How long until you’re builder had availability and how do you book one in advance?

[Zarara]

Hi so sorry for the stupid questions. We’re just now exploring the logistics of getting started on our extension. We are planning a single storey rear extension which doesn’t require planning permission. We have plans drawn but still need to do the building control ones. So my questions are, did you get building regs approval before you got builders quotes or were they done with the chosen builder? I’ve heard people say that good builders are usually booked quite far in advance, so how long did you wait for your builder to be available? and lastly how do you then secure them in advance. Do you pay a deposit? And is it specific like the 15th July or more general like July start date. Any help greatly appreciated.

We went through an architectural designer and he took care of all the paperwork and the tender process. We went to tender after we had all the building regs and planning sorted out and the party wall act signed. We then chose the building firm based on price and how soon they could start. Incidentally the cheapest was also the one that could start within 2 weeks. As they'd worked with the architect before, we weren't worried that they weren't trustworthy because they had immediate availability. We then signed a contract with the exact start date.

Thank you that’s really helpful. As our extension is small we were hoping to manage the project and get all the quotes ourselves. Extension will be 2.5mx6m. So hoping it comes in under 35k but looking at other quotes on here that may be wishful thinking!

You’ll need your structural engineers drawing and then you can get quoted. We put ours out to tender, but every company wanted the job so only had a 6 week wait. All the companies we looked at were big/ran multiple sites as our job is almost a full rebuild.

Plans all sorted before quotes. Waited about 10months for the builder. Personally i would be very wary of anyone that can start quickly. We're going through the process again now for another extension and of 4 (recommended) builders who have quoted, the earliest any of them can start is March.

We didnt pay a deposit, just confirmed we would use them and were given an "end of July" type date.

Cousin is a builder, and we wrongly assumed he'd be available to help us with an extension this year. Due to covid, many of his projects have been pushed back, so he is booked up till at least May 2021!

You might find a builder who now freed up as their client can no longer afford the build/lost jobs etc etc, but I too would be cautious of a builder with nothing else booked in. I'd worry about 'why' they haven't got any other work?

True but DP is a very good electrician who often receives praise and sometimes outrageous tips for his work, as he is such a perfectionist (not at home ). Sometimes he has to turn work away and sometimes he isn't booked up for more than the next couple of days. He was inundated at the start of lockdown but had had a really quiet December/January so it can depend on the time of year as well. I know we're planning to start our renovations next spring as we don't want the roof off in winter.