For most people a home extension, renovation or new building project is a chance to put a personal stamp on a house/property. This should be a joyful, exciting occasion with  results that meet the needs of the people living in the building. Unfortunately we at House2Home are seeing a rise in the number of people contacting us with a view to finishing  projects that other contractors have already semi-completed. Some contractors are solely interested in starting and finishing a project, minimizing the amount of time it takes to reduce labour costs.

The reality is that it will cost the home-owner a lot more to alter/re-do existing work than it would to ensure the planning stage is implemented correctly. Similarly House2Home has seen a sharp increase in the number of enquiries regarding rogue traders: people who start a building/renovation project, after a payment is made they fail to return to complete. Usually upon inspection we find that sub-standard materials and poor workmanship dictates the demolition of the work completed and the project must begin from scratch.

There is a way to ensure that this does not happen to you……..

When choosing your building contractor for your home extension, renovation or new build project, check the following documentation to ensure that the company is tax compliant & fully insured. You should also check that the company is registered for any other relevant authority for specific measures such as insulation. It may seem tedious but it is worth it in the long run. Ask the company for copies of the following documentation:

1. Tax Clearance Certificate
2. Certificate of Insurance
3. Membership numbers of relevant Authorities (e.g. SEAI, NSAI, RECI, RGI)
4. Always double check the documentation with the relevant authority

This will ensure the company that you are considering is legitimate and competent in the works that they propose.

The House2Home Model…..

House2Home offers clients a personalised service, with dedicated contracts managers on site, and customer service managers located at the showrooms. We ensure that there are communication channels available at all stages of the project. This is how we manage a home extension, renovation or new build project project:

1. Planning stage: We meet with the Client, Architect, Quantity Surveyor and/or Engineer. At the planning stage we discuss the requirements/ reasons behind the project. The reasons for the project are personal and individual and can include requirements such as to enhance a living space, to extend and create more space, to modernise an outdated dwelling or to adapt a home to meet the current & future needs of the home-owner. At this stage, the current building structure will also be assessed and any planning permission will also be sought. The client will inform the team of their budget for the project, which will allow the design stage to begin.

2. Design Stage: At this stage the assembled team will work together to create a design that meets the needs outlined in the planning stage. When designing the finished project the following needs to be taken into consideration: Practicality of the design; is the finished project relevant to the end user, Feasibility of the design; is the project within the budget constraints, Aesthetics; are the final finishes being chosen in line with the overall design of the house and does the client agree with the designer, Future-Proof; are the measures being applied going to be able to adapt to new technologies as they become available. At this stage, we give clients a disruption report & schedule of works. These documents outline whether the property will be habitable for all or some of the project, and the key stages of the project. A professional services contract is also provided for both parties protection.

3. Construction Stage: With concrete design and planning completed, the project would be geared for starting. House2Home introduce the client to the Contracts Manager, who will be the permanent point of contact on site. The contracts manager will delegate to a crew of tradesmen and specialist sub contractors, and ensure the timely completion of the contract. Regular site visits will take place with the team of professionals and the client.Completion Stage: When the contract has ended, and the client moves back in to the home, there are still some formalities that are necessary. First and foremost there is certification and warranties to be presented to the client. Any grant aid that has been applied for will require a declaration of works certificate. The client may also present a list of snags that the contractor will return to rectify. These snags will normally present themselves once the dwelling is ‘lived in’ so a period of time may pass before the client notices them.