Home renovation projects are often fraught with stress. Watch any popular TV programme featuring people with big ideas and you’ll soon witness the disintegration of sanity, the predictably “shocking” budget overspend and big delays.
If you are thinking of doing work to your home, these tips should help you to manage it successfully – and enjoy it, too.
Have a plan
It is easy to get carried away when you have a good idea, but you should not start work until you have a firm plan. If there is any rule to follow in property refurbishment, it is this.
Gorgeous images on Instagram can easily tempt you. Don’t be their prey. Get quotes and cost out any project before you start. Remember that while details may change, the plan will keep you on course to achieving the final desired result.
When you make your plan, you should also research any planning permission and/or building regulations that are required. These applications need to be built into your timeline and costed, because this will affect your budget.
While UK inflation is now a lot lower than it was, the cost of materials and labour has remained high. This may mean you have to prioritise and pare back your original ideas to suit your budget.
Make a wishlist and decide what is really important. Work out what you may be able to do yourself to save money, or what you are willing to sacrifice.
Having a plan does not mean things won’t go wrong, but it will increase your chances of success. Remember, changes of mind or changes of heart are expensive, so before you start be sure your plan is the finished version. Build in a contingency of at least a 10% into your budget, and be flexible on dates.
Verify recommendations
In this social media age, people often take recommendations at screen value, trusting far too much in Google and Trustpilot reviews. Do your due diligence by, for example, visiting former customers (most legitimate contractors will encourage this) and obtaining a copy of the firm’s insurance liability certificate. This will verify important information such as their home/business address and insurance details.
Deposits can be a tricky area. Contractors may ask for an upfront payment to secure the work. Because the company or individual may have to buy materials ahead of time, this is not unreasonable, but negotiating a reasonable figure is very important. If a contractor is asking for too much, stand your ground and agree on a sum that reflects the project cost.
Payment in stages is the norm. It is advisable to withhold the final 5% for a few days to give yourself a chance to check snagging and ensure you are satisfied.
Draw boundaries
When you are busy planning your future home, it is easy to forget that you need to live in your current one, which may include working from home.
Having contractors in your space can feel draining and intrusive. You may be unable to relax and feel obliged to offer to make them tea and coffee. To make it through a project, create “safe spaces” where you can operate a normal life.
When doing refurbishment work, there will be noise and disruption, and dust that seems to get everywhere. To limit this, consider using sticky plastic carpet matting, taping up doors and even getting hold of some noise-cancelling headphones.
From the outset, drawing boundaries and setting expectations will help you and the contractor(s). If you do/don’t want them to work weekends and/or early mornings then be clear about that. Be upfront about how many cups of tea you are willing to make. If you are busy, provide a flask or a fridge with provisions for them.
Plan waves of work
Unless you want to live on a building site full time (in which case it is probably best to move out), consider doing up one room at a time. This will also help your budget.
Before starting a project, think through the impact it may have on other rooms in your property, for example, where paintbrushes will be washed and stored. Refurb projects are messy, so it is best to contain the mess to certain areas.
The beauty of the room-by-room approach is that lessons learned can be applied to the next room, and contractors that you particularly liked can be used again. This means that rather than having one big to-do list, tasks can be split into more manageable parts, reducing the stress should you realise that the contractor is not up to the job, your budget isn’t enough or timescales slip.
Not many people can afford the luxury of living somewhere else while work is going on, so this approach can also help with maintaining boundaries and enabling you to live your life while refurbing your home.
Enjoy the journey
We often talk about adding value to our homes, but miss the most important question: how will this refurb add value to you? Take time to think about how any work will improve your life and how it will enhance how you live in your home.
It is commonplace to fast-forward to the before-and-after images of refurbishment projects, but what often gets missed is the sense of journey that the owner experienced. Any renovation will involve lots of big and little decisions, so it is good to take your time to enjoy the process, or at least try to.
Being able to make a home your own is a pleasure and a luxury but too often is seen as a chore. Try not to be in a rush to get to the finish line. Make mood and Pinterest boards, save websites and research how different materials and colours work together. Take a leaf out of my friend’s book: she attended a class on stained glass so she could design a glass panel for her new front door.
Remember that not everything has to be done today (this is especially important if your budget doesn’t stretch), so don’t overlook cheaper improvement options, for instance revamping rather than replacing kitchen units.