Little useful things that you can ask your builder to do while they're building your extension.

[waltzingparrot]

We got our builders to cement a couple of D rings into the back wall of the extension so we could attach our washing line to them. We also wished we'd asked them to cement a D ring on the side wall so DS could have locked his bike to it.

Also, (if you are the decorating type), we got them to attach a couple of fixing points on the ceiling so we could hang a decorated Christmas branch over the table, plus we hang balloons/birthday bunting, England flags during World Cup etc. Much easier than DH trying to do it after. Obviously, you have to really think through where you're going to have your table.

Magnetic plaster on one wall so it can be a noticeboard

Wish I'd known about that.

Outside electric socket - and water if your extension is plumbed

Marking place to get some tips.

hot water tap outside the back door if you have a dog

plus hooks and a socket for christmas lights

More Electrican than builder...
My friend said always get more sockets than you think you need. This is so true, still regret not getting more in my ‘office’ because I never thought I would actually be using it as an office.

Love the branch over your table. How is it hanging?

Outside hot water tap for filling the paddling pool

If you build decking encorporate a trap door incase you need to get under it.

House number or name sign.

I haven't heard of magnetic plaster. Has anyone tried magnetic paint? Reviews seem a bit mixed about how effective it is.

Is that Christmas scene your house, op? Looks magic, well done!

Bear in mind that Change Control is where a lot of vendors (not just builders) make their profits.

"Can you just..." without fixing the price is a good way.

@floorplanner Sadly, that's not my home - it's a photo from Pinterest, but the principle is the same!

@OhioOhioOhio I just hang a couple of long ribbon loops through my fixing points and slot a branch between the two. We live backing on to a wood so we just grab a fallen branch each year.

Op, I don't know where I'm going yo do that but I am definitely going to do that this year. By 'fixing point' do you mean hook screw type things?

I have a decorated branch over my dining table at christmas and we use the screw in hooks.

Make use of the heavy machinery while it's there to help with landscaping the garden. They may charge you extra labour for it, but worth it. We've had rotten decking and fence panels removed, a dead trunk in the hedge and levelled off an unwanted flower bed

@OhioOhioOhio Don't know what they are actually called but they are the little metal ring things on the first photo on my original post. I'm sure there are other types you could use, as long as they can take the weight.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Outside tap and electric point are so useful if you're doing an extension, we didn't anticipate these until the wall was going up and yes it was a "ooh could you just" that contributed to an overspend. Hopefully next time we renovate we can really anticipate these little extras that cost you but are really worth it.

Miserable git here...
Be aware that these 'extras' can increase the costs surreptitiously unless a price is agreed first. It's a great mechanism for a builder/decorator/electrician to 'correct' any miscalculation that may have been made on the original quote.

Great thread!

DSis had an extension with 2 plate glass windows that met at a corner but that is where she wanted to put her Christmas tree every year, so she had a 3 pin floor socket with cover put in for the tree lights. Who knew you could do that.