No. 2 | Know which corners to cut.
and which not to…
Where should you make savings on your project?
Architects are used to dealing with budgeting and will have project-specific suggestions of how to cut costs without being detrimental to the quality of the design.
If your budget is tight, here are some general ideas to reduce cost:
Invest in good design
We would say this, but drawings are relatively inexpensive, and professional involvement is usually exceptional value for money. It is cheaper to have drawn exactly what you want on paper to avoid costly mistakes on site.
Limit changes on site
Make decisions early. Leaving things to the last minute or making changes once on site usually increases costs.
Don’t change plumbing
Keep kitchens and bathrooms where they are to avoid costly plumbing changes. Avoid adding bathrooms, these can add £10,000 on to the cost.
Reduce structural changes
Keep structural openings small or use existing windows or doors to access an extension.
Use of the shelf joinery
Ask your architect to design with off the shelf storage joinery (for example Ikea or Tylko) as bespoke can be expensive, and often one of the first elements to be cut when cost saving.
And where you do use joinery, use it intelligently
Having said that joinery can be a cost-effective solution to space planning rooms, particularly in combination with an open mind about how you use spaces.
Keep rooms consise
Avoid a separate utility room or pantry.
Use standard kitchens
Ask your architect to design a kitchen based on standard carcasses, rather than buying an expensive branded kitchen.
Keep windows and doors small(er)
Avoid overly large glass windows and doors, as bespoke glass is expensive.
Be mindful when choosing finishes
Ask your architect for suggestions on alternative finishes and fittings that are similar to the those you like. Use colour to add character rather than surface finishes.
This also applies to external materials, such as our arrowhead dormer project where an unusual tile was used in a standard way.
Phasing
Consider phasing the project if there is an element that is easy to complete later.
DIY
Consider finishing the project yourself, for example painting and decorating. However be careful about DIY involvement in the build, as without experience this can escalate costs.