Garage Conversion Quotes - how to get them.

There are only two methods to get a garage conversion quote. One is to approach a garage conversion company offering a design and build form of contract as a ‘one stop shop’ approach or to employ your own house extension designer or architect to prepare their own design and work schedules and specifications in order to go out to tender and obtain at least 3 prices from selected local builders.

There is no ‘in-between’ or ‘half way house’ approach to obtain quotations for a garage conversion.

Some homeowners seem to think that verbally describing their requirements to a local builder without any drawings or details will enable the builder to provide a firm fixed price garage conversion quote. Even if they estimate the costs it can still be very far away for the actual finished works costs which are usually much higher.

Homeowners must treat any initial outlay in professional fees and application fees in order to get to the full construction detailing point as an investment to secure precise contract documents in order to control the builder and to establish fair terms. You will have to take a chance that the final tender prices go over your estimated budget for the garage conversion.

One could argue that obtaining a price from a ‘garage conversion design and build company’ first and using this to establish your budget and then to employ your own design professional to act as you Design Agent for the preparation of plans and specifications for Council Approval. You would then use these documents to obtain the separate garage conversion quotes.

If the original garage conversion company comes out as the cheapest price then at least you know that you have obtained a set of comparable prices to establish the competitiveness of the design and build garage conversion company. However, you would be well advised to obtain their own schedule of works and specifications first prior to engagement to ensure that you are also obtaining a comparable set of works. Alternatively you could ask them to implement the House extension designers scheme to see if that reveals any deficiencies in their own costing and allowed for work items to avoid the pitfalls of the dreaded claims for extra costs.