Exclusive Services for homeowners

Discovery & Strategic Alignment

Embarking on a home extension or major renovation is a significant investment, often filled with unknowns. Our Initial "Discovery & Strategic Alignment" service is specifically designed for homeowners like you, providing clarity and confidence right from the very start. It's your essential first step to building your dream space without the stress and unexpected costs.

What it is:
This isn't just a brief chat; it's a dedicated, expert-led consultation focused entirely on your extension project. We'll dive deep into your vision, understand your aspirations, and meticulously uncover potential challenges unique to your property and plans. This initial phase lays the crucial groundwork before any major decisions or expenses are made.

What you gain:

Clarified Vision & Objectives: We'll help you precisely define what you want to achieve with your extension, ensuring your vision is clear and achievable.

Early Risk Identification: A focused look at potential challenges specific to home renovations, such as tricky ground conditions, drainage issues, access limitations, or crucially, the presence of asbestos (common in homes built before 2000). Identifying these early saves you money and stress later.

Understanding Your Responsibilities (including CDM 2015 simplified): We'll explain your role as the 'Client' under UK construction regulations, particularly if you'll be using more than one contractor (e.g., a builder + plumber/electrician). This ensures you're protected and compliant from day one.

Key Stakeholder Guidance: Understand who else you'll need on your team (e.g., architect, structural engineer) and how to ensure everyone works together effectively.

Personalised "Project Foundation" Proposal: Receive a clear, tailored outline of the next steps for your full project planning, specific to your home and your extension.

Your Investment for Discovery & Strategic Alignment:

This initial, high-value service is offered at a fixed fee of £500 

This investment covers our dedicated time for in-depth consultation, preliminary research specific to your property, and the creation of your personalized project outline.

It provides invaluable clarity and peace of mind before you commit to larger expenses like architectural drawings or builder quotes.

Should you decide to proceed with our comprehensive "Project Foundation" service for detailed planning, this initial fee will be credited against its total cost, ensuring your upfront investment directly contributes to your overall project success.

Time Allocation: This focused phase typically involves approximately 8-10 dedicated hours of our time, including initial discussions, any preliminary desktop research, and preparing your tailored next-steps proposal.

Project Foundation: Your Complete Blueprint for a Stress-Free Home Extension
You've got the dream, and we've helped you clarify the vision with our "Discovery & Strategic Alignment" service. Now, it's time to transform that vision into a meticulous, actionable plan. Our Project Foundation full package is designed to be your comprehensive guide, ensuring your home extension or major renovation is planned with precision, adheres to regulations, and avoids costly surprises.

What the Full "Project Foundation" Package Includes for Your Home:
Building on the insights from our initial "Discovery & Strategic Alignment," we will deliver a comprehensive planning phase through the following core services:

Dedicated Project Planning Workshop:

What it is: A focused, collaborative session (or a series of meetings) where we delve into the specifics of your extension. We work with you to clearly define the detailed scope, agree on precise objectives (e.g., "more natural light in the kitchen," "a seamless flow to the garden"), and establish all desired deliverables for your new space.

Benefit to You: Ensures your vision is translated into a tangible plan. We iron out details you might not have considered, preventing misunderstandings with designers and builders. You'll have absolute clarity on what your extension will achieve.

Comprehensive Risk Assessment & Mitigation Strategy (with Focus on Homeowners' Concerns):

What it is: We conduct a thorough analysis of potential risks specific to your property and proposed extension. This goes beyond basic construction hazards to include:

Structural Integrity: Assessing potential challenges with existing foundations or walls.

Site-Specific Issues: Identifying drainage problems, access limitations for materials, or unique ground conditions.

Asbestos Management: Given many homes in Mansfield and across the UK built before 2000 contain asbestos, we'll guide you through the initial identification process (e.g., advising on surveys) and establish a clear, compliant strategy for its safe management or removal, crucial for both safety and legal compliance.

Neighbourly Impact: Planning to mitigate potential issues like noise, dust, or access for neighbours.

Supply Chain & Budget Volatility: Identifying potential risks to material availability or cost fluctuations.

Benefit to You: Provides invaluable peace of mind. By identifying and planning for these risks before they become problems, we save you significant stress, time, and potentially tens of thousands in unforeseen costs, ensuring your family's safety and legal compliance.

Preliminary Project Schedule:

What it is: A clear, phased timeline outlining the key milestones for your extension, from design approvals and builder selection through to construction phases and completion.

Benefit to You: Gives you a realistic expectation of the project's duration. This roadmap helps you plan your life around the build, understand key decision points, and monitor your builder's progress effectively.

Resource Allocation Framework (Guidance for Builder & Trade Selection):

What it is: We help you understand the types of resources (people, equipment, materials) your project will need and advise on the sequence. This includes guidance on selecting a reputable main builder and, if required, specialist trades (e.g., plumbers, electricians) if you plan to manage elements yourself.

Benefit to You: Empowers you to make informed choices about your building team. It helps prevent over-commitment, optimises your budget by avoiding unnecessary hires, and ensures you have the right people and materials when you need them.

Initial Stakeholder Communication Plan Outline:

What it is: A structured plan for how information will flow between you, your chosen builder, architects, neighbours, and any other key parties involved in your extension.

Benefit to You: Fosters clear, effective communication from the outset. This minimises misunderstandings, reduces disputes, and helps keep everyone aligned and informed throughout the project.

Guidance on Homeowner's CDM 2015 Responsibilities:

What it is: We provide clear, plain-English guidance on your specific duties as the 'Client' under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. This is especially vital if your project involves more than one contractor (e.g., a main builder plus a separate electrician or plumber).

Benefit to You: Ensures you are legally compliant, protecting you from potential fines or liabilities related to health and safety on your property. We help you understand what's required for a safe site and how to work effectively with your appointed Principal Designer and Principal Contractor.

Your Investment in a Confident Start:
The Project Foundation full package is a one-time investment that saves you significant time, stress, and money in the long run by preventing costly mistakes and delays.

This fee is tailored to the specific size and complexity of your home extension. It provides transparent, predictable pricing for a comprehensive set of planning deliverables.

Essential Oversight Tier
Focus: Regular check-ins and fundamental project health monitoring. This tier is designed for projects that need a professional "second pair of eyes" and consistent reassurance without daily intensive management.

What's Included:

Monthly Progress Review: A dedicated meeting (virtual or on-site where feasible) to discuss overall project status.

Report Review: Analysis of your builder's/contractor's submitted progress reports.

Key Issue Identification: Flagging potential concerns and deviations from the plan.

Email & Phone Support: Direct access for queries and minor guidance.

Time Allocation: Approximately 5-8 dedicated hours per month of our expert time.

Ideal for: Smaller, less complex projects, or clients who are comfortable with primary oversight but value professional review and input.

Dedicated Partnership Tier
Focus: Comprehensive, integrated operational leadership, almost like having a dedicated project manager on your team, but with the flexibility of an external partner.

What's Included:

Frequent Site Presence: Regular, intensive site visits for direct oversight and problem-solving.

In-depth Operational Management: Full control of day-to-day project operations to ensure adherence to plan, quality, and safety standards.

Detailed Budget Tracking: Close monitoring of project expenditure against the budget to prevent overruns.

Full Contractor & Subcontractor Management: Comprehensive coordination, performance review, and issue resolution with all on-site teams.

Significant Client Liaison: Proactive and continuous communication with your end client, managing expectations and providing detailed updates.

Robust Issue Resolution: Lead and facilitate solutions for complex challenges that arise during the construction phase.

Time Allocation: Approximately 16-24+ dedicated hours per month (adjusted based on the specific complexity and intensity of your project).

Ideal for: Large or highly complex projects, or clients who require almost full-time expertise and peace of mind without the commitment of an in-house hire.

Hourly Rate: For any specific tasks or ad-hoc support required outside the scope of your agreed monthly retainer, we offer a clear hourly rate of £60 - £120 per hour, ensuring complete transparency and flexibility.

The Project Guardian retainer model ensures your project benefits from consistent, expert oversight, proactive problem-solving, and seamless management from start to finish, protecting your investment and delivering successful outcomes.

Active Management Support Tier
Focus: Proactive management and closer operational involvement to keep your project actively on track and mitigate emerging issues.

What's Included:

Bi-Weekly or Weekly Site Meetings/Progress Reviews: More frequent engagement with your project and teams.

Detailed Schedule Tracking & Updates: Meticulous monitoring of the project timeline and adjusting as necessary to maintain momentum.

Continuous Risk Monitoring & Mitigation: Proactive identification and handling of evolving risks, including specific site factors like noise, dust containment, access routes, and management of any identified asbestos-related activities.

Builder/Contractor Liaison: Acting as a professional intermediary to ensure clear communication and adherence to plan.

Basic Subcontractor Coordination Support: Assistance in aligning specialist trades with the overall project flow.

Time Allocation: Approximately 10-15 dedicated hours per month of our expert time.

Ideal for: Medium-sized projects, busy contractors managing multiple sites, or homeowners seeking more hands-on guidance and active issue resolution to reduce their personal involvement.