Loft Conversion - APT Renovation, Simply Extensions, Doran Bros Post Reply

[lizbiz100]

We are getting quotes to have our loft converted and have narrowed down to the above companies. Just wanted to see if anyone had any views on any of them?

Thanks!

[jumping_jose]

Hi lizbiz100,

I've just seen your post and was wondering if you had received any feedback on Doran Bros as yet? I am also considering using them for a loft/side return, however looking back at previous posts on here and other sites they seem to get 'mixed' feedback.

JJ

[lizbiz100]

Hi Jose,
No i haven't had anything back on them yet. Have you heard anything or made any decisions yet?

L

[jumping_jose]

We have seen a number of builders (a few from recommendations on NVN) and are still waiting for some of the quotes to come back. We have received a few already and are really shocked at how different some of the figures have been for the same brief. We are looking at doing a double loft conversion with bathroom and a side return extension with refurbishing throughout and some of the prices already received are over £200,000 apart! We expected there to be some difference in price, but didn't think it would be quite that much!

The side return is the part that seems to be the big difference in cost from builder to builder. Would anyone be happy to share their thoughts/experience on how much a standard side return/loft conversion has cost them?

[tooposhtopush]

These are my experiences:

1. you SO get what you pay for. Cheaper builders will cut corners or up-sell later. Don't go for lowest quotes.

2. always always always get references for both the firm and the builders that were used. Go and see work. Talk to happy customers. Some firms sub-contract so make sure that you know who will be doing the working. Also check where the responsibility lies if it goes wrong. We know of horror stories where firms simply pass you to a sub-contractor if the work is shoddy.

3. never ever pay up front. ever.

4. get a surveyor or a project manager to agree milestones and the payment amounts on these milestones, never deviate

5. put everything you can think of in writing, specify ever detail and be so incredibly organised over your requirements that you feel you're being uber-fussy. I have had three friends go through kitchen extensions in the last 12 months and EVERY SINGLE ONE has had a dispute with their builder. A major dispute. These are smart clever people who just didn't realise that if you don't explicitly state X then X will not happen.

6. Accept that it will be a nightmare. It will.

7. Enjoy it at the end. It'll be worth it!