First Choice Extensions Reviews 84

We recently completed our two story side and back extension to our semi-detached house in Cheadle with FCE. We were recommended FCE by a friend who had a single story side extension and were very pleased with the results.

With us being totally new to any kind of house extension project Tony was excellent in his approach in explaining the process, answering questions and laid out a clear quote with fixed costs for each stage. This provided us with confidence in FCE, the project costs and timelines and we were happy to go ahead. Many other firms quoted for the project at a shorter timeframe or lower cost but were unwilling to go into the detail & time in the quotation phase that Tony provided. We were therefore happy to go ahead with FCE as we felt we trusted Tony to deliver on commitments.

The planning process was simple with FCE and we received planning approval so the build could start in July (a month earlier than originally scheduled).

Over the course of the build FCE provided all teams for demolition, brick laying, roofing/joinery, plumbing, electrics & plastering. Interaction with these groups was easy and importantly the quality of the work excellent throughout. This approach took a lot of stress away for us as we did not need to worry about arranging/organising these tradesmen.

AJ was our customer service manager and he provided us with weekly updates on the project plan. He was our first contact for any queries and issues over the course of the build. AJ was fantastic in solving problems for us and addressing any concerns we had through the build. He was always responsive and having him available meant we could avoid chasing up specific tradesmen if there was a problem.

The build was completed in November just before the arrival of our baby boy which was a huge relief. The quality of work was excellent and any final snags no matter how small have been dealt with quickly. Project was delivered on budget as per the quote provided by Tony.

We have already recommended FCE to a neighbour on our road and we would definitely choose them again for any future house extension works. We are so pleased with our new space and the work completed by FCE which added a garage, playroom, extended 3rd bedroom & new 4th bedroom. The project has transformed our house into a home that we can grow into and enjoy as a family of 4.

Thank you Tony & FCE team for doing an amazing job and delivering on your commitments - we are so pleased with the finished piece and that we trusted you with the project!

First Choice Extensions took on our refurb project when most other builders were struggling to manage their materials and resources. Their professional approach and bigger in-house team meant they had the resource and expertise to deliver the project and solve issues.

When you take on a building project, things are bound to go wrong. But when they did, we never doubted the team’s commitment to make it right and they always did.

In the end, we have ended up with a showroom quality space that we will enjoy for many years to come and will work with FCE on our next project.

We recently had a single storey side extension built which gave us a much bigger kitchen, utility room and downstairs WC.
We have never had any experience of having house renovations and when Tony came round and talked us through it, it really put our mind at ease.
The quotation was easy to understand, no hidden costs and any potential extras highlighted upfront.
Throughout the build the service was extremely professional with regular updates on progress from AJ, our customer service manager.
Any snags that highlighted along the way were quickly rectified with a big thanks to Leon for going above and beyond to meet our expectations.
All builders, electricians, joiners and plumbers were really friendly, tidy and considerate whilst on site. Having an extention is always going to be stressful but FCE do everything they can to make the experience as stress free as possible.
We are delighted with the extension and have recommended the company to friends and family.

First Choice extensions
We had a 3m x 6m single story extension. We had great communication from start to finish. The quote we had at the beginning of the job never changed. We are over the moon with the finished result. Thanks to AJ and the team.

FC Extensions have grown a lot in the last year since we previously used them (for a big double extension), and I knew they were a lot busier than they were previously, however, I reached out to Tony and his team to construct a “pub” in our back garden. Brick build, exposed brick interior, brick bar built.

Despite how busy they were, they clearly valued repeat business and flexed their resources to fit us in quickly. Tony was on hand again to provide a very reasonable price (similar prices to wood builds we have had quoted) and the project got going.

I knew what to expect this time round but that didn’t stop the team explaining and being with us every step of the way to provide reassurance. There is an expanded team in place now, so some new faces, but Billy and AJ are great additions to their senior team and treated us perfectly - regular comms throughout the whole thing.

It’s now complete and our final pub build is perfect - we are the envy of the neighbourhood just in time for the Euros.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend FC to anyone at all and I regularly do to anyone who asks. I’ve heard some nightmare stories in the past with some builders and yet for the second time round, we again had not a single complaint.

Phenomenal company and team.

We had a Upvc patio sliding door fitted by First Choice Extensions but to do this they were required to install a galvanised steel box section beam and 2 concrete lintels. The whole process was carried out in a professional and tidy manner. The communication with the various managers was first rate. The guys doing the work were knowledgable ,did a great job and cleaned up each day. We are very happy with the work and end result and would recomend them to anyone wanting an extension or similar work done.

Very professional set up, would strongly recommend and definitely use again.

Planning process - this stage was excellent, from the useful cost guide tool on the First Choice website to the initial meetings with Tony and his team to plan the work, all went very smoothly. Any questions were quickly dealt with and we received plans and had follow up meetings arranged in very good time. Felt very confident about the work and the abilities of Tony’s team who were very friendly as well.

Build - the build itself also went smoothly and ran on time and costs came in as planned. On the whole the building team were professional and friendly and we are delighted with the end result.

We had first choice convert a detached garage into a home office & utility room following a recommendation from a neighbour.

Despite being a relatively small job compared to an extension, we got a professional job and team complete with Project Manager and QA Manager and experienced tradespeople. The supporting team made it really easy to communicate with First Choice and be kept informed throughout the work making it a relaxed and stress free job.

Throughout the conversion we had quality tradespeople who were all passionate about doing quality work with an attention to detail and a polished finish - never cutting corners or taking the easy option. Even with simple jobs like tidying the site was done for a quality finish, not a quick finish.

First Choice also excelled themselves in their flexibility - we changed the scope of the job a couple of times with additional work or upgrading specs and they accommodated this brilliantly.

A great team doing a great job at the right price. Thanks again!

Excellent finish for replacing our facings, soffits and gutters. Totally professional team and we really appreciated the post job check up by AJ to see we were happy.
Well done and definitely recommend

From start to finish firstchoice were amazing any problems were dealt with and they gave me all the guidance on my first property flip! I could not recommend them highly enough for the work carried out which was to a very high standard.

George

We had our living room plastered and new doors installed. There was a delay with the plasterers which was swiftly rectified. We are very happy with the work carried out and would recommended First Choice.

Following a start with another builder in July 2020, we were let down with no roof at the rear of the house.
We contacted Tony at First Choice, who fitted us in his busy schedule with an autumn start date. The first priority for ourselves was to be watertight and correcting the mistakes from the previous builder. We had teams of bricklayers, roofers, joiners, electricians, plasterers, tilers, plumber. as well as a site services manger. Due to Autumn / Winter weather this caused some delays also with Christmas shutdown. We felt that all but one the trades were friendly and professional and did us proud on getting our extension completed, It was organised well in the way that each trade started and finished, as we were fitted around the other job schedules. The final plumbing, electrics and plasterers finished during February 2021 and we have been working with AJ to deal with the final sign off. From our Experience we found this a professional, well organised builder who you could discuss your build with and would aim to meet your expectations. We are very happy with the finished Home renovation.

First Choice Extensions is a really well organised company.
Everyone knows their job and does it well, the project manager, the bricklayer, the plasterers, the joiners, the electrician ... everyone.
At each stage in the work I was told what to expect and when to expect it. At no stage was I let down and in fact some the work was finished ahead of schedule.
The Project Manager liaised with the Building Control Inspector so that there were no problems.
I couldn't be more pleased with the finished conversion. I am a really satisfied customer and heartily recommend First Choice Extensions.

In 2020, with my wife expecting our second child, we needed more space and decided to have a loft conversion. This is the first experience we've had of a significant 'build'. We did what most people do - start asking for referrals and see who we can find from our own research. Everyone seems to know of a horror story so you do have an element of trepidation going into the process - which is why doing some real due diligence is important. We met with around 5 businesses, and from that initial starting point the demeanour, detail, and presentation of the First Choice proposal by Tony Marsden really stood out. They weren't the cheapest; nor were they the most expensive - but they were the best. The build was going to be done in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, which coincided with me working from home, my wife being on maternity leave with our daughter whilst also pregnant with another on the way - therefore, developing trust and believing in their commitment to their customer was key for us. They passed that test with flying colours.

The build and the payment schedule was fully timetabled and itemised, so you knew what you'd be paying and when - transparency! It also helped with that reassurance I referred to earlier....we'd heard the stories about large sums of money changing hands with other builders for 'materials etc...', only for them never to be seen again!

The guys who were on-site were all polite, friendly and respectful.

The build took place in Autumn/Winter and had a degree of complexity, which led to a couple of hiccups. However, I've always maintained that the measure of someone is not always the issue itself - but how they respond in these circumstances. In this case, First Choice were EXCELLENT. Fully responsive, regardless of whether it was an evening or the weekend - they were not happy until we were. Special mention needs to go to Antony Jackson. Antony was effectively the Customer Care Manager - a dedicated point of contact to First Choice customers throughout their projects. Antony introduced himself prior to the build starting, explained his role and that he was there to support the customer throughout the process. I don't know of any other builders that employ someone in this capacity but it's a masterstroke. We've mentioned it to friends who have had work done and found that their builders were uncontactable once they were off-site. We had no such issues. In fact, Antony was pro-active in his communication - so again, we benefitted from that transparency, honesty and 'customer first' ethos. Antony also provided his contact number to our neighbours so that if they had any queries, they could go directly to him rather than disturb us. Genius! After 6 months, Antony felt like an extended member of our family (we certainly saw him more than our own!)... He was on-site for a weekly brew & update, checking on progress and acting as a Quality Control for the build - and was always respectful (shoes off every time), empathetic, good humoured and polite. He needs to be singled out for praise as his efforts enhanced our experience and had a direct impact on this being a 5 star review.

Our build overran slightly but there were some mitigating factors. First Choice have also been so thorough at the end of the project, not just signing it off and disappearing. Tony Marsden was on-site and identified his own snags as well as encouraging us to share our own. They also arrange for a deep clean (again, a friendly, thorough, customer focused team).
Every single snag we listed has been addressed - even those that we noticed weeks later. If this isn't a commitment to ongoing customer satisfaction, I don't know what is.

Our build is complete, having been transformed from a poorly designed, congested, glum looking space into a beautiful, bright and inspiring bedroom for our daughter. We love it, she loves it! Thank you First Choice. Whole-heartedly recommend them. We've been in your shoes - it's a big decision, a lot of money, you want it to go right, not to be one of those horror stories that people talk about. Honestly, give these guys a call - arrange to meet them...you won't be disappointed.

Job Overview:
Double storey extension to a 3 bed 1930's semi detached - extension of the kitchen, creation of 2 bathrooms, and 2 extra rooms.
Full replacement and felting of slate roof.
Loft conversion.
Plastering throughout.
Tiling throughout.
Plumbing throughout.
Installation of two bathrooms.

Review:
From the first point of meeting Tony, he was head and shoulders above the other builders we had invited to quote for us. Tony was approachable, knowledgeable, understanding and knew that we weren't building experts. He translated everything into clear language for us to understand exactly what would happen and when and he ensured he was always available whenever we had a question. Rather than talking over the phone, if Tony was in the area he would pop around and happily make an hour for us to ask any questions and tweak the initial quote. Tony's quote was middle ground of the quotes we obtained but the service we got from Tony and his team would have been worth an extra few £'000!

The build was due to take 12 weeks and Tony gave us a hugely detailed plan of when things were going to happen, what to expect, and most importantly reassured us that there was no need to worry as he would be there every step of the way - which he was! One of our biggest fears was that Tony would turn up, sell us the extension and then we would never see him again, but he made at least one visit a week and called us a couple of times a week just to make sure we had time to ask any questions. His right hand man, Billy, was on site every day and was just like Tony - approachable, happy to make as much time as possible, and would explain anything we had questions about.

The extension started before the pandemic began, in February 2020 and therefore started as planned. However, when lockdown started, we were worried our extension would be left half built and unattended until the lockdown ended. However, Tony called and explained he was still able to come on site, so as long as we were comfortable he would ensure none of the builders or his team came into the house unnecessarily and that everyone abided by the social distancing rules. My Mrs was pregnant at the time and Tony's openness really gave us the reassurance we needed - the build didn't pause.

There were a number of times during the build that the requirement for materials extended passed the original quote. However, as Tony promised, any additional requirements were picked up by him and his team with no extra cost to us. Tony committed a price to us for the scope we had asked for, and unless the scope changed, there was no deviation in price. This put our mind at rest, so much so that half way through the build we added the loft extension which Tony was more than happy to accommodate even though it added a week onto the overall timeline.

Every member of his wider team was polite, professional and hugely approachable - they were also respectful of the current property where required and would do their best to minimise mess/dust etc where possible.

Nearing the end of the build, were tasked with identifying "snags" for Tony and his team to fix in the final few days. Our snag list was about a 10th of Tony's! Tony is a perfectionist and prides himself on the work his team were doing and therefore wouldn't rest until all of the small snags that we weren't even aware of were fixed. No final job was too small and he even organised a deep cleaning team to come into the old and new parts of the property to do a full deep clean of anywhere which was impacted, just so the property was as good as new when they left - at no extra cost. He even organised for a brick cleaning service to be provided to get rid of the dust on the outer walls of the new build - something he really didn't need to do.

We have kept in touch with Tony since the build who on a number of occassions has come out to fix a couple of snags we have found after the build was complete. Tiny things, but he was always happy to help. We were that pleased with the overall service and job that we have now asked Tony to build us an outhouse in the back garden - something he has turned around in terms of quotes and spec in less than 48 hours. We couldn't thank him enough for the help he has provided and how he has transformed our home.

If you are looking for a trustworthy builder and someone who will be with you every step of the way and at absolutely reasonable price, then look no further. We could not be happier with our decision to go with First Choice Extensions.

From start to finish the service from First Choice Extensions has been excellent and really professional. We had a dormer loft conversion done in what was a smaller size loft. They helped us with drawings to maximise space and created a stunning spacious loft area with an en-suite bathroom. Any snags were quickly quickly rectified with no fuss. The build itself was made significantly less intrusive by the creative way they accessed the loft space via scaffolding for the majority of the works. We have no hesitation in recommending them.

I would recommend First Choice Extensions.

We had, what turned out to be, a complicated renovation of our 1899 semi-detached house. The project was to create a utility room off the hallway into a reception room and to take out and replace the kitchen. We also had a new cylinder based boiler/heating system installed.

The kitchen involved the removal of a chimney breast, the removal of the existing door and window and replaced with a bi-folding door. We also ended up having the floor taken out and replaced to ensure it was at the same level as the rest of the house.

Underfloor heating was installed, new kitchen units from AS Kitchens and a feature brick slip wall.

First Choice were able to meet all of the requirements and challenges discovered on the way.

When we get around to it, we are hoping to use First Choice again for our loft conversion.

We have been delighted with the work from First Choice Extensions. There has been excellent communication and the team has cultivated a level of trust over the project that put us at ease. We particularly liked the transparency in the planning stage, where Tony gave us plenty of time to understand our designs and over the following weeks he was very patient, answering all our questions until we felt comfortable to commit. We didn’t feel rushed or pressured at any stage. During work the whole team was friendly and professional, they were also understanding of our son’s sensory needs and were thoughtful in letting us know when particularly noisy things were about to happen. Tony Jackson even brought him a pair of ear defenders which was a very nice touch. The work has been to a high standard and the team have been focused on making sure the final finish is excellent and that we are happy. When small issues have cropped up they have reassured us that everything will get sorted and they have delivered on that promise completely. We are grateful for the attention to detail and customer focus and we are really happy with our new family space. We would not hesitate to recommend them.

Personally we had great service from FC Extensions.
Our build was finished on time (would had been early if it weren't for Corona virus!), Very polite staff and nothing was a problem!

I would highly recommend Tony and his team to anyone.

We chose First Choice as wanted our extension managed by just the one contact rather than us having to source lots of suppliers - it was important to us to have someone project manage the whole thing - both having busy jobs and working full time we didnt have the time to arrange all the different elements that comes with having an extension. Tony provided lots of advice at quote stage and was prompt with the turnaround of quote and always on the other end of the phone before and all throughout the works taking place. We were happy with the price and knew we were in good hands.

There have been a few minor hiccups along the way only to be expected with such work taking place on a house as you never know what you find along the way but they were quickly sorted out - overall we have been very impressed with everything. We would definately reccommend First Choice.

We now have the large kitchen and dining area we always wanted and are thrilled with the outcome, we love it! Thank you First Choice Extensions.