The Property Makeover Price Guide 2e - Organising and budgeting for home improvers and developers

'This title is an invaluable resource for anyone serious about home improvement and property development, written by BCIS - an authority on construction costings' - Phil Spencer, TV Property Expert

So you’ve watched the TV programmes about improving and developing your home and want to do it yourself; or your home has faults which need fixing before they lead to serious problems.  But how do you really organise and budget for improving and developing your home?

To help homeowners BCIS (The Building Cost Information Service of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) have produced a Property Makeover Price Guide.  Anyone serious about organising and budgeting for home improvement or development should have a copy. An updated 2nd edition is available from May 2008. 

Use the book to find out how much various home improvements actually cost, so you can check if the quotes you're getting from your builder, plumber or electrician are fair.  Great for building your confidence when dealing with tradesmen and avoiding those cowboys!

Its a vital resource whether you are planning a major project such as a an extension or loft conversion. Equally useful to have around the house to refer to when dealing with repairs and refurbishment such as roofing, repairing doors and windows, fixing drains. 

The guide provides:

• Practical advice on how to plan for building work
• Major property problems – the main problems and what they will cost to fix
• Alterations and extensions – the issues and typical costs
• Planning permission and building regulations – the  key considerations in  England, Wales and Scotland
• Employing a contractor or builder – important considerations and advice.  Critically, do not pay early and especially, do not overpay early.  Hold back a sum for retention (5%) that will only be released when the work is completed to your satisfaction.
• Prices for more than 1300 different types of work and almost 3500 items within Defects, Alterations and Project Costs:

 - Common Defects (eg. replace gutters)

- Common Alteration Works (eg. take out and install  double glazed windows)

- Total Project Costs (eg. add a conservatory, extension, loft conversion, basement conversion, porch, garage)

- The new edition is fully updated and includes costs for semi-detached houses, weather damage and information regarding HIPs

• All prices given in the book are at UK national average. Guidance is given on how to adjust these to suit your own regional location.
• Prices include everything necessary to carry out the works such as labour, materials and call out charges.

246 pages, hardback, published May 2008 (you can update the costs given in the book yourself to make them timely with your own projects for the next three years based on inflation forecasts. The book clearly explains how to do this.)     

Price £17.99 including free postage and packaging (UK only)

Order online or contact our mail-order team on: +44 (0)870 333 1600 (select option 2) and order over the phone with your credit/debit card. Please allow up to 10 working days for delivery. Also available in all good bookshops.

Related publication

The Greener Homes Price Guide - Essential guidance on organising and budgeting for energy efficiency and reducing your carbon footprint. Price £17.99, Publishing Date: June 2008