Deciding to build a granny flat is simple, designing and building the extension can be a lot harder. You'll have a lot of questions to answer along the way. Can you use a general contractor or is is better to use one who has built a lot of granny flats before? Is a template design better than a customised one? Should you let the person who'll live in the flat have a say in what it looks like? Luckily, I'm here to help. My name is Maria. We moved my Mum into a purpose-built granny flat last year, so I've had to answer all these questions and more. I thought it'd be useful for other people to see how we managed the process, so here we are — get reading!
Do You Need to Call a Land Surveyor?
Have you been told that you must have a land survey completed? You might think that the need to call in land surveyors unnecessarily complicates the purchase of property that you would like to acquire, but land surveyors have an important role to play in making certain that not only are the boundaries of the property exactly where you think they are, but also that there are no encroachments, easements or other issues that might prevent your future enjoyment of the property. Finding the right team of land surveyors to report on your property is essential. Here are three things that you must check before you make your decision.
Will they do the research?
Any team of land surveyors you engage must be prepared to properly research your land. They will need to have a detailed understanding of the history of the property and be willing to track down all relevant documentation relating to the property. You must be confident that the land surveyors have fully understood your goals and that they will carry out all of the work needed to ensure that your project ends successfully. The only way that you can be confident you have found the best land surveyors is by taking the time to go through the project with them in detail and explain precisely what you want to achieve.
Do they have familiarity with your location?
Surveying is one occupation where local knowledge provides a clear advantage. Being familiar with your local area will ensure that the land surveyors know everything about your local building regulations and how they are applied by your local authorities. They will ensure that you don't waste time looking at options which will never be permitted by your local authority and allow you to maximize the likelihood of your building application being approved without difficulty or with too many conditions being attached.
Do they have a solid reputation?
You should only use land surveyors with a good professional reputation. Can you find any land surveyors through personal contacts? If not, you should at least look up their reviews or testimonials to see what previous customers think of the service they have received from them. If the reviews raise any questions in your mind then don't be afraid to ask the land surveyors questions, or even ask for evidence of their qualifications or experience. Good land surveyors will be delighted to address all of your concerns.