NT wrote
| In an ideal world youd do everything at initial build, but I
| suspect thats not the way to get the best for ones money.

Bear in mind that VAT is reclaimable on most work on new builds, but only
*once*, so as much VAT-reclaimable work as possible should be done as part
of the main build. This will also allow best quantity discounts to be
obtained. Buying things later is going to cost about a fifth more once VAT
and loss of discount are taken into account.

Expensive fitted kitchens and the like can be left until later, as they
aren't VAT-reclaimable anyway. All the building inspector wants to see is a
sink and some worktop to satisfy the 'food preparation area' requirements.

Also, any conversions to habitable use, connection of new drains to sewers,
new staircase to cellar, etc., will require an additional building regs
application, which is a needless expense if it can be included on the
original application.

Owain