the process

homextend offers you the ability to tailor the services that you require to how you require them.  To do so, homextend offers you a free informal consultation where we can talk through your project, and give you advice on where you will require, and not require our help and expertise.

Please refer to the permitted development page for further information regarding projects that fall within the conditions and limits of Permitted Development.

The process below is typical for a project that requires full Planning and Building Regulations approval.

The process:

• Free Informal Consultation -
  An opportunity to talk through your ideas and for us to give you some free advice.  If you wish we will provide you with a basic quote for our services which will be followed up in the post with a detailed quote including Local Authority fees for both the Planning Application and the Building Regulations Application, other specialists fees (if required), an approximation of the building cost, and even a brief record of our conversation, detailing what your aspirations are for the project, and issues you may have and what our services will entail.
• The Survey - If you’re happy with our basic quote (it will never increase) on the day, we will carry out a full digitally measured survey of the property.  If you’d like to think about things, maybe even get some other quotes, we are more than happy to call back another day to carry out the survey.  Remember, if you do receive a cheaper quote, please let us know, we are always more than happy to ensure the cheaper quote you have received will deliver your project as you require.  And if it does, we will always match a like for like quote.
• The Design - You will then receive a number of design options, either by post or e-mail (whichever you prefer), allowing you to choose your favourite.  These will then be developed into preliminary Planning Application drawings and forwarded to yourselves.  You may then make any changes to the design which will then be adopted into the finalised design.
• Planning Application Drawings and Submittal - Final Planning Application drawings will then be forwarded for you to approve and return, together with the agreed fee and the Local Authority fees as described in your detailed quote.  Upon which the Planning Application will be submitted on your behalf. 
• Detailed Design - Whilst we await the decision from the Planning Department (which will take between 6-8 weeks), we will continue our discussions with yourselves regarding the detailed design and specification of your project.  We have never had a Planning Application refused, and will always attend meetings and provide extra drawings if required to gain Planning approval to your satisfaction – at no extra cost to yourselves.
• Building Regulations Application Drawings and Submittal - Once we have received Planning approval we will forward Building Regulations drawings including any detailed design changes that have been made, for you to either make any further changes, or approve and return, together with the agreed fee and the Local Authority fees as described in your detailed quote. 
• Construction - Depending on the type of Building Regulations Application required, once the drawings have been submitted you are free to commence building work after 24 hours.  More typically, building work can start between 2-3 weeks after submittal.  Again, we will always liaise and provide extra information to Building Control to ensure Building Regulations approval is obtained without any extra cost to yourselves.