Rebecca Foster identifies 15 more areas where making smart choices before and after your project goes on site can keep costs down

In a bid to save money, much of the roof finish from the original building was utilised on this new extension by Alter & Company. Further cost-savings were achieved via careful reduction in the sizes of windows and doors

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1 Avoid paying for work upfront

Protect yourself by avoiding any hefty upfront payments before work has started. Deposits may be required on some projects, especially those that will run over a long period. However, the Citizen’s Advice Bureau advises against parting with any more than 25% of the whole project fee (10% is typical). Even then, make sure you get a receipt for your deposit that corresponds to your legal contract. If a deposit is required for materials, one option could be to purchase them yourself.

2 Focus on the big-ticket items

Sink your cash into the structure and materials you won’t be changing later on, such as exterior finishes, roof tiles and glazing. “We advise clients to invest in long term decisions, such as structural alterations, with a view to saving money on short term solutions like paint,” says Simon Drayson from George & James. Items that fall into the latter category can be upgraded later when your coffers have had the chance to build up again.