PRESS RELEASE: FULL
23/09/10
extend-my-house is an architectural service with a difference…
In fact it’s completely different!
Our aim is to enable all homeowners to use an architect…
The Confusion for Home Owners
Considering building a house extension or altering your home can be pretty confusing: do you go to a builder, do you go to an architect or do you go to someone who just does drawings. Which is best? What will an architect actually do for your project? Many people are understandably confused… These are big decisions, which can have a big impact on the result of a build and consequently your everyday life. So which way to turn?
Option One – Architect
Pros
Independent advice, acts as your agent and looks after your interests. Design Expertise, Drawing Expertise, Local Authority Expertise, All-round construction knowledge and site experience. Will Help You Choose a Builder and appoint other consultants (quantity surveyor, structural engineer) as necessary.
Cons
Fees can be expensive, complicated and exclude lots of things. May not take on smaller projects.
Option Two - Surveyors/Engineers
Pros
Independent Advice, Some will act as your agent if required, Knowledge of Construction (Structural Engineers), Cost Control (Quantity Surveyors), Efficient Management (Quantity Surveyors/Project Managers)
Cons
Fees can still be expensive. There are many types of surveyors and engineers and understanding which one is right for your house extension can be confusing in itself. No regulation of terms so anyone can call themselves a “building surveyor” or “engineer”. No design training. May not be experienced in dealing with local authorities.
Option Three – CADman/Draughtsman
Pros
Probably the cheapest way to obtain a set of drawings
Cons
Probably no design training/expertise. May not deal with local authority or may have limited experience/skill. Unregulated so no adherence to professional codes/qualifications.
Option Four – Builder/ All-in-One/Turnkey Service
Pros
Saves money on paying fees separately to consultants. May speed up timeframe for project.
Cons
Will take control of project away from you and you have no agent to represent you. The firm may well have to pay an architect/designer/engineer themselves anyway. If they don’t are you really happy for them to make the big decisions for you? May try to make more money out of you by cutting corners. May take an ad-hoc approach to Building Regulations which could cost you in remedial works. No professional advice: you have to act as your own agent.
Option Five – Do It Yourself
Pros
Saves money on professional fees. Gives you complete control of your project.
Cons
May still end up paying professional advice. Need drawings skills. Need good liaison skills and some knowledge to deal with council. Not for the feint-hearted. You bear all the risk and responsibility on your own. Time researching everything. Must be meticulous in your approach, management and release of project information.
The Dilemma
Many people may not be prepared to hand over control of their project to a builder but are on a tight budget. They may want their drawings done by someone professional but think an architect might be too expensive or over-the-top for their project. What would be ideal is to find an architect but for the fee of a cad/draughtsman. Up until now this has been a pipe dream.
A New Solution
How to address this situation? How to let more people be able to use the service of a professional architect with design expertise? How to make the architectural service more affordable and accessible? How to simplify the whole process and approach to fees?
These are the questions that led to the conception of extend-my-house. Also drawing upon changes in legislation (planning laws, permitted development and the privatisation of building control services) and changes in technology (broadband, pdfs, planning portal), extend-my-house was established to offer a radical new type of architectural service: a nationwide*, web-based, house extension/home alterations one stop solution with all-inclusive fees for different projects available to view online, instantly. We understand most people will only do this once or twice maybe in their life and that it is critical they are not disappointed.
We provide the professional drawings, expertise and advice needed, keeping the client in control of the project but taking away the headache. When we finish they have a set of drawings/documents to the form the basis of a contract with potential builders. We do not attend site meetings or administer the contract as a local architect might, but these services radically increase the cost of an architectural service and many projects cannot sustain this level of involvement. We are always on the end of the telephone to advise and if required we can arrange a local architect or surveyor to carry out on site duties.
EXCLUSIVE - Low, Fixed, All-Inclusive Fees Available to See Online 24/7
Our fees are already low but they also include all the extras excluded on an architect’s fee – such as fees to the local authority (from £400 upwards), fees to structural engineer (from £200 - £1000 typically depending on the structural complexity) and OS maps – so the fee you see is the fee you pay. Why wait for an architect to come out and see you and then wait for a quote from them – our fees are available to see for anyone, anytime on our website.
Home Experts
We are experts in house extensions, loft conversions and internal re-configurations with over 10 years experience working almost exclusively in this market. By concentrating only on domestic projects our efficiency of these projects is increased, offering a quick turnaround and reduced costs and therefore fees.
Web-Based Remote Service
By being web-based and working remotely we are able to pass on further savings to the client: by avoiding the need to keep coming to visit we are able to keep fees low and spend our time drawing, by emailing correspondence and drawings the paper trail cost is kept to a minimum. Operating remotely also keeps our office overheads to a minimum, saving the client more money.
The website helps select the service required for the particular project based on the design ambition, size and type of the project. This reveals the relevant fee and allows clients access to a build cost estimator, an order form and to see the cost of any extras required (such as 3D visuals, or additional project elements: such as adding a loft conversion to your extension at a discounted rate). We collect any other information we need once the order is placed.
Our approved regional surveyor visits at the beginning of the project to take all measurements, survey information and photos as necessary. After this all correspondence is web-based: we will create a folder on our website for each project so all drawings are available to view at anytime, as soon as they are finished. We still post out paper copies of official documents, if required. For more information on how our unique service works, please visit www.extend-my-house.co.uk and choose “About Our Service” from the navigation bar.
* England & Wales
Nationwide*
There are architects who do operate nationwide but they won’t be taking on small domestic projects. Likewise with builders. By operating nationwide* we can take advantage of working with one firm of Approved Building Inspectors across the whole country*, negotiating discounts on Building Regs fees and passing these savings on to the client.
Critically our remote service allows us to work across the whole country*, increasing our workload, which, in turn keeps the fee per project down. So wherever you are you* can use extend-my-house.co.uk.
Summary
Ultimately our aim is to offer professional design and service at affordable rates. Whether it be a few drawings, a scheme design/feasibility study, Planning Permission or a Building Regulations Application or all or any of the above, the unique way in which we work allows clients to have the design, service and professional input they hoped for at a price they are prepared to pay.
For more information and to see how our innovative, architectural service works please visit:
* England & Wales
