starting building work - is this usual?

[Firsttimer7259]

We have bought a house and need to make some changes before we move in. These are to keep our sn child safe mainly. We hired an architect and they are to manage the build - expensive but we are too busy to try to take this on ourselves. Anyway we got the builders bids in and they are double the architects estimates. We did get a few esestimates but they were all alike. The architect said this was due to variations in the scope of work. We had made some small changes - should they have warned us before putting the project to tender that it would be so much more?

Anyway since this its taken 10 days before I could meet w architect and builder to discuss changes that would help reduce the cost. Even tho I was offering this by email and my work is v flexible. Now the architect says he can't change the drawings until end of this week which means we are well into next week before well get quotes and can start the work

At this rate we'll have owned the place for a month before we even get started.on making the changes.

Is this how it usually works? Are we doing something wrong? Ideas for speeding this up? We really want to get the alterations done before moving as managing our child in a space that keeps changing and maybe has no kitchen for a few days breaks me out in a cold sweat but this is v expensive. I thought things were lined up do that we would start work within a week.of getting the keys.

[VeryPunny]

It tool us about a year to go from first contact with architect to starting work. We could have shaved 3 months of that if we didn't mind starting work when I was 7 months pregnant. Delays were due to us changing things with architect but mainly due to builders giving us the runaround when we were looking for quotes.

IME everything moves very slowly.

[VeryPunny]

PS: Our kitchen has consisted of a baby belling, microwave and sink since January. I have a 2 year old and a 6 month old. We have eaten a lot of jacket potatoes but it's been fine.

[Firsttimer7259]

Maybe our hope of getting disruptive stuff done before moving are hopeless then. Dammit! (trying for jack bauer to keep my chin up)

[Firsttimer7259]

Anyone else? Is this just how it works?

[newstart15]

What type of work are you planning? I would say that it's very usual as most reputable architects and builders are booked up and just don't have leeway.

Builders tend to work all day on a job, maybe using the evenings for scheduling or ordering materials so pricing new jobs often take a backseat.

I think you should plan to live in some disruption for a period of time and just find ways to lower the impact.

I also think architects often under value the work so always rely on actual builders quotes.

[Firsttimer7259]

We have new drawings! So am feeling a bit more hopeful. Our dd has severe and complex sn - we really need to avoid the disruption if at all possible. I will make an effort to find out if delays etc are just part of it before deciding what to do.

[vienaa]

Our first contact with architects was Nov, he took 2 weeks to draw up everything, then we had a few changes and took him a week to change a few bits, submitted my plans with the council and that took about 8 weeks period to decide yes or no, we got refused with our first lot so it was one change we had to do and it took the council another few weeks to decide. so we could of started work end of Jan... But then we decided to change one wall and bring it out more (it was our fault) so then we had to start the whole thing again 8 week period and that took us to end of March, so we only started breaking down about 3 weeks ago...