5 Things to Consider before you Begin a Project
If you’re looking to take on a home project this year, we thought we would share our words of wisdom to ensure you’ve got a little guidance to see you through.
No matter how big or small your project, whether you’re doing a quick update or an extension, we’re firm believers in the old saying, ‘better safe than sorry’. With over 15 years experience in the industry, we’ve seen the impact when plans aren’t fully thought through and the cowboys are given free reign.
So to avoid you going through any home improvement nightmares, we’ve listed our top tips on things you should consider before you begin any kind of project on your home.
After all, every man’s house is his castle and that’s the way it should stay.
Budget
We all wish we had lots of money to throw at grand designs, but unfortunately that’s often not the case for most of us.
So it’s time to be completely honest with yourself and your bank balance about what you can realistically afford to spend on your home improvements.
Some improvements may be a small fee once the project is complete, but others such as building work, can be long drawn out costs that soon start to chip away at the budget.
Come up with a list of all the elements that are going to cost you money so that you have a rough figure to work on.
Include costs such as materials, labour fees, architect fees, planning application and don’t forget the VAT.
You should be able to receive quotes from builders and architects for your project so this should help you create a more realistic cost.
If it’s possible, find out from any friends or family who have had the same or a similar project to tell you how much it cost them and if they went over budget.
Once you have the finance secured try to stick to the budget as best you can, small costs can soon start to creep up on big projects, especially if there are any delays or errors, so have a small amount of money to one side incase of any emergencies should you go over budget.
Time
How quick you want your home improvement to be done and the reality of time can be two very different things.
We know that our triple glazed windows only take a day or two to fit, but for much bigger builds or extensions, the time involved can be months.
However like us, a professional tradesman should be able to give you a good estimation of when you’re project should be complete. Of course there will often be delays in some areas such as planning permission or any specific building materials but this should only set you back by a few weeks at the most.
If you’re considering an extension, loft conversion or a conservatory, it’s best to be patient and realise that there will be some upheaval from normal family life.
You may want to choose the time to do it well, just to ensure that it doesn’t clash with any holidays, family events or other occasions that you may need your home for.
Be prepared for living alongside the builders and a lot of mess.
Planning
Unfortunately for any big projects planning permission is often needed for most cases.
This can sometimes go through quickly or be dragged out over weeks and months.
It really all depends on just how big your home improvement is going to be, and how quickly your local council can process the paper work.
Once you know what you want to do and know what it’s going to cost you, it’s best to get planning permission kicked off as soon as possible because of the delays that can take place.
If you’re local council reject your plans it can be back to the drawing board, so it’s often worth the cost of getting advice from an architect or the builder that you’re planning to use.
Do your research into planning regulations and you’ll feel more confident in filling out the forms yourself.
Tradesman
Finding a tradesman can be one of the most difficult tasks when you want to start home improvements.
As we’re Certass registered and MTC certified, we’re firm believers in ensuring that the standards in the industry are kept high, and that our work is compliant with all building regulations.
But unfortunately as with any trade, there are often those letting the industry down by carrying out work without any certification or professional standards.
Doing your research will play a pivotal role in ensuring that your dreams are achieved, and minimum disruption happens to your life.
When looking for any tradesman see which certificates or registrations they have, and check with these regulators to ensure they are still enrolled.
Many regulators require companies to be re-assessed annually, so if they haven’t taken part in any further training they will no longer be certified to carry out their work.
Another good tip is to ask advice from any friends or family if they could recommend anyone, of course don’t just trust their word for it, as the company may of changed hands since their project, but it’s a good starting point, and it might encourage a recommendation discount.
Final Result
Asking yourself a few simple questions before you begin any home improvements will help you feel secure in the knowledge that you’re doing it for the right reasons, and that you’re money is going to be well spent.
What do you want to achieve from your project?
What do you want to use the space for?
What difference will it really make to your home?
These may sound like a simple questions but the goal of what you’re looking to achieve can often get lost amongst the planning and construction.
Keeping in mind the final result the whole way through can ensure that nothing goes wrong, and you and the tradesmen are all working towards the same goal.
We’ve worked alongside many families looking to improve their homes, whether that be to add extra space with a loft conversion, or enhance their homes with new windows and doors.
If you need any advice about where to begin with your next home project, give our friendly and knowledgeable team a call.