New-build family home
Northiam Road
Woodside Park, North Finchley N12
How we work
A major building project should feel controlled from the first call
Ten stages, each with a defined output, one team throughout and no surprises about money. This is how every Milkov & Son project runs.
- 01
Initial conversation
A call or email about the property, what you want to achieve and roughly what you want to spend.
We ask about the house, the rooms that do not work, any drawings you already have and your budget range. If the project is a good fit we arrange a site visit; if it is not, we say so and, where we can, point you to someone better placed.
You get: A straight answer on fit, and a site visit booked.
- 02
Site visit and assessment
Stoyan visits the property to look at structure, services, access and the constraints that shape what is possible.
We look at the existing structure, roof, drainage, boundaries, access for materials and skips, neighbouring properties and anything that will affect cost or planning: conservation-area status, Article 4 directions, trees, soil and levels.
You get: An honest view of what the house can take and what it is likely to cost.
- 03
Feasibility and budget
Options on paper with indicative costs, so decisions are made before drawings are commissioned.
For larger projects we prepare feasibility sketches showing two or three ways of achieving the brief, each with an indicative cost range and a note on the planning route. This is where a rear extension becomes a wraparound, or a loft is added because the numbers make sense together.
You get: A preferred option and a realistic budget to design to.
- 04
Design
Concept and developed design by our design team, working to your budget.
Plans, elevations and, where useful, 3D views. We design with construction in mind — the steel positions, the drainage runs, the ceiling heights — so the scheme that gets approved is the scheme that gets built at the price discussed. If you have your own architect, we work from their drawings.
You get: A design you can picture, priced as it goes.
- 05
Planning and approvals
Permitted development checks, planning or prior-approval applications, and lawful development certificates.
We confirm whether the scheme falls under permitted development or needs a householder application, prepare and submit the application and drawings, and handle the council's questions. Where a scheme is permitted development we recommend a Lawful Development Certificate so there is paperwork for when you sell.
You get: The right consent, with the risk of refusal designed out early.
- 06
Technical design and pre-construction
Building Regulations drawings, structural calculations, party wall matters and a fixed scope.
Structural engineer's calculations, Building Regulations drawings and a full plans submission to building control. If your neighbours' walls or foundations are affected we advise on Party Wall notices and surveyors. We finalise the specification — kitchen, sanitaryware, windows, finishes — so the contract sum is based on real choices, not allowances.
You get: A fixed contract sum, programme and specification before anyone lifts a tool.
- 07
Construction
One site team, one project manager, a weekly update, and no surprises about who is turning up.
Our own team carries out the structural, carpentry and finishing trades, with long-standing specialists for electrics, plumbing and roofing. Stoyan manages the site and is your point of contact throughout. Variations are priced and agreed in writing before they are built.
You get: A tidy, predictable site and a programme you can plan your life around.
- 08
Quality control and inspections
Building control inspections at each stage, plus our own checks before anything is covered up.
Foundations, drainage, structure, insulation and fire safety are inspected by building control at the relevant stages. We photograph and record work before it is closed in, so there is a record of what is behind the plaster.
You get: Independent sign-off at every stage.
- 09
Completion and handover
Snagging, cleaning, a walk-through and the paperwork.
We snag the work with you, complete the items on the list, clean the house and hand over the completion certificate from building control, electrical and gas certificates, window guarantees and appliance manuals.
You get: A finished home and a folder of everything you will need later.
- 10
Aftercare
We come back.
Buildings move as they dry out and settle; small cracks and doors that need easing are normal in the first year. We return to deal with them, and we remain a phone call away for anything that comes up afterwards.
You get: A builder who is still answering the phone a year later.
What happens when you enquire
From your first message to a written proposal
Most people contact a builder with a rough idea and a lot of questions. This is what happens next, in order.
- 01
We read your enquiry properly
Every enquiry is read by Stoyan, not a call centre. You will hear back within one working day.
- 02
A short call
Ten minutes to understand the property, the brief and the budget, and to answer your first questions.
- 03
A site visit
If it is a good fit, we visit — usually within a week — and talk through options and likely costs on the spot.
- 04
A written proposal
Scope, indicative cost and programme in writing. No pressure, no deposit until you decide to proceed.
Money, contracts and protection
Fixed contract sum. Construction is priced from a finished specification and drawings and carried out under a written contract. The figure you sign is the figure you pay unless you change the scope.
Staged payments. Payments follow completed work — foundations, structure, watertight, first fix, second fix, completion — never large sums up front.
Variations in writing. Any change is priced and agreed before it is built.
Insurance. Public and employer’s liability insurance; certificates available on request.
Warranty. Warranty terms are set out in each contract and confirmed in writing before work starts.
Building control. Independent inspection at every statutory stage, with the completion certificate handed over at the end.
Questions about the process
Is the first visit free?
Yes. The initial call, site visit and written proposal cost nothing and carry no obligation.
When do I pay a deposit?
Only when you appoint us. Design stages are paid at fixed fees as they are delivered; construction is paid in stages against completed work under a written contract. We never ask for large sums in advance.
Who will be on site?
Our own team for structural work, carpentry and finishing, with long-standing specialist electricians, plumbers and roofers. Stoyan Milkov manages the site and is your point of contact.
How do you handle changes during the build?
Every change is priced and agreed in writing before it is carried out, and the programme is updated if it affects the finish date.
What if something unexpected is found?
It is photographed, explained, priced and agreed before it is fixed. Older houses often hide problems; we recommend a contingency of 10–15% and tell you when it is being used.
Are you insured, and what warranty do you offer?
We carry public and employer's liability insurance and can provide certificates on request. Warranty terms are agreed in the contract for each project and confirmed in writing before work starts.
More on costs, timescales and planning in the full FAQ.
Discuss your project
Tell us about your project
Send a few details about the property, what you want to achieve and your approximate budget. Stoyan reads every enquiry and replies within one working day.
What happens next: a short call, a site visit if it is a good fit, then a written proposal. No charge, no obligation.