Extension Building tips - I need yours

[DukeChatsworth]

Within the next 12 months we are hoping to build a single story kitchen dining room extension on our terraced house. Many neighbours have them the same.

Please give me your tips and suggestions for doing this as I’ve no clue where to start. How do you pay builders? Instalments, deposits? Things to ask about, things to avoid?

I’ve literally never done anything like this (I hate even having tradespeople in for small jobs) so any tips gratefully received.

Talk to your neighbours well before you start to minimise any bad feeling in the future.

Get party wall agreements in place (you likely will have to pay for neighbour's surveyor and for use of their foundations/existing party wall) so factor these costs in.

Have a realistic contingency fund.

Make sure you have velux or skylights to let lots of light in to back room.

Thank you @Celeriacacaca that’s really helpful.
I’d not thought of the party wall issues and skylights are an excellent idea!

TOP 5 TIPS FROM THE BUILDER

• Deposits 0-20% (there is a severe risk of losing it if the company does not have a good history)
• Check reviews online then Check the references (actually, visit 2 recent jobs and speak to the clients) then check companies house papers and directors history
• Check builders insurance
• FMB builders usually are a safer option.
• invest in detailed drawings plus job specification
• the contingency of 5 to 15%is advisable depending on the level of details in the spec.
• pay for stages of work not for time
• keep min 2.5% of the budget for final payment for at least 3 months from practical completion.
• check lead time for you finishing materials like bi-folds and kitchen well ahead.
• you can save vat on labour by going with guys who are below VAT threshold (i.e. electrician, plumber, kitchen fitter, decorator) but you need to have some experiance in project managment.

Make sure you get an outside tap. And also an outside electricity socket.

Be specific about the bricks and the way they're laid if you want to get them to match the brickwork of the rest of the house.

Do you want an internal light switch to control outside lighting?