With the UK housing market at its slowest, many homeowners are choosing to stay put and renovate their current properties rather than just moving – it may be the case that you fancy a change, you want to completely remodel a faulty area, or reduce your carbon footprint and running costs with green renovations, there are many reasons why homeowners may choose to renovate their homes. Provided you plan carefully, these renovations can really pay off, both for your quality of living and adding value to your property when it’s time to sell. Image above XTEN Architecture
Here’s how to get going.
Step One: Your Idea
Before you do anything else, have a good long think about what you want from these changes. It may be that you have a damp problem or a fault that needs fixing, or simply that you need more space or an extra room. Do your research before anything else- speak with contractors for their advice, visit show homes and read magazines for inspiration and practical advice, and consider the impact it will have on your daily life, as well as any underlying problems that need addressing. Image above house by Rocha Tombal – see more
Step Two: Budgeting
If you’ve done your research, you’ll now be able to create a plan of action. If you are hiring professionals, look for reviews of contractors and workmen to find the most suitable ones and ask for a quote, and also research suppliers so you can gather a rough estimate of the cost of materials. Once all this is done, consider your financing: if you have savings to splash, make sure your budget is realistic, or look for a low-interest contractor mortgage to finance your renovations, once you have obtained an estimate of the post-work value of your property.
Step Three: Making Big Changes
Once you’ve secured your funding and sourced your workmen and materials, it’s time to begin construction! Be sure to protect the rest of your home as well as you can from dust and damage you might incur from the project, keeping the site as safe as possible (especially if you have children running around). Also show your contractor any underlying issues that may need resolving before construction can begin – damp problems, mould, or leaks included. Image above Bernardno Rodrigues Architects
Step Four: Finishing Touches
Once all the hard work is completed, it’s time to restore some sense of order to your home, and accommodate your new changes. Have fun choosing paint colours, testing out furnishings, rearranging bits and bobs, and designing the room, thinking carefully about furniture and themes to match your original dream idea.
