What are you really paying for?
You have met a few loft conversion companies and the quotes have arrived. The prices differ, but each builder seems to be offering the same thing: a new room at the top of your home. How do you decide?
Start by finding out exactly what each price covers. A lower total may leave more work for you to arrange. A higher total needs a clear explanation too. The aim is to compare the finished space, the service and the costs on the same basis.
Give every builder the same brief
For homeowners planning a loft conversion in Croydon, Bromley or elsewhere in South London, a clear brief makes quotes easier to compare. Tell each company how you want to use the space, the rooms you need and the finish you have in mind.
Where drawings and a specification are available, give each builder the same versions. If one company prices a bedroom with an en suite and another prices an empty shell, their totals will tell you very little.
Check what is included and excluded
Ask for a written breakdown. Use these headings to check each quote:
- Design and fees: drawings, structural calculations, applications and building control fees.
- Building work: roof changes, structural work, insulation, stairs, windows and doors.
- Services: electrical points, lighting, heating, plumbing and ventilation.
- Finishes: plastering, skirting, flooring, decorating, bathroom fittings and tiling.
- Site arrangements: scaffolding, temporary weather protection, waste removal and making good.
Some items may be included, allowed for or left for you to supply. Confirm which applies, including who pays delivery and fitting costs. Check that VAT is clearly addressed and that you understand the total amount payable.
Understand which figures could change
An early estimate is a guide to likely cost. A detailed quotation sets out a price for specified work. Ask which figures are fixed and what circumstances could change them.
Look closely at allowances. A provisional sum generally allows for work whose details or cost are not yet settled. A product allowance might cover items you will choose later, such as taps or tiles. Ask the builder to explain how each allowance works.
For example, if you choose bathroom fittings above the stated allowance, ask how the difference and any extra installation cost will be calculated. Request realistic allowances for the finish you want, then compare the quotes again.
Agree how changes and payments will work
You may change your mind about a fitting or ask for extra work during the build. Before accepting a quote, agree how changes will be recorded, priced and approved, including any effect on the schedule.
Ask for a written payment schedule showing the deposit, later payments and the work or milestones each relates to. Read it alongside the contract. Keep a separate budget for your own purchases and unexpected costs, even where the main building price is fixed.
Find out who will manage your project
Ask who your main contact will be, who will supervise the work and how you will receive updates. Discuss working hours, access, tidying and any stages likely to affect daily life.
Check recent examples of similar conversions and speak to past customers where possible. Ask to see relevant insurance details. For guarantees, check the provider, scope, exclusions and claims process so you understand the protection being offered.
A real example from Leighton Gardens
In our Leighton Gardens testimonial, the homeowner explains that the family obtained four quotes. LMB was neither the cheapest nor the most expensive. They chose us because they felt confident after Lee explained the project in detail.
Looking back, she praised the team and said the project came in on budget. Her experience shows why the explanation behind a quote matters alongside the price.
Choose with a clear view of the whole project
Before deciding, put each quote beside the same checklist. Resolve missing details in writing and include the cost of essential excluded work in your comparison. You should be able to explain what each option buys and which costs remain uncertain.
Planning a loft conversion? Contact LMB Group to discuss your ideas and arrange a free survey and written quotation. Call 0208 406 9907 or email enquiries@lmbgroupltd.co.uk.