Design and consents

Brief, sketch design, planning if required, technical design, structural engineer, Building Regulations submission. Months, not weeks.

Procurement

Tender or negotiate with builders. Compare like-for-like specifications, not just headline numbers. Sign a written contract — the JCT Homeowner contract is a sensible starting point.

Construction

Strip out, foundations, structure, weathertight, first fix, second fix, finishes. Building Control visits at defined stages. Independent oversight runs throughout.

Handover

Snagging, Completion Certificate, trade certificates, operation and maintenance manuals. Only then is the project actually finished.