Despite any lack of knowledge which you may have in this field
Last updated
Was this helpful?
Whist may appear like a miniature property, which in reality they are, the building of them is nothing of the sort and just like a full-scale property, there are many moving parts which you need to have control of. The building of your granny flat should be carried out by a team with the right skills and construction knowledge, and when seeking to build one it is important that you are getting the best team for your money.
Despite any lack of knowledge which you may have in this field, your builders are the experts and they will lead you. This is why you should look to ask them the right questions with regards to the build, and here are 5 important questions you should be asking.
What Permissions Do You Need?
Planning permission can be tricky to understand and whilst you may not need special permission for the build itself, you may find that you do for an extra gas supply or to lower the curb for parking. Your building team should know what the property requires in terms of permission, so be sure that you are asking your builders about the legality of the build.
What Access is Required?
Another important question to ask your builder is what kind of access they need with regards to getting the groundwork done. Planning for the disruption which this will cause is essential, especially if that involves large machinery and noise pollution. Above anything else, it is nice to be able to warn neighbours of what is about to happen, and it also means that everything can run smoothly when the builders need to get in.
Possible Cost Changes?
There is always a touch of uncertainty with a build like this and whilst you can plan almost every penny of the spend, there are some risks which could drive the costs up. Any builder worth their salt will have an idea as to what those risks could be, and how expensive they may be as well. There are never any guarantees but it would be nice to have a rough idea in mind so that you can financially prepare.
Additional Space Required?
When it comes to is full of them and you can often spot one in its development stage because there is a portable lock up on the roadside. This leads us to our next question which is asking the builder what on-site storage they need. Many building firms will leave tools and equipment in a lock-up on-site, and you’ll need to ensure you have the space and permission for that.
How Long The Build Will Take?
There are many complications which could set back a build, and most people are fully aware of this. Nonetheless, it is important that you get a fixed date from your builder as to what they are aiming for so that you can have a better idea when the granny flat will be ready and when you can start looking to design the interior. This will always be an estimated finish date, but having one will give everyone something to work towards.
Be sure that you are asking your builders the right questions.