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Builders LondonThe Builders London is the principal trade organisation for private sector housebuilders and voice of the home building industry in England and Wales. It is an exciting industry filled with many talented people and organisations, providing sustainable and attractive homes to meet the demands of consumers. While involved renovation projects, such as converting a bungalow into a 2-story home, require that the premises be vacated, less complex projects allow homeowner and family to continue living at the site throughout the project. Inconveniences and disruptions of daily routine are unavoidable, so should be expected. Major projects often require the services of an architect or other professionals such as engineers, heating contractors, and landscaping contractors. Blueprints and building plans are not only required to obtain building permits and other municipal approvals, they are also the basis for the renovation contractor’s price quote. When making plans, be realistic about the amount of time it will take to complete the project. Also be realistic about costs; full cost quotes plus an additional 10% to 20% contingency fund for changes and unexpected expenses should be planned on. Unless the project will last only a few weeks, it is wise to discuss your project with neighbors. They will appreciate advanced notice that noise, dirt and clutter will be unavoidable at times, daytime activity will be increased, and that vehicles belonging to the contractor and crew will be parked along the street until project completion. If you will require the services of both a contractor and a designer, get them together as a team as early in the project as possible, so each party can benefit from the other’s experience and expertise. Not only will the project itself go more smoothly – but end result will be the best possible. Have the designer or renovator provide you with sketches detailed enough to provide you with an idea of what to expect in the way of time involvement, what services from other professionals you might require, materials needed, and project expense. After carefully planning the project and obtaining as detailed a plan as possible, you are ready to select a contractor. Only then will you be in a position to seek realistic bids on the project. Our member firms account for approximately 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales in any one year, and include companies of all sizes, ranging from multi-national household names through regionally based businesses and small local companies. 1. Fed loses its unified voice data: 10.04.08 As the U.S. Federal Reserve Board deals with the biggest American financial crisis in a generation, its policies are coming under criticism from within. 2. Three US troops killed, 31 wounded in Iraq clashes with Shi'ite militia data: 07.04.08 suspected Shiite militants lobbed rockets and mortar shells into the U.S.-protected Green Zone and a military base elsewhere in Baghdad on Sunday, killing three American troops and wounding 31, officials said. 3. Thain says Merrill Lynch exploring brokerage business in China data: 10.04.08 Merrill's chief executive also said during a visit to Beijing that his bank also had to expand its wealth management and investment banking business in the country. 4. Europe struggles to accommodate its growing Muslim minority data: 27.03.08 Across Europe, politicians try to be culturally sensitive to Muslim citizens without sacrificing liberal principles. 5. Chaos complicates life for Walsh, chief executive of British Airways data: 07.04.08 The financial year just ended was supposed to mark a turnaround but just when Walsh should have been planning celebrations, he was juggling record fuel prices, economic malaise and Terminal 5 troubles. 6. Even in Ireland, surfers just want good waves data: 27.03.08 Bundoran, Ireland, might not seem like an obvious place to surf, but its position and rocky coastline makes it an ideal place to find a good wave. 7. Beijing pollution 'not a danger' data: 07.04.08 Olympic chief Jacques Rogge claims air pollution in Beijing will not endanger athletes' health at the 2008 Games. 8. Serbia proposes dividing Kosovo along ethnic lines data: 27.03.08 The proposal, submitted to the United Nations, is the culmination of a campaign by Serbia to entrench its political and administrative control over the northern part of Kosovo, which has a Serbian majority. 9. Serbia's neighbours accept Kosovo data: 19.03.08 Three of Serbia's neighbours - Bulgaria, Croatia and Hungary - have announced they will recognise Kosovo. 10. Internet appeal on fatal shooting data: 10.04.08 The family of a teenager who died after he was shot in a betting shop make an internet appeal over his murder. 11. Clashes at Olympic torch relay data: 07.04.08 Police arrests dozens and change the route of the Olympic torch relay to avoid protests in London. 12. Moscow wants its people on site at U.S. missile projects data: 10.04.08 Russia demanded Tuesday that its military officers be present at all times at the planned U.S. missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic to make sure Russia is not a target. 13. EU takes web search groups to task data: 10.04.08 Google, Microsoft and other online search companies could be forced to tighten further their privacy controls 14. Two charged over head on beach data: 07.04.08 Two men are charged in connection with the death of a Lithuanian woman whose head was found on a beach. 15. Credit crisis could cost nearly $1 trillion, IMF predicts data: 10.04.08 Total losses from market meltdown, including the securities tied to commercial real estate and loans to consumers and companies, may reach $945 billion, the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday. 16. Duma wants Putin to back Georgian separatists data: 27.03.08 Parliament urged the Kremlin to consider recognizing the independence of two separatist regions in Georgia, stepping up Moscow's campaign to keep the former Soviet republic out of NATO. 17. France says EU ready for a greater role in defense data: 07.04.08 As France jockeys to rejoin the command structure of NATO, a senior French official said that, for the first time, conditions were right for Europe to become a more serious player in defense. 18. Sprint king Alain Bernard happy to lose swim record data: 10.04.08 France's Alain Bernard, who broke three world swimming records in as many days, was perfectly happy to lose one of them soon afterwards. 19. Father of soldier killed in Afghanistan 'will sue MoD for damages' data: 19.03.08 The father of a soldier killed in Afghanistan vowed last night to take legal action against the Ministry of Defence, demanding that it accepts liability for his son's death. 20. Olympics: Kluft to skip heptathlon data: 19.03.08 Olympic champion Carolina Kluft will not defend her heptathlon title at the Beijing Games this year. 21. JPMorgan dominates management after Bear Stearns merger data: 07.04.08 Of 26 executives named to executive positions at JPMorgan Chase, which is taking over Bear Stearns, only five are from Bear, according to an internal memo. 22. Notes from a hot and humid Friday in Sepang data: 27.03.08 23. Italy recalls mozzarella amid contamination scare data: 07.04.08 Italy on Friday ordered a recall of mozzarella cheese potentially contaminated with cancer-causing dioxin, as a widening health scare tainted the reputation of one of its best-known culinary products. 24. Mikhail Gorbachev admits he is a Christian data: 19.03.08 Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Communist leader of the Soviet Union, has acknowledged his Christian faith for the first time, paying a surprise visit to pray at the tomb of St Francis of Assisi. 25. Six missing after building collapse in Norway data: 27.03.08 A six-story apartment building collapsed early Wednesday in the city of Aalesund, Norway, injuring 15 people and leaving six others missing, police said. 26. Stressed? Try doing the dishes more often data: 10.04.08 Doing just 20 minutes of housework or gardening every week is enough to boost mental health and reduce stress, a study has found. 27. Low sales force four village pubs to close a day data: 10.04.08 Village pubs are closing at a rate of four a day because of the lowest beer sales since the Great Depression and rising running costs, it was claimed yesterday. 28. Should we feel sorry for estate agents? data: 10.04.08 With the housing market slowing, times are hard for estate agents. Who'll shed a tear, given their reputation? 29. Millions strike in Greece to protest plan to overhaul pensions data: 27.03.08 The national strike on Wednesday - the third since December - capped nearly a month of labor unrest that has brought power blackouts, heaps of uncollected garbage and transport disruption. 30. German Catholic Church details wartime use of forced labor data: 10.04.08 The church exploited nearly 6,000 forced laborers in the Nazi era, it said in an extensive report Tuesday on a dark chapter in its history. |