(Re)Developing your Family Home

[Ellie78]

There have been a few really great threads swapping design ideas for Kitchens etc. I thought I might try it on a bigger scale and ask about how people (non experts) set about developing a family home.

The short version of the story is that we're trying to get a development project off the ground and I am completely clueless as to what's the best way to go about it. It's reasonably complex, but not massive: we're putting 2 flats together and, as one is a basement, there are some water/structural issues to sort - tanking and possible underpinning.

At the moment, I've been looking for an architect to help us with the design. The search is ongoing but a few ED based ones have, very nicely, turned us down on the basis of being too small a job (under 150,000 - not an extension etc).

We recognise we're clueless as to property development and will not be managing the build ourselves. But where do you turn to? A lot of architects offer a project management role as part of their services - is this enough? Or are you better off hiring a project manager, separate from a builder (do these exist?) - or a company that project manages its own construction? How on earth do you sort the contractual issues of the build?

We don't want to waste money - as our budget (at c. 85-90,000) is hardly massive by some standards, but we are so completely without a clue that I recognise we need help. But how much?

It would be really good to hear how you did it! Both of us work full time and want to spend time with our son when we're not working, so, whilst I want my design ideas to be taken on board, I don't want to get into the nitty gritty.

And how to manage a build to be not totally disruptive to family life would be a good story too!

As ever, thanks for any contributions.

[iliana]

Dear Ellie ,

We are building company that specialises is full flat/ house refurbishments.We can provide a recommendations and can manage the project in regards to renovation,references for such projects available .At present we don't do construction work thought.I am not sure how is that approached.I guess you will need a structural engineer and he might advice you on what needs doing,then approach a building company that specialises in that or perhaps the building engineer might know someone.The last year has been very busy,so the waiting times would vary between companies.Once the structural problems have been tackled , we can help you with the following(could quote before that):

-new electrical ,gas,plumbing installation

-new woodwork,door,floorings,stairs,etc-

-new kitchen and bathrooms

-new flooring

-plastering

-painting

Our website is [kitchenandbathroombuilderdslondon.co.uk].

We guarantee quality (1 year warranty) and we work within deadlines( but we aim and manage to finish before deadlines)

Most of our work comes from recommendations and you can search for Atanas or Big Small Solutions around the forum.Let us know if you can help you further.

Kind regards,

Iliana

[iliana]

Dear Ellie ,

We are building company that specialises is full flat/ house refurbishments.We can provide a recommendations and can manage the project in regards to renovation,references for such projects available .At present we don't do construction work thought.I am not sure how is that approached.I guess you will need a structural engineer and he might advice you on what needs doing,then approach a building company that specialises in that or perhaps the building engineer might know someone.The last year has been very busy,so the waiting times would vary between companies.Once the structural problems have been tackled , we can help you with the following(could quote before that):

-new electrical ,gas,plumbing installation

-new woodwork,door,floorings,stairs,etc-

-new kitchen and bathrooms

-new flooring

-plastering

-painting

Our website is [kitchenandbathroombuilderdslondon.co.uk].

We guarantee quality (1 year warranty) and we work within deadlines( but we aim and manage to finish before deadlines)

Most of our work comes from recommendations and you can search for Atanas or Big Small Solutions around the forum.Let us know if you can help you further.

Kind regards,

Iliana

[sally1]

We have used Atanas and the team twice now, a bathroom refit and replacing kitchen worktops - both times they have been brilliant.

On time, reasonably priced and trustworthy.

Highly recommended.

[Mal Smith]

My approach would be to start by finding a Structural (Building) Engineer - an individual not an organisation.

Tell them what you want to do and ask them how much they would charge to do drawings that can be given to the Building control department at Southwark Council for a building notice application (I have just paid ?400 for a set of notes and drawings for opening a space in a structural wall).

When you agree the price and they come to measure up talk through the entire development that you intend to do and find out if they can suggest alternatives and builders. You can probably apply for the building notice yourself - talk to the building control department, they are very friendly and very helpful.

M

[Ron70]

Ellie78 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> There have been a few really great threads

> swapping design ideas for Kitchens etc. I thought

> I might try it on a bigger scale and ask about how

> people (non experts) set about developing a family

> home.

>

> The short version of the story is that we're

> trying to get a development project off the ground

> and I am completely clueless as to what's the best

> way to go about it. It's reasonably complex, but

> not massive: we're putting 2 flats together and,

> as one is a basement, there are some

> water/structural issues to sort - tanking and

> possible underpinning.

> b

> At the moment, I've been looking for an architect

> to help us with the design. The search is ongoing

> but a few ED based ones have, very nicely, turned

> us down on the basis of being too small a job

> (under 150,000 - not an extension etc).

>

> We recognise we're clueless as to property

> development and will not be managing the build

> ourselves. But where do you turn to? A lot of

> architects offer a project management role as part

> of their services - is this enough? Or are you

> better off hiring a project manager, separate from

> a builder (do these exist?) - or a company that

> project manages its own construction? How on earth

> do you sort the contractual issues of the build?

>

> We don't want to waste money - as our budget (at

> c. 85-90,000) is hardly massive by some standards,

> but we are so completely without a clue that I

> recognise we need help. But how much?

>

> It would be really good to hear how you did it!

> Both of us work full time and want to spend time

> with our son when we're not working, so, whilst I

> want my design ideas to be taken on board, I don't

> want to get into the nitty gritty.

>

> And how to manage a build to be not totally

> disruptive to family life would be a good story

> too!

>

> As ever, thanks for any contributions.

Hi Ellie, we did a re-furb very similar in size and scale last year. We brought a house which was 2 flats and converted it back into a single dwelling. I'm more than happy to pass on the lessons learnt during the process which were considerable. Additionally, if you'd like to, you'd more than welcome to come and have a look at the work our builders completed,

Ron70