What’s the process of booking builders months/year in advance?

[Wonderwalk]

Hi, we’re just started seriously planning our extension. We’ve heard that most good builders are booked months in advance. I was therefore wondering how you secure a builder? do you pay a deposit then call them nearer the time to confirm timings etc. Does the cost change if materials etc go up, could they increase their costs for other reasons just before starting? I assume either party could pull out for whatever reason regardless of a contract? I keep reading stories of trades not turning up so a bit worried that they could agree a job months in advance and then ghost you when the time comes. Any help or guidance appreciated.

Problem is jobs can overrun. So say your builder says they can start in November- that may well slip to January. So even if you book one prepare to be flexible.
Of course they are not in control of materials costs so may well have it in the contract that prices will go up (though they never go down) accordingly! Use the time to plan everything to the last detail to get the most accurate as possible quote, and then do not change your mind halfway through!

Jobs will overrun. There are problems with supply of materials at the moment.
Get drawings done, planning permission then ask the builder when they can fit you in.
Good luck!

Meant to say as well, don't pay up front.

Thanks it doesn’t require planning and was waiting for BC because it’s quite a simple single story extension and heard that some builders will work off a building notice which would be our preference (saving money on full BC plans).

I spoke to a builder last week.
I tentatively suggested he might like to "do up" something for us.
He said he is booked for the next two years!

We are not near ready yet anyway, so am contemplating what to do next. Will probably tentatively ask another couple of builders, see if they are in the same position[I am guessing they are], and then decide what to do next.

I have learnt in life that nothing stays the same, so will see how the next few months pan out in the meantime.

@Wonderwalk

Thanks it doesn’t require planning and was waiting for BC because it’s quite a simple single story extension and heard that some builders will work off a building notice which would be our preference (saving money on full BC plans).

Yep you will need a building notice. Double check it doesn't need planning as we were told we didn't, but then we did! Also, get proper drawings done so the builders can give you an accurate quote and have something to follow.

We are getting quotes for our roof, options seem to be start tomorrow or wait till after summer! Pay a deposit to secure and then balance once completed. However as we need to serve a party wall agreement we need at least 2 months…

@lightand 2 years! Blimey I better start ringing around sooner rather than later.

We’ve got drawings but still need to get a structural engineer to have a look as we’ll need a beam.

We were very lucky with ours. We asked a couple of builders round right at the first stage of plans, talked then through. Picked one or two that we liked, then when we had planning got them round to do a full quotation.

We then went backwards and forwards cutting things out/adding in to meet our predicted budget. We then had to wait a while for cash to come through (inheritance) so when we had it we got in touch with our chosen guy again to finalise. He had had us pencilled in so only needed to juggle a few things in order to start a few months from then.

We started in October of last year so didn't hit any major shortages etc, a few bits were delayed arriving but we only went 2 wks over schedule.

Price wise we had about £2k of extras to clear out of a nigh on £100k build.

We agreed a payment plan in advance,so certain amounts paid at certain points with £5k retained until all snags ironed out

Don't forget party wall agreement if you aren't detached.