I’ve worked on many a home renovation or two in my time! These are the top questions I recommend my clients ask themselves before diving in…
1) why you want to renovate your home?
Are you planning to stay in your renovated property for the long term? Or perhaps you want to rent it out as a short (Airbnb?) or long term lease? Maybe you are doing your property up with a view to selling in a year or two? It goes without saying that each of these scenarios have different considerations.
2) what is the scope of work for your home renovation project?
Another obvious one but be as specific as you possibly can at this pre-planning stage. The more specific you are, the more detailed and on point the contractor quotes.
3) have you organised a building survey?
If you are moving into a new property, a survey is essential. Renovation work should be undertaken from the outside in. Fundamentals like the structural / damp repairs, utilities (and any major reconfiguration) must be tackled first. Check here to find a RICS qualified surveyor in your area.
4) what is the budget for your home renovation?
How much are you willing to spend? A contingency is an absolute must as there are always unforeseen issues (particularly in older buildings). I recommend putting aside at least an additional 20% as an emergency contingency fund for these yet-to-be-known issues.
5) how long will your home renovation take?
I almost guarantee your renovation will take longer than expected, particularly when working in period buildings. Bear this in mind and add around a month or two to any full house renovation schedule as a time buffer.
If budget allows, I also recommend living elsewhere for the duration of a whole property project – the dust will get EVERYWHERE!!!! Invest in a professional after-build clean. Although you will probably still be dealing with airborne dust for a few weeks after completion, they really do get into all the hidden nooks and crannies and lesson the dust fallout!
I hope these tips have been useful. Please contact us here if you would like help with your renovation project.
