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advice on extending/altering before buying.

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We've seen a house to buy in a lovely location, a small bungalow on a lovely 1/2 acre plot, but the house needs an extension (into the back garden) and reconfiguring/modernising.

Who's the best person/trade to give good all round on-site advice re. design, planning issues, costs, costs v increased value? An architect, building surveyor, builder?

Advice appreciated, thx

Comments

  • All three would be able to advise you but I would be tempted to get a builder in first of all. They can give you a good ball park figure for what you want which should be a good starting point.

    If you decide to go ahead with it, you can always talk informally to the planning department of your local council.

    A building surveyor can do all the measurements and drawings that you need. An architect can do the same but can also come up with different/quirky designs etc and are not cheap. It sort of depends on what you want. Just a straighforward refurb/extension or something off 'Grand Designs'.
  • robatwork
    robatwork Posts: 7,263 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Of course a builder won't charge you because he will do a quote and hope to get the work. To a surveyor the quote IS the work so expect to pay.

    What I would do is wander around the neighbourhood and see who else has had extensions done on their bungalows.. and knock on their doors and talk to them. People are sometimes only too keen to talk about their building work! You may get a nice recommendation which is priceless...
  • jimbog
    jimbog Posts: 2,251 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    robatwork wrote: »
    Of course a builder won't charge you because he will do a quote and hope to get the work. To a surveyor the quote IS the work so expect to pay.

    What I would do is wander around the neighbourhood and see who else has had extensions done on their bungalows.. and knock on their doors and talk to them. People are sometimes only too keen to talk about their building work! You may get a nice recommendation which is priceless...
    Also search on the your planning department's website at who has received planning permission and for what sort of extension. You can also download their submitted plans as a pdf file...just as a guide ;)
    Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
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