SW Loft Conversion Advice Locked

[mertonmum.lmart]

Does anyone have any experience with Leighwood Lofts or Landmark Lofts? We are looking to do a loft conversion on our maisonette and would like a good quality job that doesn't break the bank with reliable people! Any suggestions for other companies is also much appreciated!

[Happy mummy sw14]

Don't know if you've done your loft yet but we had a very bad experience with landmark lofts and I've never heard of Leigh lofts I'm afraid. Also my recommendation is use a builder recommended directly and not have to pay additional fees for a 'loft company' as they just subcontract to builders anyway. Not much help but good luck anyway.

[belld]

Having recently met with MoreSpace at my house - they subsequently emailed me to inform me they would not be able to provide me with a quote.

Loft companies give a 'reasonable' product for the price. Within their price they include for Planning/PD, engineer drawings, building inspector, and a letter to tell your neighbours that they will put right any damage to their property (a very grey area re Party Walls - a legal process re use of the Party Wall).

If you really are on a tight budget - you may have no choice here. the loft will look nice internally, probably keep the water out. lets face it, the majority of clients for loft companies must be happy (?), otherwise they wouldn't be in business.

With any loft company, and in general on construction projects - you get good and bad teams on site. Most of the loft companies have around 20-40 projects on the go at any time. they will not commit to dates contractually, and this is something you have to bear in mind when planning your project. If you are happy that they overrun by 1 week/1 month or more, then this might just work for you. that said - they can turn these round quickly (a good thing?).

In order to be best in control - my biased perspective is to appoint your own team of professionals, who will then provide Design options to make best use of space, advise you on key design items (thermal, lighting, regs, heights, planning or Permitted Development).
When a loft is added to a property it is important to get the whole accommodation balance addressed - to maximise the property value.
you (and your architect) would then have a set of drawings to invite loft companies, or builders, to price the project.
these drawings form the basis of the contract, and defend your corner (eg 16 light fittings in loft known from day one, not the estimated 8 which has to grow on site at client cost).

Most clients perceive that a professional team adds costs. I would say they help to mitigate cost escalation, and help define key design elements from day one to ensure the client knows what they are getting (quality benchmark). Having a professional team may mean a number of the loft specialists will not be interested in pricing for the job.

Watch out for Party Walls, this process can take a long time and give rise to some serious delays if not approached correctly, legally.

Hope this helps.

Atelierdb.com

[Montypumpkin]

My friend had a terrible experience with Landmark which is why I didn't use them in the end. They've also got a bit of a zero tolerance policy on negative feedback (her post on here about them was removed until it was checked if she was legit and even when she was she was warned against libel and now the post is locked so make of that what you will: http://www.nappyvalleynet.com/mums/view ... 89&t=43666

My plans are currently with the council, in the end we hired a structutal engineer who we will be using to do all the followng pre-build paperwork essentials:
- Help with layout and design
- Draw up all plans and submit for planning application
- Draw up all structural and technical drawings so we can tender for builders ourselves
- Do the building regs documents for builders - not always strictly necessary but his price to include was reasonable
- Do party wall notices and paperwork

This has cost £3000. Architects are closer to region of £5000- £6000, so it was not an option for us.

We felt the one-stop shop approach not only costs more but research of people who had used them felt it left you a little bit beholdant if things start to go amiss and there is a middleman which can often be more unhelpful and a barrier to problem solving than if you have direct relationship with the builder yourself.

All still to play for at this stage of course, but so far so good and we only have to deal with one fully trained chap, no sales nonsense and have the freedom to interview and select our own builders who can do it (hopefully!) In our very tight time frame. Will let you know how it goes!

[Nims]

If Landmark Lofts are getting bad reviews, then why are they prominent in the advertising space on this forum - I can see their logo and 'click here quoting 'Nappy' to receive an inspirational design consultation' flashing away on the top right hand corner. Surely if feedback is not good, then they should not be endorsed by NPV? Annabel, your thoughts?

[Happy mummy sw14]

If Landmark Lofts are getting bad reviews, then why are they prominent in the advertising space on this forum - I can see their logo and 'click here quoting 'Nappy' to receive an inspirational design consultation' flashing away on the top right hand corner. Surely if feedback is not good, then they should not be endorsed by NPV? Annabel, your thoughts?

Just like Monty pumpkins friend I had a negative comment removed from the site about landmark lofts on another post (due to possibly not being a real person). My personal experience with them is that they will use the threat of legal action if you write a bad reveiw in order to get it removed and I understand from another NVN poster that they have told Annabel that too, so it seems that NVN are in an awkward position. Annabel told me a would need to agree to indemnify NVN against legal costs. Anyway I have never written anything that wasn't true but think it is important people know what they are dealing with. I said the same thing to Annabel about the advertising but I'm not sure we actually got to an answer.

[legalconsultant]

Tricky stuff, building work. Contracts even trickier, esp when they go pear shaped (or threaten to).

I'm a construction lawyer and happy to assist with any issues with contractors or professional team. I recently left employment to start up my own consultancy. Search for "legal consultant" on NVN and you'll see my original post + subsequent post. Feel free to PM me.

[Architecture_Geek]

I have to say how surprised I am at the bitchy comments that are always being thrown around about loft / home companies on here and quite honestly it does look a little strange.

mertonmum.lmart I remember you commenting a few times previously, possibly under similar named accounts about Landmark and I did email you to find out more as I was thinking of using them at the time but you never emailed back? It seems you are doing this to stir up conversations that other fakers can piggy back off, may I ask are you a company or even a troll??

I have to say in Landmark’s defense after my friend had a great experience with them, I went onto complete a project with them end of last year and found them very professional. They must do many projects a year of which I understand many people are happy but we only ever hear about negatives on here like everything else it’s actually quite sad. Likewise all these other loft companies I’m sure too do great work, I met a few of them last year, they were all lovely and honestly it was hard to pick between them! There are always going to be a few snide comments from fakers and over emotionals (who of which don’t ever go into detail about their ‘issues’….strange?)

Montypumpkin, you say your ‘friend’ had a terrible experience, would love to know more? Happy mummy sw14 please go into detail about your bad experience, I would love to know more?? legalconsultant why are you even on this feed, stop selling your services and get off NV!

Of course building work will always have issues, I was pregnant at the time and it was very stressful but everyone involved did their best, if you don’t want the stress then don’t have it done, simple!

Rant over, but seriously less of the negative I want to actually enjoy these threads not throw my cuppa at the screen! Stressed Mummy.com grrr

[Montypumpkin]

Woah, I think you need to chill out! This was a matter of fact thread about feedback on specific companies the OP had requested not a random bitching session.

Seeing as you've had a good experience you shouldn't be getting stressed at other people voicing their alternative experiences, just be happy yours was good and share it for balance, that's what NVN is here for. What is your vested interest in flying in to save all of these loft companies anyway, that seems odd to me!

I posted the link to my friends post which had about as much detail as she was allowed to write, as explained she had gone in to much more detail but had her post removed. She is most certainly not fake, it's ridiculous to suggest all these people are faking negative reviews.

And before you ask she had her second baby last week and has better things to do than re-post or substantiate what was a very stressful time for her. I saw the OP and thought it pertinent to speak up as her issues were very current. Maybe they are having a "blip" since you had yours done, who knows but let's not make people feel like they are being out of order for sharing views good or bad. Let's keep the honesty, I for one appreciate it!

[Architecture_Geek]

My case in point though Montypumpkin, your 'friend' has feedback yet you do not have that experience. I completely agree let's keep honesty, I for one would also appreciate that!

The reason I do feel so strongly about this is because I didn't go ahead with a service recently because of hearsay on here and members comments where 'friends' did not enjoy the experience and I have to say I deeply regret it since I went for another company and the service wasn't great. You have to agree that these mixed messages from people's 'friends' are causing people like me to make the wrong decisions?

[Montypumpkin]

Sorry but I disagree with you there. Are you seriously trying to blame your poor experience of a company on feedback from here rather than the company itself? How bizarre! It was entirely your choice, you can't be pressured by a forum of opinions for goodness sake, it's just other people's experiences. Take some responsibility for your own choice. And what would lead you to believe the company that you believe you were wrongly steered away from would have been any better?

Giving you the benefit of the doubt here, I am sure you did more investigation than just blindly taking feedback from people you don't know on a forum before making your choice as most informed people do, and if you were unsatisfied then I'm sure if someone asked you about it you would give them the benefit of your experience so a) they can make an informed choice and b) companies do not get away with consistently bad service - which is good for all involved.

You also still seem to be insinuating that my friend's experience is not genuine just because it didn't happen to me, I must be lying. I saw what she went through and linked to her post for accuracy so no mixed messages there. Someone asked about a company a very close friend had experience, I shared it as it was relevant, the end. If you find the negative reviews on forums to be unfair and the positive reviews unhelpful then, er, don't read them?!

[falconmum]

So?? All things considered... how much does a side extension cost?? And while I am at it, how about a loft conversion?

[Montypumpkin]

Haha! My research has offered up circa £60k for loft including fixtures and fittings, so this is what we are budgeting.

[csml]

Loft companies tend to quote around the £40-45k mark, although we had a qoute for £80k from one!! Instructing a builder direct might cost slightly less but you'll need to factor in the cost of an architect on top as loft companies tend to have in-house people to do the plans.

Often the following are not included in the price so you'll need to budget for these on top:
Planning fees
Building control fees
Party wall surveyor costs
Decoration (including tiling)
Bathroom suite/ tiles etc
French doors/ Juliette balcony
non-standard windows or doors
built in wardrobes or cupboards
Flooring/ carpets
Parking permits

All in all I think £50-60k for a loft is about right.

[Architecture_Geek]

Montypumpkin of course not but feedback on websites obviously sways the decision slightly if you are on the fence and I'm sure any one can relate to this in some way. Don't you think it's funny though that we haven't yet heard back from mertonmum.lmart or Happy mummy sw14?

CSML is on the ball there, ours was around 45-50k all in but it really does depend on your property and the kind of work you need doing. Also difference between going with a builder or project manager and we felt safer going with pm knowing they had the contacts, insurance, guarantees etc.