Tips For Scheduling An Extension Project

Extension projects can be an ambitious ordeal. The more organised you are in these circumstances, the better things shall go.

Those who attempt the project themselves are often singularly focused on the tools that they need to see the task through. While cordless drills and binding hooks are most certainly useful, there are many things to think about long before the work commences.

Most of these factors revolve around scheduling and project management. Even smaller projects require a large amount of work, so it's important to fully map out how these undertakings will fit into your lifestyle. After all, not everybody can press pause on their lives for weeks or months while construction takes place.

What are the most effective ways to schedule an extension project? Read on below for our insights.

Whether they're family members, friends, or a romantic partner, the people you live with need to have a say in this decision. Even if you have young kids, their thoughts and concerns should be heard out too.

Extension projects can still cause a level of disruption, even when they're being performed as smoothly as possible. Noise, smells, and a lack of privacy in the add-on area will all be things you each need to deal with for the duration of the development. Of course, people have varying levels of comfort and tolerance in the presence of each thing, so it's considerate to gauge the thoughts and opinions of relevant parties.

All of this can help with scheduling, too. Obviously, children have had enough disruption to their education recently, so coordinating with them to schedule the development around important exams could be necessary. Your housemates or partner may have an important moment in their careers lined up, in which the project can be temporarily postponed on that basis too.

Keeping neighbours informed may be a good idea too. Once everybody is as happy as they can possibly be with the situation, the development can proceed more smoothly. You mitigate the need to keep stopping and starting the project and reduce the likelihood of tensions occurring between yourself and anybody you're living with or near. It all makes things much easier.

Who you work with will play a huge role in how easily you can schedule an extension. There are many things to consider here.

The first is availability. It might be that developers, surveyors, and builders are working through an extensive backlog of projects after the coronavirus, with people delaying plans for various related reasons. Shopping around might seem like an extensive process, but you may be more likely to improve your schedule for it.

The second is reliability. Though some cowboy builders may promise a strict timeframe, they can often abandon their projects before completion. Ensuring that you're working with a reputable service is key and prevents your scheduling needs from spiralling out of control.

The third is the quality of work that is conducted. Hassle-free companies like Ecology Survey can provide same-day, free quotes and help all parties avoid postponements and work out logistics fast. Reports are issued a couple of days after their visit. Ultimately, the surveyors you work with must be planning permission-focused without exceptions.

Cut off negotiations with any entity that refuses to answer key questions. Avoid wasting your time.

There is a lot that can go wrong during any construction project. Some of it can be down to negligence, but in other cases, bad luck can simply strike too.

Check any builders or contractors who work on your property have the relevant Insurance to cover their work and ask to see their insurance certificate for confirmation.

Review your existing home insurance policies. Consider whether it covers anything related to your extension projects. Work up to a certain cost may be covered or added for an additional premium. Research specialist premiums if you suspect more can be done.

If you don't tell your insurer that your home is undergoing renovation, you may find that your policy is invalid in the event of a claim. This applies whether or not you continue to live in your home while the work is being done. This is because the risk of something unexpected happening to your home and its contents increases considerably when you've 'got the builders in'.

Renovations insurance can protect your property while you're performing any work on it, including adding extensions. It only covers parts of the building that are not currently being renovated but should an issue like damage or potential theft arise, each problem can be more swiftly dealt with.

You may need to prove that your contractors are reputable (good scores on 'Check a Trade' or a member of the Federation of Master Builders), hold a level of liability cover (minimum £1 million), have a CAR (Contractors All Risk policy) in place and have signed a clear contract outlining responsibilities. However, these are all good practices when undertaking work on your home. It is worth thinking about safeguards whch can provide peace of mind. Extension work can cause you to worry about various scenarios, and feel overwhelmed with anxiety. Such fears can impede your judgement elsewhere in the process and unnecessarily drag things out. By having peace of mind with insurance policies, your mind is free to focus on more pressing concerns, which could speed the process up.

Some homeowners are exceedingly social with their developers, surveyors, and builders. They will offer warm welcomes, beverages, and small talk about a variety of events.

While good manners are always positive, these situations shouldn't evolve into full-blown discussions. At some point, you'll need to decide whether you want an extension or a new friend. Given the amount of money you're paying, it's likely best that you prioritise the former.

Ensure that the workers on your property have the time and space to get on with their work. Avoid hovering around and constantly bombarding them with questions. Remember, if they're distracted, the chances of them performing a botched job will also increase, adding further complications to your scheduling needs.

Instruct anybody you're living with to follow a similar approach. If your partner is quite chatty, then they'll need to reign that in temporarily. Rebellious kids may also need to be on their best behaviour while the work commences. Ensure everybody has their priorities in check. Explain that the sooner they comply with these demands, the sooner the extension will be completed, allowing regular life to resume.

It's easy to assume that extension sites should be messy. Because of this, it can be tempting to let the designated area 'go', perhaps.

Try to clear the site before any builders and developers arrive. Mowing the lawn, clearing a few weeds, or putting garden furniture into storage are just some of the small measures you can take to make life a little easier for the workers. The amount of time you save won't be much, but accumulated with other measures, it can make scheduling matters a little easier.

To find out more about how we could help you with project management, renovation project or property staging for your property complete the online enquiry form or check out our other home staging services.

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