FAQs

Your questions answered

Please scroll over the questions and click for a full answer.

General

Legal and financial

Practical

Q. Why should I engage Onis in the first place?

Because we want to be the best in the world at delivering home refurbishment projects and in the process fulfil on our passion to make it easier for our customers, staff, suppliers and sub-contractors to do so. We do this by challenging the conventional issues that seem to "just be like that" and find Win-Win solutions for everyone along the way. We have spent the last 5 years developing and perfecting The Onis way which provides a proven process by which a home refurbishment project can be delivered so as to ensure you receive maximum value for money with minimum risk and stress. Back to top

Q. You look fancy, are you expensive?

Thanks! But no, we are not expensive; we just want to make a good impression. In fact our quotes are frequently in the middle of others and are always comprehensive and thorough. We will say however that we do not aim to be the cheapest but aim to provide you with value for money. After all, you cannot skimp on or waste money when it comes to something as important as altering the very fabric of your biggest asset: your home. Also the respect we will give to you and your home is priceles. Back to top

Q. Do you offer different qualities of fixtures and fittings?

Absolutely, it is entirely up to you how much you want to spend on bathroom fittings and door handles etc. We will ensure that we design your project within your budget whilst adhering to your design requirements. We even have an interiors advisor as a part of our team who is constantly searching the design world for the best value for money products as well as the most contemporary innovations. Back to top

Q. The UK is in a recession, is spending a small fortune on a home refurbishment project a risky investment?

No, it's not a risky investment provided that you invest in improvements that appreciate the value of your home and these depend upon what condition your home is in. If it's in good condition then you can add living space, if it's in a bad condition then you need to raise the standard and then think about adding space. A good quality finish carried out by professionals ensures that when the market corrects itself you are not penalised for poor craftsmanship and poor design but benefit by having a better quality home that should you decide to sell is more likely to do so quickly and for top dollar. Back to top

Q. Are your building materials from a trusted source?

Yes, we only use trusted and reliable building merchants that guarantee all the building materials we use on your project. In the case of timber we ensure that we only use FSC certified timber that we know has been taken from a renewable source. Click here to read about our environmental ethos. Back to top

Q. So what are the new home extension rules that the Government's planning bill relate to?

The new rules for extending your home are:

Non overbearing loft conversions on all properties will be granted automatic permission.

For loft conversions and extensions to terraced homes:

You may carry out a loft conversion up to 20cm back from the eaves of the roof with a maximum volume of 40m³.
If you want to carry out a single or two storey rear extension then you can go back a maximum of 3m from the original house.

For loft conversions and extensions to semi-detached homes:

You may carry out a loft conversion up to 20cm back from the eaves of the roof or have a maximum volume of 50 m³.
If you want to carry out a single or two storey rear extension then you can go back a maximum of 3m from original house. Back to top

Q. Do you always put a Not For Sale sign outside of your customer's homes?

Not always and only with your, and your local council's, blessing. We will however put a site safety sign on your front door as this is a mandatory health and safety notice letting people know that they are entering a building site and what rules they must follow. Back to top

Q. Why provide Onis with a deposit?

Normally what happens is a builder would be expected to fund the cashflow of your project. The builder does not normally have this money sitting around not doing anything and so they often borrow the finance from their bank, who in turn charges them interest and the builder passes this on to you with interest. In effect this is an expensive option (included but not revealed in the estimate!). Also if the builder has any cashflow issues they invariably do not say so and may make up excuses "the bath cannot be ordered for another week because..." and they will then await a payment from another project to pay for your bath. So you end up paying more and having your project delayed. We request a deposit in advance so that there are no delays attributable to cashflow and your project remains cost effective. Back to top

Q. What contract do we sign together?

We use two industry standard contracts for the refurbishment stage of your project. The first is known as a Minor Works Building Contract with contractor's design and the second is known simply as a Minor Works Building Contract. Both are commonly refferd to as JCT contracts because they are supplied by The Joint Contracts Tribunal Limited. The first one is used when Onis are responsible for the design of your project and the second is used when we are not. Both contracts specify the contract amount; the scope of work to be carried out; the contract duration and any damages that you may be entitled to if for whatever reason we are responsible for your project not being completed on time. Click here to read more about the JCT contracts from The Joint Contracts Tribunal Limited website. Back to top

Q. Do you guarantee your workmanship?

Yes we do. All our workmanship is guaranteed for 5 years and if any issues arise as a result of our workmanship within this period we will remedy the problem free of charge. Back to top

Q. Why pay Onis in advance for surveys and design services and not at the end with the construction?

Every stage we charge you for is a stage that were you to engage a standard builder you would end up paying for anyway, but to lots of different parties. Instead Onis provides you with a final product at the end of each stage that allows you to go to the next stage with a value added product and choosing to continue with Onis as opposed to feeling forced to. So although a one stop service sounds like a tie in, it actually enables you to go elsewhere if you so choose at any stage and not lose out on what has been done already. Back to top

Q. Who manages my project?

Your project is managed by the owner of the franchise you have contacted. They are your project manager and are your single point of contact throughout your entire project. Our building teams all have a foreman that is responsible for the day to day work on site and making sure everything and everyone is productive. The higher functions of project, finance, customer and design management are all carried out by your project manager. Click here to see who your project manager is on our people page. Back to top

Q. Can I change my mind on something after the building work has started?

Yes, we call this a Variation Order and we have a simple way of dealing with it to ensure that all your changes get incorporated, click here to read more about changes to your project. Back to top

Q. Is it true that you do everything on my behalf to refurbish my home, even supply a party wall surveyor?

Correct, we do absolutely everything you need to refurbish your home including:

Interior design and architecture
All building work
All mechanical; heating; plumbing and electrical work
Submitting and managing the processing of planning applications
Informing and liaising with Building Control
Engaging , managing and liaising with all design and build entities including: architects; engineers; surveyors; sub-contractors; tradesmen; service providers; kitchen and bathroom providers and all material suppliers
Paying all parties on your behalf
We even write to your immediate neighbours to tell them of your pending home refurbishment if we think the building work may disturb them. Back to top

Q. Do I need to do any paperwork during my home refurbishment project?

No, we do all the paperwork for you. Only your signature may be required from time to time. Back to top

Q. Why might I be provided a ballpark here and not a full estimate like everyone else?

Normally what happens is a builder visits you and is requested (dare we say pressured) or offers to provide a full estimate within a week or few days. Now builders are busy people and they simply do not possess the several hours it actually takes to provide an accurate full estimate, especially for a prospect who may respond with "£100K! Oh dear, I only have £30K to spend". So you end up receiving a sub standard full estimate that if you do accept you are now stuck with. The builder invariably cannot fulfil on the content of the estimate and goes over budget requesting more money. What Onis do is provide you with a ballpark figure within a couple of days that tells you it's roughly £100K, or roughly £30k. You know if it's in your price range and Onis knows if its worth spending the several hours to produce a full estimate. In the end we either end our relationship here, try to reduce the scope or specification of the works, or provide a full estimate which we commit to with no hidden extras. Back to top

Q. Do I need to refurbish my whole house with you or can you do only one room?

No, although we specialise in home refurbishments we also do new kitchens and new bathrooms seperately. We can also do a loft conversion or build an extension for you whilst leaving the rest of your home untouched. Back to top

Q. Why carry out a dimensional survey?

We carry out a dimensional survey because it means that everybody involved in your home refurbishment project is working from the same accurate drawings of your home. Without which, prices from suppliers can be inaccurate, architect's designs are implemented incorrectly, engineer's calculations can be wrong and so on. Basically, an accurate dimensional survey is the common language of the project and as such is essential for effective communication between all parties. Back to top

Q. Can my family and pets remain living in my home during my home refurbishment?

If you are doing a complete home refurbishment we may advise you and your furry friends to move out for the duration of your project for your own health and safety, and sanity! If you are doing a smaller home refurbishment project but one that still involves structural building work and it is not possible for you to move out then we may advise you to occupy another part of your house as much as possible and to keep any pets in a closed room. This way the dust that is generated does not spread to your possessions and your pets are safe and out of harm's way, to be honest the noise will probably drive you mad otherwise. Also if you need to use the same part of the house you are having refurbished, say your kitchen or bathroom, and you want it to be returned to a useable condition at the end of the day it does take longer which costs a little more and so is best avoided, but again only if possible. Back to top

Q. Do I need to clean my home before and after my home refurbishment project?

You don't have to clean your house before we start per se however we would advise you to move your personal belongings out of harm's way and to store them in a safe place. If you have heavy furniture to move you can ask your project manager to have someone move it for you. After your project is finished we will professionally clean your home so that it is ready to enjoy. It's all part of the service. Back to top