heart of everything, and often when the communication breaks down, so does the project.  If you make any changes, always document your requests. This helps to make sure that wires don’t get crossed. Most importantly, at the first sign of a problem, address the issue head on with a site meeting. Talk it through sooner, rather than later, to avoid tension or misunderstanding.

4. Cash for clutter
You have to make space to add space. If you’re putting in an extension, go through your unwanted items and sell them on Gumtree. The dosh you make could be used to beef up your budget.

5. Contracts
Think about what kind of payment plan you want to set up. Cash in hand is a preferred method for some builders, but may cause problems down the line. Stage payments, bank transfers and cheques are the ideal way to monitor and confirm that payments have been made.

6. Certification
At the end of the project, it’s a good idea to ask for a walkthrough with the builder. Hold onto a retainer for snagging until building control has signed off the work and you’ve received all necessary paperwork. Any certification for council / electrical compliance certificates should be issued prior to payment.

7. Insurance
It’s always a good idea to ask to see a copy of the builder’s insurance. If you want to be really thorough – check with the provider in relation to status and expiry dates and make sure your project is covered throughout the project time period.

8. Materials
If you’re having the builder manage the materials, make sure they’re getting the kind of quality you expect. Better still, ask for detailed descriptions in the quote. Before you hand over the final payment, ask for guarantees on the products. Check with your local council to be sure you have the documentation that you need.

9. Clean it up and kit it out
Now that you’ve got this nice new space, make it your own. The builder should make good on the project, but you may like to bring in a professional cleaner to get your new space ready. Once your new space is fresh and clean, start moving in all that extra furniture from your basement and start decorating.