Adding an extension

All planning authorities require drawings and most now get to them electronically via the Planning Portal. A landlord planning an extension has two choices. Firstly pay someone else to do the drawings, or secondly simply put in a couple of days training to learn how to do it yourself. If you do it yourself you have more control, you are not relying on anyone else and you’ll save their fee for drawing what in reality is a simple drawing.

Refurbishing

Planning ahead will always save time and money. A simple CAD drawing will enable you to estimate materials needed more accurately. It will ensure complete understanding between client and builder with no room for dispute. It will also ensure that you always have a record of the job, with details of electrics, plumbing and other parts of the fabric of the building should you ever need to return.

Maintenance

For the same reasons as above an electronically stored drawing of a building can hold far more information than you might put in your paper files. Suppliers, dates of work carried out are all easily added to a drawing meaning that when an issue arises, you can access the history of a building by simply opening one file.

None of the above is difficult to learn or expensive. For a £100 you can have the Deluxe version of TurboCAD and a 2D training book including video tutorials and short videos on how each tool works. After you’ve had a bit of practice, book a one day course in Winchester, £170, and you’ll be on your way, able to draw and print out plans and even do a bit of 3D work. In a couple of months just putting in an hour a day you will be able to draw complete houses in 3D and walk through them on your screen.

Sooner or later all this type of work will be stored in this way, you either get going now or loose out to others.