the daydream fund challenge thread

rozeepozee

Davesnave wrote: »

The costs sound right; as a ballpark figure I'd allow for £1k /m2.

In Wales, I think some firms specialise in ground source heat pumps where there's a stream of underground spring to extract the heat from, without the need to bury miles of pipework in soil.

EDIT: We've been here a couple of years and research has brought to light two builders we'd definitely consider, two more we'd check out further and about five that we wouldn't touch on cost or competence grounds. As choille says, expensive doesn't always = good. You're going to look at examples of work and that's the best thing you can do.

As well as builders who have been recommended, there are also a few builders whose names are on the "not recommended" list. They've come up a few times....

To those of you who have used an architect, how do you get the best out of them? The one we've met with seems lovely and we almost bought his house at one stage so I know I like his work, but he talks about an hourly rate, fixed sum and percentage of final build so I've got completely confused about how he proposes to charge. I'll ask him to clarify but I just wondered what other people had experienced.

lostinrates

rozeepozee wrote: »

As well as builders who have been recommended, there are also a few builders whose names are on the "not recommended" list. They've come up a few times....

To those of you who have used an architect, how do you get the best out of them? The one we've met with seems lovely and we almost bought his house at one stage so I know I like his work, but he talks about an hourly rate, fixed sum and percentage of final build so I've got completely confused about how he proposes to charge. I'll ask him to clarify but I just wondered what other people had experienced.

we couldn't have afforded our architect if we had not called in a favour. he does a lot of lucrative work for a friend of mine and I was seen as security in retaining this work I think. we went fixed sum, which has so fr proved VERY good value. He likes being down here (despite being asmatic and allergic to all the critters..who, as you'd expect love him and spend all his visits trying to climb onto him) .


re builders DON'T go va recommendation IMO. this was a huge learning curve. the epensve guy round here renowned for good work...when we went and saw it we were really disappointed ..how ever to ALL his customers he is ''the last word'' on buildings new and old. Other big cheese did a £2 million overhaul on a near by village pub...which has streak paintwork. the thing that bothers me is if something as obvious as streaky paint wrk slips through on a £2million job what ore fundamental corners were cut that I can't see or don'tknow about.

I also don't really like my business discussed ver the bar in greater detail than required....so happy enough to look further afield. My builders coe from Davesnave's old neck of woods, and so far so good. The finish n jobs was better and crucially our structural engineer recommended tham and had worked with them (including ona Grand designs house)......professional testamony carried more weight here. they are not the cheapest but not different to local disappointing expensive guy, or pub overhaulers

see work with your own eyes, look t the finish details check things like how skirtings and joinery meet....for me gaps are a real annoyance.

rozeepozee

lostinrates wrote: »

we couldn't have afforded our architect if we had not called in a favour. he does a lot of lucrative work for a friend of mine and I was seen as security in retaining this work I think. we went fixed sum, which has so fr proved VERY good value. He likes being down here (despite being asmatic and allergic to all the critters..who, as you'd expect love him and spend all his visits trying to climb onto him) .


re builders DON'T go va recommendation IMO. this was a huge learning curve. the epensve guy round here renowned for good work...when we went and saw it we were really disappointed ..how ever to ALL his customers he is ''the last word'' on buildings new and old. Other big cheese did a £2 million overhaul on a near by village pub...which has streak paintwork. the thing that bothers me is if something as obvious as streaky paint wrk slips through on a £2million job what ore fundamental corners were cut that I can't see or don'tknow about.

I also don't really like my business discussed ver the bar in greater detail than required....so happy enough to look further afield. My builders coe from Davesnave's old neck of woods, and so far so good. The finish n jobs was better and crucially our structural engineer recommended tham and had worked with them (including ona Grand designs house)......professional testamony carried more weight here. they are not the cheapest but not different to local disappointing expensive guy, or pub overhaulers

see work with your own eyes, look t the finish details check things like how skirtings and joinery meet....for me gaps are a real annoyance.

I prefer a professional recommendation, it seems that would be to technical standards, rather than to the lay person's untrained eye. Getting that might be another matter, but I'm working on it! How do you know it's not just "you scratch my back and I'll scratch your's" type of recommendation?

Itismehonest

rozeepozee wrote: »

Good idea. I'll look into it. We would like to let it out if possible but I can't imagine it being for many weeks of the year. I can't see the point in separating out the electrics etc. It's not as though we'd bill the paying guests for electricity. The main intention of this living area would be for family and friends to stay and also, in the longer term, our parents on a more permanent basis, but it's not really a separate unit in that sense.

If it is possible to live in the annexe (it has its' own cooking & washing facilities) then your council are still able to charge for Council Tax - with or without an internal connecting door. The only way to know for sure in advance is to check. Sometimes councils will look more kindly on the annexe being used by an elderly relative. Of course, over a certain age, an elderly relative would be exempt, anyway.
If the building is not physically attached to the home then it can be charged as a 2nd home.
However, the Government is due to release new advice at the end of this year which may alter the current situation.

Itismehonest

rozeepozee wrote: »

As well as builders who have been recommended, there are also a few builders whose names are on the "not recommended" list. They've come up a few times....

To those of you who have used an architect, how do you get the best out of them? The one we've met with seems lovely and we almost bought his house at one stage so I know I like his work, but he talks about an hourly rate, fixed sum and percentage of final build so I've got completely confused about how he proposes to charge. I'll ask him to clarify but I just wondered what other people had experienced.

We've only paid on a fixed sum basis unless something cropped up which required further work when any additional cost was negotiated prior to further work being done. Personally, I think it could be all too easy to lose track of what you'll ultimately be paying to do it any other way.

rozeepozee

Itismehonest wrote: »

We've only paid on a fixed sum basis unless something cropped up which required further work when any additional cost was negotiated prior to further work being done. Personally, I think it could be all too easy to lose track of what you'll ultimately be paying to do it any other way.

That makes sense and he did say that he preferred to do a fixed sum quote so that everyone knew where they stood cost wise. I'll have to speak to him again tomorrow. I just wish we could get on with it really but less haste more speed. I'm a terrible one for trying to complete things in what often seem to be very tight timescales and it gets very stressful. I am trying not to focus on things being done for the move out of here date in May. I realise that's unrealistic now so I need instead to think about what our alternative accommodation will be. I definately don't want to get into another rental property...

choille

Fixed sums are worked out on the Building warrant fee which is a percent of proposed actual build costs, but often you'll get a guy to do it on a fixed fee.

Hazy sky & some snow showers but nowt really - off to feed the sheep & get out for a bit.

lostinrates

rozeepozee wrote: »

I prefer a professional recommendation, it seems that would be to technical standards, rather than to the lay person's untrained eye. Getting that might be another matter, but I'm working on it! How do you know it's not just "you scratch my back and I'll scratch your's" type of recommendation?

I would think there would be a certain amount of back scratching...there is in other jobs too...e.g. dh refers to other solicitor's firms when the work is inappropriate and would hope they would refer back...not because he's the only sol who can do what he does, but because he does it well and if he refers someone who does a job well nice to be remembered in return!

BUT in this case our third professional...the architect..has no relationship before this job with either of those two, so he's the check on standards. but he really insisted on us seeing finished jobs of builder's in situ, and he interviewed three structural engineers here before we utually agreed on ours.

It makes sence to compile a team who have good woring comunication and relationships. And then niminate one as you point of contact to communicat IMO, because then mixed messages minimised an you let them work at wat they do best

lostinrates

FINALLY after ages of trying, saw someone at the local allotment to offer some well rotted manure to an allotmenteer. They were thrilled and said they'll come with a trailer and tell all the other allotment users.

rhiwfield

Making the logical leap from horse manure to elephants (and having a singular lack of refurb/self build experience) I'd just like to let you know that Snowy the mahout is beginning to prepare his elephant's crimbo pressie

Hmmm, memo to me, clean stove glass and dust