#Planning a Home

[buildabodeinsights]

The Complete Checklist for Planning a Home Build Project

Planning a Home Build Project is thrilling – but let's face it, it can be daunting too. Whether you're extending, converting, or building from the ground up, there's a lot to consider. From budgets and permissions to the right builder, the process can seem like a full-time job.

At Build Abode, we've assisted dozens of homeowners throughout London and the South East in realizing their dreams. To assist you in getting underway, here's our entire step-by-step guide for planning a thriving home build project – with fewer headaches and improved outcomes.

1. Define Your Vision and Objectives

First and foremost, invest some time considering what you actually want from your build:

Do you need to add room for an expanding family?

Do you wish to enhance your home's energy performance?

Do you wish to add value to your property before selling it?

Make a list of your requirements, draw up ideas if you can, and begin gathering inspiration. Websites like Pinterest or Houzz can prove helpful, as can just taking a wander around your area for inspiration.

2. Create a Realistic Budget

Being honest and realistic with your budget is crucial. Take into account:

Construction cost (typically £2,000–£3,500 per m² in London)

Planning application fees

Professional costs (architect, engineer, surveyor)

Fixtures and fittings (kitchen, bathroom, flooring, etc.)

VAT (typically 20% unless new build)

A 10–15% contingency fund for those 'hidden' costs

We always advise: better to overestimate than get caught out down the line.

3. Know Planning and Regulations

Depending on the kind of project, you might need one or a combination of the following:

Planning Permission – You'll need it for larger extensions, new buildings, or for listed buildings.

Permitted Development – Loft conversions and smaller extensions usually fall within this.

Building Regulations Approval – This includes covering structural safety, energy efficiency, fire safety, etc.

Party Wall Agreements – Required if your work comes into contact with shared boundaries.

At Build Abode, we walk you through all this – so you don't get bogged down in paperwork.

4. Hire the Right Professionals

Don't skimp here. A good team will save you time, money, and misery:

Architect or Designer – To take your ideas and make them functional plans.

Structural Engineer – For serious changes to walls or foundations.

Experienced Builder – Such as Build Abode – to undertake the entire building process.

Project Manager – To manage timing, budget, and day-to-day decisions (part of our service).

Ensure anyone you employ is fully insured, highly rated, and ideally local to your region.

5. Obtain Accurate Quotes

Always obtain detailed, written quotes that itemize:

Labour

Materials

Timeframes

Payment Schedule

Be wary of ambiguous or suspiciously inexpensive quotes – they tend to result in "surprise extras" down the line. Here at Build Abode, we provide open-and-honest pricing from the very beginning, so you don't get any nasty shocks later.

6. Plan the Build Schedule

Home building projects will typically take anywhere from a few weeks (in the case of small extensions) to several months (for full refurbishments or new constructions). Ensure your builder gives you:

A clear schedule

Milestone progress checks

Contingency for weather or supply hold-ups

We give a complete project plan with each assignment, so you can see what's happening – and when.

7. Set Finishes Early

The sooner you decide on such things as kitchen units, tiles, flooring, and lighting, the better. Delaying making decisions too late can result in delays or added expense if trades have to revisit jobs. We will assist with guiding you through choices with quality suppliers we use regularly.

8. Think Through Where You Will Live

If your project involves major structural work or impacts your kitchen/bathroom, it may not make sense to continue living in the house while work is being done. Plan ahead and include temporary housing costs in your budget if necessary.

9. Keep Communicating

Stay engaged – but don't worry that you need to micromanage. A quality building team will keep you informed on a regular basis and touch base on important decisions. We put a dedicated project manager on every project, so you always have someone to contact.

10. Snagging and Sign-Off

Once the build is finished, you'll tour through the home and note down any small things that need to be sorted out – called a snagging list. Your builder must fix these before you make the final payment.

With Build Abode, we only sign off when you're 100% satisfied.

Ready to Build? Let's Talk

A home build doesn't have to be stressful when you've got the right plan – and the right team.

At Build Abode, we ensure the process is transparent, collaborative, and quality-focused from day one. Whether you are looking to design an extension, renovation or complete new build in London, we can guide you through the journey every step of the way.

Call Build Abode today for a free consultation and begin your home build journey with confidence.

[wolfienation]

absolutely hilarious to me that agatha calls rio a bad boy when in reality rio is actually the rule following jock with infinite patience and care who brings you flowers on a first date.

agatha on the other hand is the snarky girl who gets into arguements with her teacher about the smallest details in the lecture and is constantly getting detention for cursing someone out. she's top of all her classes tho.

[egophiliac]

doylist explanation for why Gidel is only in Fellow's non-idle lesson animations: probably something about space constraints and making sure two sprites in one seat aren't covering anyone else when they're not in focus

watsonian explanation for why Gidel is only in Fellow's non-idle lesson animations: he snuck in and is hiding from the teachers, don't give him away 🤫

(I've reached my limit of unsuccessful attempts at pulling them before I need to save keys for Halloween, so I've been living vicariously through youtube videos...but the fact that Gidel just pops up from under the desk to wave his arms around happily is really testing my resolve. D: I'm gonna die when they finally get to do alchemy...)

[morganbritton132]

Hopper, after ‘arresting’ seven year old Steve Harrington and eight year old Eddie Munson: Now, sit back there and be quiet

*five seconds later*

Eddie: *stabbing Steve with the foam sword that put him on Hopper’s radar in the first place*

Eddie: Ha! I’ve stabbed you. Now you will die by the blade of the Mighty Eddie!

Steve: *frown*

Steve: Mr Hopper, I don’t want to die!

Hopper: Then don’t

Steve: But he stabbed me.

Hopper: Stab him back.

Hopper: Wait, don’t-

Steve: *stabs Eddie with a pencil*

Eddie: Ow! *loud inconsolable crying*

[vaguely-concerned]

lucanis is a 'I could sit in our quiet kitchen on a grey tuesday afternoon drinking coffee and talking with you about nothing much in particular forever and be the happiest man who ever lived' romantic, not a 'classic tropes and grand gestures' romantic. this is a distinction and conceptual gap I personally feel is crucial to understanding what's going on with him when romanced. for all his almost painful sincerity and clear depth of feeling he's not a very effusive guy by nature, but in the history of time no one has ever, with their whole soul, chest and being, been so genuinely and openly happy to just do laundry and taxes with you.

[bbbbbbbbatman]

Clark, after he and Bruce start dating: *assumes that Bruce would scoff at cuddling and mentally forming an intricate 30 step plan to slowly coax Bruce into cuddling over time so that eventually they can cuddle while sleeping when they start staying over*

Bruce, the very first time Clark stays the night: *sprawled on top of him, head cushioned on Clark’s comfy and squishy pecks, drooling slightly*

Clark, holding back tears of joy: 🥹

[umblrspectrum]

infinitely funnier visuals in my head, likely because they werent subject to my actual skill level in art

[anna-scribbles]

adrien agreste will NOT be the boyfriend you’re bringing to the girls sleepover movie night. he will NOT be an accomplice to that kind of behavior. he loves and prioritizes friendship far too deeply to even step foot into the sacred space of a girls’ night. he would rather chain himself to a tree ella-enchanted style than compromise the security of a friendship ritual. he’s not coming. stop asking.

[wardingshout]

I see alttp Zelda, I pick her up and put her in my pocket............

in order -> @clowns0up-felix @casunnart @kokirizeldas and 🧍

[r-aindr0p]

Never giving him the whole paper towel roll anymore...

[enigmaris]

Lex Luthor's cover of 'I've grown accustomed to her face':

There were certain rules that you as a villain have to follow if you want to be successful. Lex Luthor knew these rules well. The first, one which he’d kept for a very very long time, was to avoid attachment. More specifically to avoid becoming attached to anyone. You should encourage others to like you, if they liked you, if they owed you, then they would do what you wanted and what you needed. But caring for others only led to weaknesses.

Lex had no one that he cared for or trusted. No living family, no lover to warm his bed. Not that that had ever been a priority for him. The closest Lex had to a ‘friend’ was his android Mercy, an android he created. Lex supposed that the closest relationship he had was with Superman. Their antagonistic relationship where he tried to kill Superman and Superman tried to have him arrested was the most socializing outside of work Lex did per month.

A lonely life perhaps but one that Lex reveled in. He had what he wanted and what he didn’t have he could get with his power. Lex was able to follow that first rule of villainy up until one raining evening just outside Metropolis. His car was going towards his home when something crashed through the glass roof window. Something being a glowing teenager. He had white hair and bright green eyes and he was wearing what appeared to be some sort of jumpsuit.

He landed right in Lex’s lap, covered in wounds and emaciated. Three moments after he landed a bright halo of light appeared around his torso before spreading out. Suddenly, laying there on his lap was a human teenager, bleeding red blood and reaching unconsciousness.

“Sorry.” He said right before passing out.

Mercy had stopped the car, as she’d been programmed to do. Lex looked down at the meta teenager with a thoughtful look on his face.

“Mercy, continue home and contact Dr. Matthews. He has a new patient in serious condition.”

“Yes sir.”

It took a full day of rest for the unnamed meta to wake up. When he did Lex was there, introducing himself and offering comfort and safety. The boy introduced himself as ‘Adam’, a fake name obviously but Lex didn’t call him out on it. Lex made no reference to the boy’s meta-abilities. Instead, he offered a place to rest and recuperate and all of the food the boy could consume (which was a lot). Through his security cameras he saw the boy’s uncontrollable powers, new he guessed.

It took only a week for the boy to break down and use his powers in front of Lex. Once that happened the flood gates opened. Danny was his real name, and his parents had tried to kill him once they found out about his powers. Lex learnt about the source of the powers and Danny’s lack of control. His plan was going along perfectly.

Lex didn’t know much about powers, but from those he talked to with them, the key to control was practice. So, Lex built a training room for the half-ghost to practice. Then, when he destroyed that, Lex built a stronger one. (He used plans from an old ‘trap Superman’ room. Lex always appreciated being able to recycle things.) Soon, really once Danny recovered completely, a schedule arose. In the mornings, Danny and Lex would have breakfast together. Lex would quiz the boy on different things. Anything from strategy to science to history to literature. Then Lex would go to work. Danny would stay in the home and spend the morning studying. Lex wasn’t going to have a stupid tool, so the boy had an online coursework to learn what he needed to know.

Then Lex would usually receive a message from Danny around lunch time. The boy would let him know how his lessons were going and ask how his work was. Lex didn’t tell Danny to message him, he also didn’t tell him to stop. Something inside of him enjoyed the unsolicited attention. Danny was asking not because he had to but because he wanted to. He was curious, he cared about Lex.

After lunch the boy would use Lex’s computer simulations to train with his powers. He worked his muscles and his reflexes against training simulators and pushed his abilities to their limit. When Lex got home around dinner Danny would be waiting for him eagerly to talk about how his training was going. They would have dinner together. At first those dinners were solely focused on the boy’s abilities and health. But they expanded.

Danny would ask about Lex and Lex would indulge him, telling him stories from his life. Danny would reciprocate. Lex found that, beyond having very useful powers, Danny also possessed intelligence, curiosity, and eagerness in spades. Without realizing it Lex started to feel rather fond of the boy. He reminded him of Lex’s younger years before the trials that had shaped him into the man he was. Young and full of passion.

The months passed and they grew closer. Lex learnt about Danny’s two best friends that knew about his accident and with whom he had kept in contact. Danny met Mercy and even visited Lex’s office a few times to see him at work. Since the boy could turn invisible Lex had no way of knowing how often that actually was. He started to try and teach the boy strategy. How to defeat his enemies and how to control and manipulate. He didn’t teach Danny too much, he wouldn’t want to make a tool more powerful than Lex himself.

Daniel was an apt pupil up until the point that Lex suggested using his powers for personal gain. The teen’s vehement denial of using his powers that way was peculiar. Didn’t Danny see what his powers could do? What that sort of power and control could mean for him, for them both? With Lex’s tutelage and guidance, they would be unstoppable. Lex tried everything he could think of.

Every evening for dinner it became a test to see if he could shake Danny of his morals, of his will. But Danny remained resolute. Every time he argued for the right thing. He wanted to be kind. He wanted to help. Not to abuse and harm. Lex realized a little too late that he had accidentally taken in a hero and nothing about that would change. There were some heroes who could be convinced of the error of their ways but then there were those like Superman, like Danny.

Abruptly he saw his future. Danny would soon put on a suit and try and fight evil. Lex wouldn't be able to stop him from doing it. Unless Lex started to torture him and break him down piece by piece. Lex recoiled from the idea of harming Danny. The idea of anyone harming him was wrong. It was then that he realized what had happened.

Lex had been sitting in his office, planning out his next ‘kill Superman plan’ when it hit him right in the face.

“I’ve become accustomed to him.”

He’d grown used to Danny. Grown to like his presence in his life. Meals were no longer necessities for him but rather something to enjoy and savor. Conversations and laughter filled his life where there had been silence. He had loved the silence, reveled in being untouched and untouchable. But now? Now he’d adapted to Danny, and he did not wish to return to how things were previously.

“Damn. Damn. Damn."

[fantastic-nonsense]

insane how Red Robin is "the loner Tim Drake book" when he had friends and family just popping out of the woodwork like daisies asking him to come home and enjoy hugs like he used to 😭

[stars-obsession-pit]

Due to issues with Jack’s fertility, the Fenton kids were both conceived using donor sperm. The donor they ended up receiving wasn’t anyone special; just a random chemical engineer from Gotham City by the name of Jack Napier

And perhaps things could have ended there. Perhaps in another reality, they did, and Danny never had to pay more than a passing thought to his genetic father.

But in this world, Jack Napier faced one extraordinarily bad day, and it broke him. All he could do in response was laugh at the utter meaningless of it all. And by the time his cackles subsided, the man he had once been was dead. In his place, only the Joker remained.

Yet despite how suddenly everything changed, neither of them knew the truth of things right away. The Joker had never even known he had a son, since the service didn’t inform people if their donations were used. And though Danny had known Napier’s name, he had no reason to pay enough attention to the man to notice his disappearance.

That ignorance couldn’t last forever, though.

All it took was a few medical tests from Danny before the automated database systems made the connection.

And that certainly didn’t go unnoticed by those in Gotham.

It looks like it’s time for Uncle J to pay his kid a surprise visit! Ooh, maybe he could break out the ol’ electroshock kit and bring back Joker Jr too, make it a proper family reunion!

[clownsuu]

happy lonely singles in your area day 👍💥🥄

[crabboytahomaru]

i put my lover gently to sleep

[thoodleoo]

i think maybe one of the funniest things to happen during the catilinarian conspiracy is when a couple of the conspirators planned to assassinate cicero but somebody warned him ahead of time so he foiled their plan by simply not opening his door. imagine planning to kill a guy but when you get there he just locks the door so you're like welp. pack it up boys