A trend started recently with more families looking to stay and extend rather than trade up for their second or third homes. Planning permissions from city councils could not be easier to get, provided you stay within their guidelines for automatic approval for planning consents. Finance is still readily available at competitive prices.
It is no wonder that more people are looking to upgrade and renovate their own homes rather than go through the hassle of finding a new suitable home. Here are some tips to help make those home renovations easier.
Renovate to Avoid Making Mistakes
Renovations are as much about avoiding making mistakes as they are about getting your preferred décor. For this, you need to decide just how big you really want to go. Many planning authorities will allow householders to extend, provided they don’t go further than 50% of the existing footprint and do not encroach on borders with neighboring properties.
If your home falls into any of the categories for listed buildings, you may find that there are many restrictions on your ability to renovate, sometimes including the type of windows you can install. Before you begin, the first step is to find out what is possible. No one wants to be told they have to revert everything, so be sure to follow the rules.
Plan for the Space You Want
All too often, homes are extended one room at a time, or for special circumstances, leading to bad layouts. Often this is more costly than simply looking to maximise the total space in one go. Make sure that the foundations, roof, electrical and water, and plumbing needs are solid. Then decide on the finishing and windows. Remember to also check how you can maximise energy efficiency throughout the home as you extend.
Knocking out a wall or two can often provide more accessible space, so be sure to think about your home plan from scratch, rather than just adding on to what you have. Often resetting the layout will provide space for a much-needed toilet. Also, consider the need for storage space and how to make the most of the available light.
Get the planning permission to go as large as you can in one go. This will save on the expenses of seeking permission multiple times. Often roof extensions can be added to a one-story extension during the review period, and if the neighbors don’t catch the change, the planning authority is not going to uphold any late objections. Even if you don’t fulfill all the items on the plan in one job, the planning permission can usually be renewed.
Be Prepared for the Mess
Horror stories abound about contractors who leave the site messy and fail to provide a final clean. A good tip is to add how much they would charge for the final clean and then have them take that off the bill. You can take the hassle out of removing building rubbish and get a professional to do the whole job professionally. Chances are your builder is going to be busy on other jobs when you need to get the place sparkling clean.
On a daily basis, be prepared for the builder’s rubbish and think about giving them their own bin. You may not want them having access to the whole home, but they will need access to the toilet and common courtesy would be to offer them a cuppa or coffee at least. Making it easy is far better than stressing or resenting them throughout the job.
Costs, Plans, and Quality
We all like to think we can get a good deal, and that paying more is foolish. Be prepared for costs to go over your expectations and decide ahead of time how to address how to make budget changes. Going for the lowest bid may not be the best choice, particularly if they are “just starting out”. Ask for references and pictures of the work-in-progress.
Plans will change over time, however, the more you plan, the higher the probability you will get what you really want. However, when it comes to quality, spend that money on getting well-laid foundations as well as the things you touch and use every day – the faucets, shower, door handles, etc.
Places to save the money are on the things which will wear out, particularly where there is, and will be heavy traffic. From the entrance to the kitchen, hallways and stairs, think about floor coverings which won’t break the budget to replace. Sisal rugs are a good option to consider, as well as other inexpensive, hardwearing rugs.
Getting What You Really Want
All too often people are immediately disappointed with their home renovation. Sometimes that will pass as they come to appreciate the added space. However, if the kitchen is the centre of your home, make sure that the doors and handles are ones you will still like in 10 years’ time.
Refuse to let yourself be persuaded by something on sale which cuts the price by a third off or more. You might wind up coming to resent not having the kitchen you always wanted. There are always ways to save in other places. Get the space right, and then invest in high quality where you need it most.
