Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the questions we get asked the most when speaking with customers.

Yes. We have a team of trades who move from one project to another with us. Our only reason for changing the “Team” is due to lack of performance. All new trades are carefully vetted against the following criteria:

  • Must have 10 years or more experience working in their trade
  • If necessary, they should be paid up members of their respective governing bodies such as Gas Safe or Fensa and have their own Public Liability insurance.
  • They must integrate with our online management systems.
  • They must be recommended by an existing member of the trade team or another builder.

This ensures that there is complete continuity in quality of build and quality of service delivered to you, our clients.

This will depend on the stage you are at with your drawings and design. If you do not have any drawings yet, then we have options available to get you through the various stages of concept design right through to submission for planning applications. There will be costs along the way before contracts are signed, but they are all costs that would have been incurred if you had used an independent architect.

Please refer to OUR PROCESS and give us a call to discuss the specific costs for each stage of the design process.

There are only 3 scenarios where a price can change:

  1. Where an allowance has been based on an assumed design.
    Eg. Foundation or drainage configurations can sometimes change due to what is uncovered during excavation.
  2. If you change your mind or add to what has been agreed within your specification.
  3. In the case where your choice is yet to be confirmed and an allowance has been made, if your final choice exceeds or falls short of the allowance.

 In any case we will cost up the changes on our online system and await your approval before undertaking the work.

Using our online management system you will be able to keep tabs on what tasks are being worked on and their general daily progress. Photos can also be uploaded so you can see visuals of what is happening too.

 You will also have regular contact with the Builder and your Project Manager to ensure you are receiving the best possible service.

Yes! We understand you would like to see the progress of construction but it is crucial to maintain site safety throughout the construction process so although we are working on your home you should only enter the building area when accompanied by one of the team.

For day to day communications you can message the group chat and anyone that is connected with the management of your project will get back to you with an answer.

 Along with someone from our team, you will also meet with certain trades and suppliers before construction commences to determine selections and design layouts such as preliminary plans for your kitchen and electricals. You will also meet with some trades on site during construction to determine final designs and layouts before that work commences.

 You can liaise with the office staff for all administration tasks and general enquiries but in any case, you will have full access to our on-line project management system throughout the entire building process which is where you can raise questions, access job progress schedules and make final selections on items such as door furniture etc.

We specialise in extensions and custom home building, so we encourage our clients to be involved in the design as much as possible. We are able to set you up with an initial meeting free of charge with one of our preferred designers to establish your requirements and to see if you would like to proceed with your very own custom design for us to provide an estimate on. You will find more details under OUR PROCESS.

Starting to design an extension or custom home (or quote an existing set of plans) without a budget in mind is a bit like walking into a car showroom and buying the first car you like the look of without taking a moment to see if it’s a price you are happy to pay.

Working with a budget in mind means we can design in the features you really love and perhaps compromise on those that you can always add in at a later date if your budget proves to be a bit tight. Without a budget, it’s very easy to spend way more than you intended.

This is one of those how long is a piece of string questions. Each build is different from the last because each customer is different and each site presents different challenges to overcome. Even if 2 sites were identical, a higher spec on one build could easily add 50% to the other project. Construction methods and structural openings also affect price massively. 

If you are starting out and you want to get an idea of costs then get in touch and we can set up a meeting to discuss what you want and give you an idea of ballpark figures. From there we can work out a budget to stick to and make a start on getting the plans drawn up.

Each home is viewed individually and the construction period will be defined in the Building Contract. Generally speaking you can use the following as a guide:

  • Small extensions 6 – 8 weeks
  • Large extension 10 – 16 weeks 
  • Larger projects 20 + weeks

We have regular site meetings to ensure that your project is being built exactly the way you imagined. At any stage you are welcome to make changes if time permits and the changes don’t affect the structural integrity of your home. We understand the need for flexibility during the construction phase to ensure the home of your dreams is being built. Please be aware that on site changes will usually incur costs so it is best to spend as much time as possible playing around with ideas when changes are easy to make.

We do like to use our own people because we know how they work and they know what we expect of them. However, there will always be flexibility given to each client to engage one or two tradespersons or suppliers of their choice. As long as we are made aware before construction commences and that each tradesperson is fully licensed and insured and adheres to the Hylands Homes Safety Policy and Sub-Contractor Agreement, we are happy. It should be noted though, that any delays caused by your trades may incur charges.

Absolutely not. We believe that you should be able to see for yourselves the value in the services we offer and therefore you will never be made to feel pressured into making a decision to sign a contract with us.

Where To Next?