£67,031.92 is a frightening number indeed....

Treadingonplaymobil

Week 67: Day 2

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Right, that's that out of my system. My architect emailed last night basically saying he doesn't think we should be getting builders quotes until we have (a) planning permission and (b) structural engineer calculations (we had been assuming we could get quotes while planning permission was going through in July/August, as the architect knew our timescales and start expectations, and assuming we need quotes 6-9 months in advance of building work starting, this is when we would need to get them, so we stupidly assumed that this was a reasonable thing to do). This means that we won't be able to even ask for quotes until close to the end of this year, meaning that the build, rather than being early 2019, is more likely to be early 2020.

I am so cheesed off, we have always been working towards an early 2019 build date, and this is the first time the architect has raised any question that this might not happen. In his head, he hasn't raised that issue, because he is still confident that if we are asking for quotes in December 2018 that we will get someone to start in Feb 2019, but literally every single other person I have spoken to on this front has said it's more like 6-12 months lead time for good builders round here at the moment, so I think he is a bit deluded. And obviously we can't start a build which will rip the back of the house off in the winter and still live here, so unless someone can start early enough in 2019 to finish it before the cold weather hits, we're stuck with a 2020 start.

I am feeling so deflated about it. I just can't believe that despite starting this process in July 2017 and being really clear about our planned build date, we are going to be looking at anything up to a year later.

Financially, it makes sense as we can save more/pay off more debt, but we have been limping along in this falling apart house for SO long. Our bathroom really is barely fit for use, with a 70s sink and toilet and mouldy tiles peeling off the wall, and in the kitchen we have units propped together and doors so old and warped they don't close (it was a cheap kitchen when it was installed, probably in the late 80s/early 90s, from the style), and we have been patiently thinking we could manage as it's only another 9-12 months max, and actually it's probably going to be more like 20 months.

I really don't think there's anything I can do to change it at this stage - we simply have to keep moving forwards and keep fingers crossed that things happen smoothly and we get lucky with a builder who can start earlier than we have been led to expect. Immensely frustrating though.

Moving on to cheerier subjects, my daily earnings goal has reduced to an all time low of £26.25. This is suddenly looking less than a million miles away from my 2018 Q1 daily average of £21.30, which is really pleasing.

I am going for a tour of a local school today (have I mentioned here that my DCs school has been having problems?). I am 90% sure we won't be moving, as I had a long meeting with the people coming in to improve the current school yesterday and am feeling really confident about what they're planning, but since I'd booked this visit I thought I'd go and look to compare. Yesterday ended up completely lost to work because of the long meeting, and today is going to be curtailed too, which is frustrating from a working time point of view, but needs must when it comes to the DCs' education.

To do today
1. Defeat the ironing monster.
2. Weep into my tea at the stupid architect and the hassle of doing the stupid extension. Browse Rightmove for the umpteenth time, decide yet again that extending is still better than moving.
3. Email friend re life coaching to plan dates for next meeting.
4. Social media post for work.
5. Make flapjacks.
6. Clear emails.

Mini goals:
- £32.73/30 May rounding down pot.
- £2,452.34/£5,000 2018 debt repayment goal.
- £26.25 daily earning goal.

wishingthemortgaheaway

What's it got to do with the architect when you get quotes? He is providing you with a service. It's not like you are being silly and asking them to start pre planning permission.
Hmm, sounds to me like an architect with a bit of a power complex.

Although anything you can do to put yourselves in a better financial position does sound sensible, I still don't think it's any of his business.

apple_muncher

Asking for a quote and a timescale from builders won't cost you anything and will give you a clear idea of money and time required for yourself, rather then relying on other people's ideas/comments. Go for it!

remote_control

We're going through the same process and I'm afraid the architect is right, the builders won't quote until the building regulation drawings are drawn which include the structural engineer calculations. It is a very long process but we are making sure we respond to emails ASAP so none of the delays are on our side. It is frustrating planning it all and having no idea of the cost.

Busy_Mee1

Didn't you say that your friend's husband is a builder ? Why don't you get him round to get a second opinion on what your architect is telling you. I am still questioning his insistence on a quantity surveyor- it sounds to me as if he is angling to have more involvement in your build than you intend.

A builder won't be able to give you a firm quote until planning has been passed, but it might not be a bad idea to start having a chat with local builders to get ball park figures and likely timescales.

mfmaybe

remote_control wrote: »

We're going through the same process and I'm afraid the architect is right, the builders won't quote until the building regulation drawings are drawn which include the structural engineer calculations. It is a very long process but we are making sure we respond to emails ASAP so none of the delays are on our side. It is frustrating planning it all and having no idea of the cost.

There might be some that won't engage this early; but that doesn't preclude you from starting to talk to them. They can probably give you a rough estimate and you need to get a feel for who you want to use, look at their previous work, even ask them for ideas. At the same time you can score off any that you don't like or that are booked out for months on end (though arguably that's a good sign of course!). If you can get yourself to a shortlist of say half a dozen that you'd be happy to work with, that will speed up the process of tendering for the work and save wasting everyone's time.

JoJoC

Busy_Mee1 wrote: »

Didn't you say that your friend's husband is a builder ? Why don't you get him round to get a second opinion on what your architect is telling you. I am still questioning his insistence on a quantity surveyor- it sounds to me as if he is angling to have more involvement in your build than you intend.

A builder won't be able to give you a firm quote until planning has been passed, but it might not be a bad idea to start having a chat with local builders to get ball park figures and likely timescales.

I agree with this - just because you can't get a full quote without the full plans, you can still get some informal quotes with a ball park figure to go on. What if you're £30k out on your assumptions vs budget? I'd rather know that now than when you've committed so much more money to it.

PurpleFairy26

We've submitted planning about 4 weeks ago and already have 3 detailed quotes from builders, the first with only basic plans. The issue is it's a bit chicken and egg, you don't want to get planning for something you can't afford and then have to start again. I would say engage with a couple of builders and ask them for some ball park quotes, at least then you know you can afford what you submit. The ones I engaged with were happy to do this.

Treadingonplaymobil

Week 67: Day 3

Thanks so much for all your comments and positivity everyone, it really helped me yesterday when I was feeling totally powerless to do anything about the situation. I think we will at least phone some builders, have the conversation with them and see what comes of it in terms of getting a feel for how booked up they are, maybe getting some initial quotes etc. At the end of the day, the architect is just giving advice, and given how monumentally useless he's been so far, I think I'll take his advice with a pinch of salt.

Back to budget things, I have a random refund/payment in my account which I cannot work out. £66.50 of free money isn't to be sniffed at, but I can't work out where it's come from! The name in the account is just given as Bambora, which is a card payment processing company. Need to ask DH if he knows.

DH got paid today, so I have started the assign money in YNAB for next month. For some reason we are £60 under budget once child benefit comes in, but since CB isn't due until the very end of the month I won't worry about it until then.

Was totally underwhelmed with local school yesterday, which is good as it firms up my intention to keep the DC where they are and see how the improvements to the school go. Finally have a full day at home to work today (well, 5.5 hours, which is a full day in my world!) with no meetings, school visits or other 'emergency' things.

No money in yesterday so my daily earning goal has inched up. Looking forward to invoicing at the end of the month, which will hopefully reduce it a bit again. Must try to do my tax return in June, so I can see whether my tax savings are OK - this is the first time I might actually have to pay some tax in about a decade, although it will only be a tiny amount.

To do yesterday
1. Defeat the ironing monster. Well it's looking less intimidating, down to only two full baskets now instead of the entire sofa.
2. Weep into my tea at the stupid architect and the hassle of doing the stupid extension. Browse Rightmove for the umpteenth time, decide yet again that extending is still better than moving.
3. Email friend re life coaching to plan dates for next meeting.
4. Social media post for work.
5. Make flapjacks.
6. Clear emails.

To do today
1. Check friend's life coaching email to put her goals in my calendar so I can support her.
2. Bake cakes for school cake sale - OMG I had a GF cake made with half ground almonds on the weekend, you were all so right about it making it edible! Was really good.
3. Social media post for work.
4. Blog post for my website.
5. Take some extra social media pics.
6. Make a paypal claim for a refund not received (from Vans, a proper big company! For a pair of DS's shoes returned).
7. Go for a walk.

Mini goals:
- £34.14/30 May rounding down pot.
- £2,453.75/£5,000 2018 debt repayment goal.
- £26.37 daily earning goal.

PositiveBalance

Grr! I've tried posting twice on my mobile but it hasn't worked.

Essentially: well done on being under budget and I hope that the refund isn't a mistake of some sort as both of those together would be a massive lift for you at the end of the month.