loft conversion...advice please

[bananananacoconuts]

Hi All.
Live in a semi bungalow, just me, ds and dd. Have called a few builders to get quotes for loft conversions and they have asked if i had any plans drawn up. When i replied no they said call back when i'd had plans done as they cannot quote without plans!
Anyone know how much it will cost to get plans done? Is it typical that a builder can't give me a ballpark figure? I don't know if i can afford the extension so getting plans done first seems an awful waste of money to me!!
thanks in advance

[Brugmansia]

There are lots of specialist loft companies around. Most of those would be able to give you both ideas of what is possible for your house and an approximate idea of cost without having plans drawn up, even if you ultimately decide not to use one of them. We found lots of companies in our address by googling - some local and some national bigger companies.

[bananananacoconuts]

thanks for your reply. the companies i called do have loft conversions as their speciality according to yell.com and come from personal recommendations!

feel a bit lost to be fair as project is being paid for by a family member but i have been set the task of sorting it out. i know what i want but need to know how much it costs, dont see why we cant have an estimate for that!

[pinkdelight]

That's really odd. Have dealt with a couple of specialist loft companies and they sort their own plans through their own architects (or freelancers who they regularly use). And can quote without plans. If it's a proper loft company, they should handle it all for you. Suspect you must be using general builders who do lofts but not as a package. Try sourcing a quote from a company that just does lofts. Don't know where you are based, but in london there are loads, like these:
www.londonloftcompanyltd.co.uk/?gclid=CJrKpImEs7UCFYXLtAod4xAAng

[HokeyCokeyPigInAPokey]

OP i don't know where you are but if you're in London or surrounding areas i would happily recommend Coldstream Construction

They did our conversion and all plans ect, we have four quotes and they were by far the best - not he cheapest but by far the best.

[bananananacoconuts]

am about 4 hours north of london but thanks for those links. when i type loft conversions into google/yell.com i am given companies that i have already called.
live in a small town with no city nearby so maybe that could explain the lack of conversion specialists!
thanks for your help

[MorningHasBroken]

Googling national loft conversion company brings up a few results - maybe worth giving some of them a ring? Otherwise, try going along to something like the Homebuilding & Renovating show to get ideas and meet some bigger companies that might do it?

[pourmeanotherglass]

We've just had ours done - the company we used is just Bristol/Bath - but they came and measured up, drew 2 alternative plans (one with dormer, one without), and gave quotes for both plans. They do all that free, before you commit. There must be someone similar near you.

[gordy75]

Please note that this company changed hands approximately one year ago. They are very different now. I would not recommend them.