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01Blog · Field Notes
01 / 03
The blog · 7 posts

Field notes from Big John and the crew.

Over 20 years of trade knowledge in writing. Build tactics, pricing, regulation, and the honest answers most contractors will not put their name to.

↳ 02 The library
02Blog · The Library
02 / 03

The library · 7 posts

The HYPE blog.

Over 20 years of trade knowledge in writing. Build tactics, pricing, regulation, and the honest answers most contractors will not put their name to.

There's no such thing as a
The Trade
24 Jul 2026·6 min read·Big John · Founder, HYPE Building

There's no such thing as a fixed price in construction.

A fixed price on a building that hasn't been opened up is a guess dressed as a promise. How estimates, contingency and the rip-out actually work, and why honest pricing beats a comfortable number that doesn't survive week three.

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HMO strategy:
HMO strategy
April 2026·8 min read·Big John

HMO strategy: the honest answer .

Why HMOs still work in Stoke-on-Trent: and what the podcast crowd gets wrong about the wider UK picture.

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HMOs and the
HMOs & housing
April 2026·7 min read·Big John

HMOs and the housing crisis .

The case for HMOs as a serious answer to the UK housing shortage: what compliant HMO stock actually delivers and why councils should be working with operators, not against them.

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Serviced accommodation in
Serviced accommodation
April 2026·9 min read·Big John

Serviced accommodation in Stoke-on-Trent .

Serviced accommodation in Stoke-on-Trent: the demand we see, and what converting a building for it properly involves. A builder's view, not financial advice.

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EPC 2028:
Regulation
May 2026·10 min read·Big John

EPC 2028: the landlord guide .

The 2028 EPC C deadline is coming. 60% of UK rental stock fails it today. Here is what the rule actually says, what a Band F→C upgrade costs in practice, and how to phase the work across a portfolio.

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Property investment in
Property investment
May 2026·10 min read·Big John

Property investment in Stoke-on-Trent .

Five reasons every property investor needs to be looking at the Midlands corridor.

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New posts from Big John. Straight answers, no fluff.

↳ 03 Start your build
12Tell me about your build · Resonance
12 / 12

For the right build only

Build it right.
Build it HYPE.

We take on substantial building work across Stoke-on-Trent and the Midlands: extensions, conversions, full refurbishments, commercial works and repairs after fire, flood or damage. Properly scoped projects, not odd jobs or reactive maintenance.

We're VAT registered, so on smaller jobs a non-VAT builder will always undercut us. That's just the maths. Our work pays off where doing it properly matters more than the cheapest quote.

If that sounds like your project, tell us what you've got. We'll tell you straight whether we're right for it, and if we're not, we'll say so. Either way, we wish you all the best x.

↳ Speak to the team+44 1782 930 043Mon–Fri · 9am–5pm · Sat–Sun · Closed
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