My renovation: How I finally found the right building project team
Part 5: If you're setting out on a home renovation project and searching for the right architect and builder for the job, be sure to avoid the mistake I made!
It’s a bit embarrassing to share this, especially since I write about home renovations for a living, but my husband Charlie and I ended up wasting over £3k working with an architecture firm that completely overlooked our budget. They designed something that was amazing, but it would have cost us double what we could afford. The architect was also unwilling to consider scaling down the project to fit our modest budget and didn’t want to project manage the scheme alongside us if we did. To say we were disappointed is an understatement! But as the saying goes, you live and you learn!
Fortunately, everything worked out in the end as we got to work with the fabulous architect George Vizor at Woodrow Vizor Architects. I had written about the architecture firm’s projects in the past for national newspapers and homes & interiors magazines, so I was already a fan of their signature style. Plus, as I had interviewed their clients for said magazine/newspaper features, I knew they came highly recommended. Before Charlie and I signed a contract, we had a long phone call with architect George Woodrow. We discussed the issues we faced with the previous architecture firm, our reasons for renovating, and our design requirements. Thankfully, George was willing to take us on as clients, but suggested we work with his business partner - also called George (it’s a bit confusing) - as she lives just 15 minutes away from us - making site visits and design meetings a lot easier to manage!
We couldn’t have been more pleased with George’s design – which was so much better than the first design. She was pragmatic, guiding us through what she thought we would be able to get for our budget. She advised we add as much as possible to the design in our planning application to that we at least had all the necessary approvals. Then, once obtained and we put the project out to tender, we could remove some of the elements from the design should the tender quote come in too high. Unfortunately the quote was over our budget, so we had to make some changes. The banquette seating is gone, the floor-to-ceiling wine rack is a no-go and, we’re not 100% sure that we’re going to afford the pergola (it all depends on how much we have at the end of the project as we’ve already had to dip into our contingency fund on structural remedial work, damp proofing and drainage - more on that in another newsletter). But the foundations for the pergola are in the contract so we can always retrofit it in a couple of years once the bank balance is out of the red!
When it came to choosing the right builder, we went with George’s recommendation after putting the project out to tender to two companies. It’s a relatively new company called Otterburn Construction, but the team has years of industry experience, so we knew we would be in safe hands. Before signing on the dotted line, we met with the team twice and even spoke with one of their previous clients to gauge the quality of work and their working relationship. The owners gave us a tour of their renovated family home - and it was super helpful to see the finished project firsthand. Otterburn’s original quote was higher than what we expected and, knowing we needed a substantial contingency fund for unforeseen issues - drainage, structural and damp issues – we approached them with our budget constraints. They were receptive and worked with us to find ways to reduce costs.
So far, touch wood, our experience with them has been fantastic. They are organised, punctual and work full days (I’ve never encountered tradespeople who work until 5:30 PM!) The quality of their work is 👌 and they’re also really considerate – tidying up at the end of each day! Again, I’ve never experienced this before. Maybe I’ve just been unlucky in the past!
While I was initially upset when the original architect fell through, I realise the turn of events led us to work with George and Otterburn. Every cloud has a silver lining, right? However, to ensure others don’t make the same mistake as we did, I thought it would be useful to share some top tips/ things I would have done differently when choosing my project team if I were to start over!
1. Define Your Needs.
Before you approach any architect, make sure you have a clear outline of your project requirements, budget, and timeline and document this in an email for reference if any issues arrive.
2. Research.
Search for architects who specialise in the type of project you have. Check their portfolio to see if their style matches your vision. Also ask what the costs of those projects were. If the costs are high, it’s likely that they only work on high-end projects.
3. Ask for Recommendations.
Talk to friends and family - especially those who live close by and who have completed a renovation. Ask them if they would recommend their project team. Personal experiences are usually a good starting point for finding the right architect and/or builder!
4. Meet with your potential architect and builder to discuss your project.
We met with both our architect and our builders multiple times before signing on the dotted line. We wanted to make sure we would get on with everyone, and to ensure they would listen to our requirements and that we would be able to communicate well with them throughout the build. Things go wrong on a project, mistakes will be made - we’re only human after all - but it’s how those errors are addressed that is important. Thankfully, I know if we have any issues, I would feel confident in talking through my concerns with our project team.
Thank you for reading this newsletter. Are you planning a renovation, or about to embark on a project, make sure you subscribe to Nest magazine below to ensure you never miss an issue of our My renovation series.