where to begin with extensions?

we want to extend the back of our house but who do we contact to even begin with? council? a builder? an architect? i have no idea where to start. also any recommendations this type of work, we are in the redcliffe qld area.

Hi there

I wanted to do this back home in Perth but we moved to Singapore so not much point now! If I were you I'd start with a builder, getting plans etc drawn up for what you want to do and I'm certain they would be the ones to do the plans, submit them to the council for approval etc.

An architect would be a bit more 'special' and probably more expensive.....My intention when I go back home I hope!!! :)

Good luck!

We're going through this at the moment, alot of builders won't give you quotes etc until you have plans already:wall:

So in the end we went and had plans drawn up we used a draughting company I think they were a little cheaper that an architect.
They drew up the plans and had them approved by the council.

We did go in and speak to the land and plannning authority, which was free (here,could be different in different states??) didn't need an appointment either, just to make sure we weren't doing anything that wouldn't be approved.

Once you have your plans done and approved it's easy to get quotes from builders as it's all there in front of them no guess work!

Good luck it can start to do your head in getting it all started:goodluck:

We are also in the very early stages of preparing to renovate. I've contacted someone to draw our plans just out of the local paper in the trade section. We are getting 2 people out to talk to us about what we want to do and will go from there. Once the plans are drawn we'll submit them to council and get some quotes from builders. My DH is a plumber so he knows some very good ones so that helps ;)

Good Luck with it all.

is there any qualifications, licences or anything i should be looking for when hiring someone to do plans and also a builder?
Mako, how much did it cost for the plans to be done?

Hi Hollo, our plans cost about $2000 that included all the govt fees and stuff for approval.
As for licences and the like we just made sure the draughtsmen were licensed and reputable I guess we'll do the same with the builder we choose, I think the builders that are members of the Master Builders Association are supposed to good and standards are set high, but don't quote me on that I'm pretty new at this too :D