Woody’s Tips – no:4
Garden office suppliers are good at listing example prices on their websites, and this is a good way of identifying a particular suppliers price point.
The thing when comparing these prices is that you need to know exactly what is included in this price. Even with my industry experience, I can still find it difficult to identify from some firms websites what is actually included in the price they quote.
Is the foundation system included?
In almost all cases the price quoted includes installation, but you definitely need to enquire if the price includes the foundation system. This element differs between suppliers, some firms us a foundation system that can overcome various site challenges and include this in their building price. Other firms won’t quote for the foundation until a site visit has been conducted and then add this to their price. Then there are suppliers who don’t handle the foundation system themselves, asking you to organise and pay for this with a local contractor.
The foundation makes up a significant proportion of a garden offices overall cost, so if you find one building seems similar to another in many respects, yet is noticeably cheaper, it could well be that the foundation is not included in the price quoted on the site.
What design features are included in this price?
You’ll want to ask what design features are included in the price quoted. Often the price quoted on a website is for the basic model, yet the picture alongside it is a building with several designer features incorporated, such as bi-fold doors or extra windows, which would all be available at an additional cost.
Be sure to ask your chosen supplier what features are included in the quoted price. Ask particularly about the type of doors, the number of windows, the external cladding material and the internal finish, e.g., is this a standard wall panel or a fully plastered and decorated interior.
Is heating included in the price?
In my opinion however well insulated a garden office is, you will still find there are times in the year when you will need some extra heat. Do ask if a heater is included in the price quoted. Some companies will offer a basic, yet totally adequate system in the building price, with the option to upgrade to something more sophisticated at an additional cost. Other companies don’t include heating in the building as standard, only making it available at additional cost.
In most cases, you will have to budget for the electrical connection to the mains supply
Garden offices come pre-wired with light and power points, but it is very common for you to have to pay for the connection of the electrical system to the mains supply. This needs to be done by a certified electrician to Building Regulation Part P standards. This is a significant cost, and you should budget £800 to £1000 for this connection.
Firms who offer a turnkey project will normally include this connection in their overall package cost, so it is a good idea to ask if this task is included in the price quoted early on in the buying process.
Is VAT included in the price quoted?
I have found that some firms quote their prices exclusive of VAT, this can make their buildings look significantly cheaper than the competition, so check if the price includes VAT or not.
Is there a delivery charge?
The final thing to ask about is delivery. Some firms include the delivery costs in their building price, while others make a charge, typically over 100 miles from their workshops. This charge is normally per mile over the 100-mile limit. I have seen £3 per mile quoted several times recently for this delivery charge, so it can quickly add up. It is, therefore wise to check if delivery is an extra to the price you see quoted.
Explore garden office prices further
We have a section on this site dedicated to garden office prices. Each supplier has been asked to indicate what is included in their price, so it is a good place to start researching garden office costs and comparing the work of different companies.