We have bought a 2 bedroom detached bungalow for our retirement. It is too small for our needs so we want to extend/improve.

We want to convert the loft to make a double bedroom, bathroom and small single room. Access from a downstairs bedroom, which will become a dining room. We know this is possible because an identical place up the road has has exactly this done about 6 years ago. (but the present owners didnt have it done, dont know who did the conversion or what it cost)
We also want to have the old fashioned kitchen and bathrooms downstairs completely stripped out, retiled and re-fitted.
And a conservatory built off the 'dining room'.
Also want to have central heating system upgraded and the place rewired (it was built 1961)

Thing is, dont quite know where to start. Do we see an architect first? Should we go to a local bulder who can do the whole job, or several different ones who will do loft, kitchen/bathroom and conservatory as separate projects?

Also - and this may be an impossible question to answer - what would be a rough budget for doing this sort of work? Incidentally, I wont be doing any of it myself.

If anyone could give me any ideas Id be really grateful.

Hi Mike

This is a great place for advice but I would suggest that with so big a project maybe a DIY book such as the Reader's Digest handbook, would be a good companion? It has a schedule of work for home improvement and short overviews of all types of jobs. Although you don't intend to do the work yourself it will give you enough info to engage and evaluate the work of others.

My advice would be don't use one big firm to do the whole thing as every person I know who has done this has paid well over the odds and has had nothing but grief (and litigation). Much better to get experts in each field in. Also if you try to do it all in one go you are going to be in one hell of a mess for ages.

If I were doing it I would start with the loft and work downwards.... extension / conservatory next followed by plumbing/electrics upgrade in existing rooms and new kitchen and bathroom.

Anyway, good luck with it.

C