If you’re thinking of taking on a building project then take a look at the following post. We’re going to be covering some of the key elements involved in a building project and how to navigate them. From planning your project to how to handle your building work once it goes ahead, we’ll cover everything you need to know. Also, we’ll discuss how the Building Certification Group can help a lot in procuring building approvals for building work in no time. Read on to find out more.
Budgeting
Budgeting is key when it comes to planning a building project. Failing to budget correctly can lead to unsuccessful and incomplete building work and damage to your finances. Firstly, you’ll need an idea in mind for the amount of money you’re comfortable spending on the total project. This needs to be worked out alongside the estimated cost that you’ve calculated your project will be. It’s worth spending plenty of time working out the cost of each element involved in your project and the cost of materials, contractors, fitting, and any other costs involved. Draw up a clear and detailed budget plan which you can follow throughout your build and remember to have a contingency budget in place too.
Set A Timeline
It’s also important to make sure you plan a timeline for the work being carried out on your project. Whether you’re going to be living in the finished build or you’re planning to sell it, you need to have a rough estimate of how long the work will take so you can plan ahead. For example, if you’re planning to relocate during the building work, you’ll need to know how long you’ll need to make plans for alternative accommodation. You builders should be able to give you an estimation of how long building work will take but there could be many reasons for delays. For example, planning permission can sometimes be a longwinded process and may delay the project going ahead. There could also be other unforeseen circumstances that affect a project, such as poor weather conditions, changes in contractors, or issues arising from surveys.
Surveys
It’s important to carry out surveys before building work goes ahead, especially if you’re buying new land to work on. Surveys help to identify potential issues such as structural issues or health hazards present on the land. If you discover protected species on your land such as bats, it’s important to consult with a licensed bat surveyor in order for them to identify whether building work will be able to go ahead. Protected species need to be safely relocated by professionals before work can proceed to avoid harming them or disturbing their breeding. If you’re adding to an existing structure, a property survey can help find damage that could affect the safety of the structure and whether it’s safe to use. Issues such as damp and asbestos can make it unsafe to live or work around and will need to be professionally dealt with.
Choosing An Architect
Choosing the architect to plan your project can be a difficult decision. You need to find someone that’s not only priced to fit your budget but that has the experience and knowledge to help you achieve your vision. Ask to see portfolios and previous projects to help you get an idea of whether the architect is the right choice for you. You should also seek out reviews from previous clients which will help you understand whether you could work well with the architect in question. Any architect you choose should be a registered architect and ideally have previous experience working on similar projects. You architect should use a blend of your own personal vision and goals for the build, along with their own knowledge of what would work best. This may mean that they recommend changes to your plans or suggestions for ways in which they could be improved.
Planning Permission
Once you have chosen an architect and had plans drawn up by them, you can start the process of applying for planning permission. It’s important to have your building plans in place as your local authority will need them in order to make an informed decision on whether your plans can go through or not. As your plans will usually be submitted online for locals to view, there could also be some surrounding neighbours who could disapprove of the plans you have in place. If this is the case, it could lead to the plans being rejected by the council. Having a calm and respectful conversation with the neighbours in question could lead to a better understanding from both parties and a reasonable conclusion being reached, even if this means a slight compromise in your original plans. There are many reasons planning permission could be rejected, but an initial rejection doesn’t always mean the end of a project. It could simply be that some changes need to be made to your original vision.
Listed Buildings
When you’re carrying out building work on listed buildings, it can make the process a little more tricky to navigate. Listed buildings are protected by law and there are many differences in the type of building work you are able to carry out on or near them. For example, there could be original features you have to maintain, or you might not be able to change the external façade in order to make sure it’s in keeping with the local architecture. If you’re unsure whether you can carry out certain work to a listed property, make sure to check with your local authority for prior approval.
Living With A Building Project
One of the most important aspects of carrying out building work is figuring out how you will live around it. If you’re not living on the site, then this of course won’t be as much of a concern. However, if the building work is being carried out around you, it could lead to some pretty difficult living situations. If possible, try and arrange alternative accommodation as building work is both unsafe and impractical to live amongst. This could be with family, friends, or renting another property short-term. Bear in mind the timescale of the build and how long your alternative living will need to be arranged for.