DO’S & DON’TS FOR YOUR HOME RENOVATION
Choosing to renovate your home is an investment that you’ll want to make the most of, but knowing where to start when it comes to planning this process can be difficult. It’s also a process that everyone wants to get right, the first time around.
Here at We Love Build, we guide our clients through their renovation project from start to finish, helping them to understand the important aspects of each stage of the work.
Take these do’s and don’ts as home renovation planning tips, and factor them into your own process if you want your experience to be as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.
Do: Determine your renovation objectives
The first (but often missed) step is to consider exactly what you want to achieve from your home renovation. Setting out to extend your home is a starting point, but what is it about the space you have at the moment that has led you to want more? Is it not practical enough for your busy day-to-day family life, or does it make entertaining friends a struggle? We’d always advise that you treat your existing home as the starting point, basing the changes that you’d like to see from what you actually have at the moment.
By making this consideration early in the process, our team will be able to use your goals as the basis for their initial plans; adding value, longevity, and purpose to your overall investment. We’ve designed plenty of different types of London home extensions that add value to an existing property, and it’s because they have been planned carefully and are completely aligned with our clients’ goals.
Don’t: Overlook planning application requirements
One of the costliest home renovation faux pas that you could possibly make is overlooking what’s required in terms of planning application and permission for your project. If you’re navigating this process without an expert, it might be tempting to cut some corners and assume that these types of regulations don’t apply to your scope of work; but this could eventually mean that you’d have to demolish or undo your DIY home extension.
Here at We Love Build, we’re well versed in the residential planning permission process, and we can also assist you with commercial planning applications - it’s all part of our design and build service.
Do: Choose the right builder
As we’ve already outlined, any type of home renovation work is something that you want to get right the first time around. Making sure to choose the right builder for your project will boost the likelihood of this outcome, as you’re guaranteed to be working with the kind of professional that meets your expectations and brings their own quality standards to the work. We’d always recommend taking some time to review different types of projects that have been carried out by the builder that you’re exploring as an option, and if possible, finding out about their initial process would be advantageous.
For example, as part of our initial consultation service, we have an in-depth session with our clients to get a clear understanding of exactly what they’re hoping to achieve from their planned renovation. We pay close attention to our clients’ goals, and we come up with a tailored solution for them.
Don’t: Attempt a DIY renovation
Sometimes, homeowners choose not to involve professionals in their renovation at all. It might be a step taken due to budget constraints, or because the builder they’d like to work with doesn’t have any immediate availability; but in every instance, it’s always discouraged to take this kind of work upon yourself without any prior experience - especially if it’s a full scale home extension project.
The COVID pandemic gave rise to a lot of DIY renovations and extensions, as the professionals stayed at home while the nation was observing lockdown restrictions. However, the impact of this is coming to fruition now, felt especially by those that have purchased a home that has clear signs of ‘DIY reno’ work. The standard of these efforts is usually only revealed when the buyer has a survey done on the property, and the scale of the faults that can come to light can end up costing thousands of pounds to repair.
Do: Set a budget, but be flexible
Opting to renovate or extend your home is a large-scale investment, so when it comes to budgeting, homeowners must be both realistic and flexible at the same time. Having a sense of ‘wiggle room’ around the figure that you’ve set for your budget will take the edge off of any unexpected costs that may arise, and given the nature of these types of projects, this is a common outcome. It might even help you to overestimate your budget, as you’ll already be factoring in any costs that come up as the work progresses.
Do: Pack away your space in advance
One of the most stressful points during any home renovation or extension project is right before the work begins. Ideally, your contractor will be on hand to help with covering up your space and lifting any larger pieces of furniture outside of the property; but before your renovation is due to start, we’d suggest taking stock of your space with a thorough declutter. This way, you’ll have less to manage when it comes to having your contractors onsite.
We’d also never recommend leaving this kind of decluttering process until the night before your work is due to begin - we promise you that it will be worthwhile!
Don’t: Get swept away by trends
It’s important to carry out a home renovation or extension that is unique to you and your requirements, and being too easily influenced by trends could be a choice that limits the value that you’ll get from your project in years to come. Trends are ‘trends’ for a reason - they typically come with a kind of seasonal buzz, and then they fade away. If you’re seeing an abundance of open plan living layouts, and you choose to have this kind of configuration for your home as part of the project purely for aesthetic purposes, you may come to regret your decision. The same concept can be applied to colour palettes - an all-white, minimalist home may look chic on the pages of a magazine, but in reality, it may feel cold and clinical.
We’re advocates for moodboards and gathering lots of inspiration, but make sure that you choose what you’re most drawn to naturally, rather than gravitating towards ‘on-trend’ interiors.
Start planning your home renovation or extension with trusted London contractors
We’ve created this list of do’s and don’ts because we understand just how important getting your home renovation project ‘right’ is; and when you choose our team, we take care of these factors so you don’t have to. To find out more, or to start a project with us simply contact us and we’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, take a look at some of our latest residential renovation projects and commercial construction projects online, and find some initial inspiration.
