Comments on: Top Tips 6 – 10 http://www.georgeclarke.co.uk Architect and TV presenter Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:18:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sharon Black http://www.georgeclarke.co.uk/top-tips/top-tips-6-10/comment-page-1/#comment-250 Sharon Black Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:51:57 +0000 http://dev.h2point0.co.uk/georgeclarke/?page_id=55#comment-250 Hi George Have sent another email following up from before - could you have a look - please!? Just want to get the design right! D'you know I've never met anyone who is entirely happy with the work they've had done on their house. However 'happy' they are there's always a 'but I wish we'd....' something or other. Sure I'll be just the same! Cheers, Sharon x Hi George
Have sent another email following up from before – could you have a look – please!? Just want to get the design right! D’you know I’ve never met anyone who is entirely happy with the work they’ve had done on their house. However ‘happy’ they are there’s always a ‘but I wish we’d….’ something or other. Sure I’ll be just the same! Cheers, Sharon x

]]> By: George Clarke http://www.georgeclarke.co.uk/top-tips/top-tips-6-10/comment-page-1/#comment-213 George Clarke Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:41:57 +0000 http://dev.h2point0.co.uk/georgeclarke/?page_id=55#comment-213 Karen, £750 per square meter (even in this market) but you are right there can be an enormous range and difference in prices. The best way to decide is to go out to tender to a range of builders and when the prices come in arrange to visit at least 2 of their projects. This will give you an idea of the standard and quality of their work and make sure you have a conversation with the clients/owners to find out the true cost of the build and what they were like as contractors. This will help you make a decision on which contractor is best value for money as you can actually see the quality of their work and their relationship with their clients. You will then be confident in the choice you make. The old saying 'the cheapest is not always best' is absolutely true! Good luck with the build! George xxx Karen, £750 per square meter (even in this market) but you are right there can be an enormous range and difference in prices. The best way to decide is to go out to tender to a range of builders and when the prices come in arrange to visit at least 2 of their projects. This will give you an idea of the standard and quality of their work and make sure you have a conversation with the clients/owners to find out the true cost of the build and what they were like as contractors. This will help you make a decision on which contractor is best value for money as you can actually see the quality of their work and their relationship with their clients. You will then be confident in the choice you make. The old saying ‘the cheapest is not always best’ is absolutely true! Good luck with the build! George xxx

]]> By: Karen http://www.georgeclarke.co.uk/top-tips/top-tips-6-10/comment-page-1/#comment-197 Karen Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:46:35 +0000 http://dev.h2point0.co.uk/georgeclarke/?page_id=55#comment-197 Hi George My partner and I are new to the world of development but in the process of renovating what will be our family home and are now nearing the stage of putting the job out to tender. We've recently been rather disillusioned by our architect who informed us that our original budget (which we'd never discussed with him - oddly enough) would need to double. Having asked loads of people (builders, architects, quanitity surveyors) for a rough price per square metre, excluding fixtures and fittings, we've had answers ranging from £750 to £1500. How can we really know what is the true market price in the current economic climate, and how can we avoid being ripped off? thanks Karen PS Love the show - you're a genius! Hi George

My partner and I are new to the world of development but in the process of renovating what will be our family home and are now nearing the stage of putting the job out to tender. We’ve recently been rather disillusioned by our architect who informed us that our original budget (which we’d never discussed with him – oddly enough) would need to double.

Having asked loads of people (builders, architects, quanitity surveyors) for a rough price per square metre, excluding fixtures and fittings, we’ve had answers ranging from £750 to £1500. How can we really know what is the true market price in the current economic climate, and how can we avoid being ripped off?

thanks
Karen

PS Love the show – you’re a genius!

]]> By: George Clarke http://www.georgeclarke.co.uk/top-tips/top-tips-6-10/comment-page-1/#comment-149 George Clarke Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:22:39 +0000 http://dev.h2point0.co.uk/georgeclarke/?page_id=55#comment-149 Sharon...any chance you can email me a very quick plan of what you have?...if I get a minute I'll do a quick sketch over it and send back my thoughts...can't make any promises but I'll do everything I can to help. Even an old estate agent plan would do...whatever you have for me to sketch over. Send to george@georgeclarke.co.uk. George x Sharon…any chance you can email me a very quick plan of what you have?…if I get a minute I’ll do a quick sketch over it and send back my thoughts…can’t make any promises but I’ll do everything I can to help. Even an old estate agent plan would do…whatever you have for me to sketch over. Send to george@georgeclarke.co.uk. George x

]]> By: Sharon Black http://www.georgeclarke.co.uk/top-tips/top-tips-6-10/comment-page-1/#comment-147 Sharon Black Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:00:33 +0000 http://dev.h2point0.co.uk/georgeclarke/?page_id=55#comment-147 Hi George I can just hear you saying these tips! Love it. Love the show - highlight of my week (seriously, I have to get a life). Our house was built in 1870, but that's all I can find out about it. Very frustrating. I LOVE my house, except for the awful 70's kitchen extension (a true kitchen nightmare! Sorry Gordon). I've been agonizing over our kitchen extension design for 2 years now! Is the space big enough for an island (it's 5.4m x 3.5m), but it has to incorporate a dining table and w/m and dryer? Folding doors or 2 sets of french doors? Flooring....? The list goes on and on. We no longer have the budget to go with our original design - so are having to compromise massively - but I can't decide on final design. Would love your thoughts on my dilemma...I'll be watching whatever. Keep up the good work! Sharon x Hi George
I can just hear you saying these tips! Love it. Love the show – highlight of my week (seriously, I have to get a life). Our house was built in 1870, but that’s all I can find out about it. Very frustrating. I LOVE my house, except for the awful 70’s kitchen extension (a true kitchen nightmare! Sorry Gordon). I’ve been agonizing over our kitchen extension design for 2 years now! Is the space big enough for an island (it’s 5.4m x 3.5m), but it has to incorporate a dining table and w/m and dryer? Folding doors or 2 sets of french doors? Flooring….? The list goes on and on. We no longer have the budget to go with our original design – so are having to compromise massively – but I can’t decide on final design. Would love your thoughts on my dilemma…I’ll be watching whatever. Keep up the good work! Sharon x

]]> By: George Clarke http://www.georgeclarke.co.uk/top-tips/top-tips-6-10/comment-page-1/#comment-138 George Clarke Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:35:44 +0000 http://dev.h2point0.co.uk/georgeclarke/?page_id=55#comment-138 Hi gibarch...the architect is normally appointed separately to the builder (although with my practice we carry out a combined design and build service where needed so all services can be rolled into the same contract) but they are often separate. It is up to the architect how they charge their fees but it is common for it to be a percentage of the overall construction budget and the percentage varies depending on the scale and complexity of the build. The RIBA have a 'scale of recommended fees' which can advise clients on how much they would expect to pay. visit www.architecture.com for more info. If the project is very small scale (say up to £100,000) the architect can project manage the build for you. Any larger than that I would consider getting your own project manager on board. My employ my own experienced project managers who deliver my projects for me. It all depends on the project and the role/experience of your architect. Good luck with your project! George Hi gibarch…the architect is normally appointed separately to the builder (although with my practice we carry out a combined design and build service where needed so all services can be rolled into the same contract) but they are often separate. It is up to the architect how they charge their fees but it is common for it to be a percentage of the overall construction budget and the percentage varies depending on the scale and complexity of the build. The RIBA have a ’scale of recommended fees’ which can advise clients on how much they would expect to pay. visit http://www.architecture.com for more info. If the project is very small scale (say up to £100,000) the architect can project manage the build for you. Any larger than that I would consider getting your own project manager on board. My employ my own experienced project managers who deliver my projects for me. It all depends on the project and the role/experience of your architect. Good luck with your project! George

]]> By: gibarch http://www.georgeclarke.co.uk/top-tips/top-tips-6-10/comment-page-1/#comment-132 gibarch Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:22:12 +0000 http://dev.h2point0.co.uk/georgeclarke/?page_id=55#comment-132 In your tips there is the contract with the builder but how does it work with the architect.? Are they normally on a percentage of the project or a fixed fee. In your experience is it better to have a separate project manager or can the architect do this? In your tips there is the contract with the builder but how does it work with the architect.? Are they normally on a percentage of the project or a fixed fee. In your experience is it better to have a separate project manager or can the architect do this?

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