AVOID COSTLY MISTAKES WITH YOUR EXTENSION PROJECT
Get support from a range of construction professionals
Without breaking the bank, or getting conflicting advice, or fear of rude & unhelpful responses as seen in many free Facebook groups!
Struggling to progress your extension project alone & don't want to spend a fortune on professional help?
Unsure what to do when
For many homeowners extending is a new experience so it's fairly common to be unsure of the steps you need to take, and who you need to employ, and when.
Not sure what approvals you need?
This catches a lot of people out!
Many homeowners, and in my experience even builders, are unsure of exactly what can be built under permitted development and what requires planning permission.
Concerned about design / build cost?
If you're worried about costs you're not alone! A house extension is a pricey investment! Getting drawings done & planning approval can be expensive. Then the build is massively expensive.
You're not alone in your struggles and concerns
I see many people trying to "go it alone" online every day, and that's also where I see the many avoidable mistakes that are being made that end up costing time & money, and bring a lot of stress.
Mistakes such as -
Thinking their project doesn't need planning permission.
This one comes up repeatedly!
Have you ever been told by a builder that your extension doesn't need planning permission, when in fact, it does?
Don't leave it to chance as you could risk having to take down what you build if you can't obtain permission for it.
We'll help you get clear on what you need to obtain permission for, and what permission(s) you need before you get too far along and waste time and money.
Not submitting the correct information with planning applications.
Each application has its own set of circumstances meaning there are a multitude of documents which may be required to support any given planning application.
If you submit yours without the correct documentation your applictaion will be delayed.
Avoid these delays by getting guidance on what you need for your specific project.
Using inappropriate materials for the construction of their home.
Not many people outside of the construction industry, and even many in it, don't have a thorough understanding of how older buildings work.
Buildings such as oak framed houses, or solid walled houses, need to be treated differently to modern cavity wall or timber framed buildings.
Using modern materials on older properties means you risk causing more issues than you solve, especially relating to problems with moisture, damp and rot.
Our architect has many years experience of working with historic buildings and can advise on appropriate methods of upgrading these types of houses.
Don't build in issues for down the line!
Let us help you get it right first time.
Not having a standard form of construction contract in place
This is possibly the biggest cause of problems that I see online on a daily basis.
Every project should have some form of contract, and not one provided by the builder which is not impartial.
Standard forms of contract protect both parties and set out clearly the parameters of the project.
Why would you risk your investment of thousands, or hundreds of thousands of pounds of your hard earned money on a building project and not have a tried and tested contract in place to help protect you?
Avoid these mistakes by getting guidance from our team of construction professionals without spending a fortune on fees.
Imagine if you could...
Have a clear picture of what you need to do
Imagine having clear guidance on what you need to do and who you need to employ, & when, so that your project runs smoothly & without unnecessary delay, and so you're not stressed out about trying to go it alone.
Know what approvals you need
Imagine knowing exactly what application(s) and what documents and drawings you need to submit so you don't waste time and money on the wrong application(s), and the application(s) can progress without unnecessary delay.
Have low cost advice AND a handle on build costs from the start
Imaging getting advice throughout your project from various construction professionals, as needed, at a very low cost. Also getting advice on the cost of your build at various stages, discussing what design and materials changes etc could impact the costs and moving forward with a design that aligns with your budget requirements.
INTRODUCING!!!
The D.R.E.A.M UK Home Extension Support Network
coming to you in January 2024
is your low cost support system formed of various construction professionals, including an architect, a builder, a quantity surveyor and a party wall surveyor to help advise you on your project via a dedicated Facebook group & frequent live Zoom calls, plus many other resources and bonuses (depending on when you sign up).
You will benefit from...
An architect's input our architect (me - Charlotte Knott) will work through your designs with you to ensure you make the most of your home and advise you of any changes you might need to make to comply with building regulations etc.
A builder's advice if you're determined to DIY all, or part, of your build then our builder will be on hand to answer any building related questions you have so you don't make mistakes with the practical side of things.
Costing advice and guidance get an idea on what your project might costs early on from our quantity surveyor. Knowing the likely costs early in the design process will allow you to tweak the designs as necessary to suit your budget, and will prevent you from getting a huge shock once you receive quotes from builders!
Party Wall advice the Party Wall Act is not very well known amongst homeowners, but can have a huge impact on your project, and your stress levels, if you are not aware of what you need to do. Neighbours can be difficult and getting this wrong could cause you project delays & large costs if you have to get multiple party Wall surveyors involved.
A safe space to ask your questions Just like my free Facebook group (UK Home Extension Community) the private members only Facebook group will be a safe space to ask your questions. No sarcastic or nasty responses will be tolerated, and no question will be considered a silly question. All questions are welcomed and will be answered with respect.
Live Zoom calls multiple times per week I, Charlotte Knott, architect, will host a number of live calls on Zoom each week where you can drop in & talk face to face with me about your extension project, ask any questions you might have, get any advice you need and work though any designs issues you might be having.
Access to all this at a fraction of the costs of hiring an architect on a 1:1 basis for 2 hours every month! all these professionals will be on hand to guide you through your project at a frankly miniscule investment. The costs is such that it should allow anyone to have access to the guidance needed to help make your home extension project a success.
Why the D.R.E.A.M UK Home Extension Support Network?
For over 5 years now I have been helping people inside my own Facebook group, and inside other peoples' groups, and I absolutely love it!
But I see a need which goes beyond a free Facebook group.
I see a need for low cost, quick access to a range of construction professionals to assist homeowners like you with your extension projects by providing clear advice on any aspect of your project.
Too often I see people trying to go it alone to save money, however, in doing so it often ends up costing them more to put right mistakes that are made along the way, and the process definitely becomes more stressful than it needs to be.
I also see people asking questions inside Facebook groups and getting so many conflicting, and often incorrect, answers that they end up more confused than before they asked. This doesn't have to be the case.
Or, worse than that, as many of these groups are not properly moderated, they get abusive and sarcastic responses to their questions which leave them feeling stupid and attacked.
These mistakes & this stress can be avoided with the right guidance & support, and a properly moderated space, that is why I have created the D.R.E.A.M UK Home Extension Support Network - so you can get support all the way through your project, as much or as little as you need, from various experienced professionals, without fear of judgement, and without breaking the bank, to help prevent you making the same mistakes I see many people make when they try to save money and do it all themselves, whilst leaving you with more money to invest in the actual build than if you hire, for example, an architect in the traditional manner.
Here is the breakdown...
Community
You'll be part of a dedicated Facebook group where you can share your progress and receive support daily from our team of professionals.
Live calls
There will be multiple Zoom calls each week for you to jump on to to ask your questions, get advice and support in a face to face chat with our architect.
Team of Experts
Get guidance from our team of experts including an architect, a builder, a quantity surveyor and a party wall surveyor, plus more guest experts as required.
Advice
Ensuring you make the most of your home & that you submit the right documents & applications for your specific project.
Support
There will be a growing library of checklists, worksheets, videos etc providing you with the tools you need to help your project run smoothly.
Flexibility
You can drop in and out of the support network as you like, at any stage of your project. Join for 1 month and get loads of guidance, then decide whether to stay longer or not, or join us again at a later stage if you need.
Plus you get these Bonuses
Bonus No.1
1:1 support, either -
1 day of 1:1 support via Zoom from our architect, split into chunks totalling 6 hours of support to be taken as you like throughout your 12 months in the membership, when you pay in full upfront for 12 months membership - worth £600.00, OR
A half day day of 1:1 support via Zoom from our architect, split into chunks totalling 3 hours of support to be taken as you like throughout your 6 months in the membership, when you pay in full upfront for 6 months membership - worth £300.00, OR
1.5 hours of 1:1 support via Zoom from our architect, split into chunks totalling 1.5 hours of support to be taken as you like throughout your 3 months in the membership, when you pay in full upfront for 3 months membership - worth £150.00
Bonus No.2
Consultation & action plan, either -
1 Hour 1:1 Consultation & action plan with me (architect) to be taken when you start the programme, including any of or all of the following, depending on where you are at in your journey -
1) Design review / ideas to ensure you're get the best from your extension designs, sketching initial ideas or tweaking your existing designs as necessary.
2) Ensuring you're on the correct route for approval, whether that be permitted development, planning approval, listed building consent etc.
3) Discussing the documents and drawings you need for your specific project.
4) Reviewing your submission to look over your drawings and documents & application form as necessary to make sure you submit everything that's required in the format required.
5) Forming your strategy for how to progress your project - what you need to do, who you need to consult and when & followed up with an action plan to guide you through your specific journey when you pay in full upfront for 12 months membership - worth £300, OR
A half hour 1:1 call with me (architect) to -
1) discuss your requirements for your project and
2) Map out the correct route for approval for your project, whether that be permitted development, planning approval, listed building consent etc.
3) Discussing the documents and drawings you need for your specific project.
when you pay in full upfront for 3 or 6 months membership - worth £200
Bonus No.3
Refine Your Design, including -
1) A half hour phone conversation / Skype or Zoom call with our architect, when you're ready to discuss your requirements and any designs you already have.
2) I will sketch over the plans & elevations you send to me. These plans & elevations can be as existing, or proposals you have already prepared yourself, or have had prepared by someone else. I will then sketch over these showing how your floor plans & elevations can be designed or how existing designs can be improved to make the most of the proposals.
3) The sketches will be emailed to you within 10 working days of receipt of your plans (unless you are otherwise informed of any reason why this timeframe can’t be met, e.g. due to holiday or illness) when you sign up and pay for 12, 6 or 3 months upfront, or when you sign up as a pay monthly member from joining the waitlist - worth £199
This Is For:
UK Homeowners who want to extend their homes & get design advice without paying huge design fees
Anyone who is finding it hard to get clear advice on how to proceed with an extension project in the UK and wants to speed the process along.
UK Homeowners who want to save as much cash for the build itself rather than spend it on designers etc, whilst still getting professional input
This Is NOT For:
Anyone dealing with a project which is not a house extension or renovation project
Property developers
Anyone outside of the UK as regulations etc differ from country to country and our experience is within the UK only
Thank you for the live Zoom Q&A session today. I joined more to listen in as I'm only at the stage of having lots of ideas in my head. It worked out for me even better as I was able to get a clear understanding of the process and who to involve. Yes, I could look online, but it can get so overwhelming, with so many opinions. It was really valuable to have my questions answered by an expert in a way that makes sense to me. I'll keep a look out for any future events. Thanks again.
Dani Collier
Charlotte has been incredibly helpful throughout the course of my project. From the beginning she had useful suggestions to achieve the results I wanted. During the building works she has been available to advise and liaise with contractors. I have found her to be professional & personable & I would certainly recommend her to others.
Elaine Andrews
Zoom call with Charlotte
Hi Charlotte. I'm just wanted to say a big thank you for the Zoom call you organised the other day. It was a great opportunity to ask you all my questions and gain a new perspective with new insights with regards to my build project. I look forward to the next one as it makes a huge difference from just reading and writing posts. Thanks.
Zadan Kar
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this for me if I'm unsure whether to extend my home?
Absolutely, a quick discussion with our professionals may well help you decide whether it's better for you to extend your existing home, remodel or move to achieve what you require.
Will you design my extension for me?
Everyone that signs up to the waitlist & then goes on to join the support network will get the Refine Your Design package as a bonus (see https://ckarchitecture.co.uk/services/ for details). The quality of our sketches will depend on the quality of the information & drawings provided by you. Everyone who joins the network, at any time, will get design advice and sketches to help make the most of their designs as requested in the live calls.
Is this support network only for UK homeowners?
Yes. As our experience is within the UK we can only offer advice and guidance to projects which will take place within the UK as regulations differ in other countries.
If I don't like it can I get my money back?
Yes, if within your first 14 days within the D.R.E.A.M UK Home Extension Support Network you decide that it's not a good fit please notify us and we'll provide a refund less £25 to cover administrative fees / transaction fees.
Can my partner join in the live calls with me?
Yes, your partner (the person you are living with and extending your home with) is able to attend the live calls with you as this will help facilitate a successful project for you.
If I join the waitlist am I tied into joining the support network?
No, you will be invited to attend a free event which will give you a great taster of what the support network will offer, and during that event & onwards you will have the opportunity to join the support network, however, you are not obliged to do so at all. Joining the waitlist means you will have the opportunity to secure the bonuses and be entered into the draw to win a free or half price month inside the support network should you sign up to the support network before the cut off date
Quick Recap
The D.R.E.A.M UK Home Extension Support Network is a place for UK homeowners to get low cost professional advice and guidance throughout as much of the extension process as is required. It's here to help you get your dream home whilst potentially saving you time and money by demystifying the process and guiding you through your individual route to gaining planning permission, assisting you with the design, costings and buildability of your home extension.
Join the waitlist before 05.02.2024 to secure the fabulous bonuses described above & for your chance to win your first month free!
The D.R.E.A.M UK Home Extension Support Network will be coming to you in late January 2024, but if you know you're ready to take action next year, and you want the guidance of experienced professionals at an extremely low cost, then sign up to the waitlist before the 5th February to snag yourself all the great bonuses above
Once the 5th February has gone so will these bonuses!
Your investment options -
- £99.00 per month & a bonus worth £199
- £249.00 for 3 months & bonuses worth £549
- £495.00 for 6 months & bonuses worth £699
- £990.00 for 12 months & bonuses worth £1,099
Money Back Guarantee
14 Day Money Back Guarantee
If you join the D.R.E.A.M UK Home Extension Support Network and find it's not for you within the first 14 days of your membership just notify us and we'll provide a refund less £25 to cover administrative fees / transaction fees.
Join us and get your project right first time, without huge design fees
Let us help you to get your project right first time by providing access to construction professionals to help you get the design, costs, approvals and build right, without huge design fees, so your project runs smoothly from start to finish
