Buildings and Builders

Its been a while since my last rant, I've been having a loft conversion and all those hours of watching TV programmes like Property Ladder are coming back. Usually story, over time and over budget, but even I was surprised to hear, within 15 minutes of starting, that the new stairs won't fit !!!. Instead of boring you will all the horror stories, I thought I would change tact, instead of ranting, I will give some advice... lets call it things I have learnt about buildings and builders (1 week into the loft conversation).

• Never make decisions about things when you are offsite, wait until you are there before giving the go ahead
• When the build says everything will conform to building regulations, don't believe him and get building regulations in and ask them
• Don't believe word the builder says, use the internet to research what he is saying, they will says what is easiest for them
• Write down every decision made
• Builders are not your friends, even though they try to make out they are
• The work will be over budget and over time
• Expect every phase of the build work to have problems
• Never agree extra work or changes without agreeing the extra cost first
• Ring around yourself for extra materials, don't assume the builder will get them cheaper (they normally add on a handling charge !)
• When the roofer starts, expect him to condemn the roof and try to sell you a complete rebuild
• Apologise to your neighbours before the work starts

Hopefully my 1 meter by 1 meter loft space will be complete close to the original date and won't cost more than the house was to build.