Planning a home extension: which stage are you actually at?
Separate feasibility, design and construction so you ask for the right next service.
Prepared 5 October 2026 · factual review pending
Feasibility comes first
Write down the rooms you need and how they should connect to the existing home. A feasibility conversation explores site and building constraints; it is not a fixed construction quote. Existing drawings and property information can help the relevant professionals identify what to investigate.
Allocate design responsibilities
Clarify who coordinates design, engineering, planning and certification. The correct approval pathway depends on the site and proposal. Ask which documents a builder needs before giving a detailed construction price.
Price a defined scope
At construction stage, compare the same drawings, specifications and responsibility schedule. Identify professional fees, approvals, services changes and allowances separately. Ask how existing-building discoveries and design changes become written variations.
Plan living arrangements
An occupied home needs a staging discussion: access, services interruptions, site boundaries and when rooms become unusable. Agree the programme and responsibilities in the actual contract rather than relying on a verbal target.