5 Top Tips When Starting A Home Renovation.

Photographs of a clients lounge that required renovation following a water leak.

What is a home renovation?

Home renovations, or improvements, are when you carry out works to a property to improve or restore it.

You may choose to do this for several reasons, such as increasing the value of the property, to amend the style to reflect your personal taste or for repair and safety reasons.

These projects can vary from re-designing a specific room such as a bathroom or kitchen, to full extensions and loft conversions.

Regardless of why you want to carry out the works, there are some key considerations and some steps that are imperative to take before work begins.

Thinking of renovating but don’t know where to begin?

The mere thought of starting a home renovation project can be enough to put someone off. We get it. Home projects are daunting, cost money and are deeply personal.

But with the right team beside you, there’s no reason why your home renovation journey can’t be one of excitement and joy, delivering the results you want on time and to a budget that’s comfortable to you.

At The Collective Edition, you bring us your vision and we bring it to life. 

We are experts in home transformations, guiding you every step of the way. From working out the likely costs of your project, to detailing the design and handling planning permissions and building regulations, all the way through to site management and client handover, we are here for YOU, bringing your project to life with you at the very forefront of everything we do.

Whether you’re planning a big transformation or just a refresh, it all starts with a clear plan.

5 Starting Points For Home Renovation Projects

1.Define Your Vision

It’s important to get a clear understanding of what it is that you want to achieve and why. Without this, it can be tricky to decide what your non-negotiables are and what you are, and aren’t, prepared to spend your budget on.

Write a list of the changes you wish to make and the reasons why – and, for those not wanting to go over their budget, also explore whether there are any other alternatives that will help you achieve similar results in a more cost-effective manner.

Consider the function, style and overall feel of the space – take photos of things you like and create mood boards on platforms such as Pinterest so you can refine your visual ideas.

Go to stores and physically see products – this doesn’t mean that you can’t buy online but it does allow you to get a real understanding of the look and feel of your choices as well as the ability to move products in store to see how they all pair together, ensuring a cohesive and united scheme.  

Director, Jessie, works with clients to define their project scope, budget and priority list.

2.Set a realistic budget

So many projects go over budget – primarily because people don’t allow for enough contingency and because they try to spend every penny of their available budget.

When working out your budget, allow for 20% contingency. This will give you a cushion for the unexpected and unforeseen, removing financial pressure when things crop up.

Through close monitoring of your actual spend vs your estimated spend throughout the project, you will see if there is some surplus cash as you head towards the finish line – this could be used as savings, or you may choose to upgrade some of your final finishes.

If you’re looking to get a general idea of costs, in the first instance, reach out to key subcontractors and suppliers, so you can discuss your project and begin to get an estimate of cost for the works.

Depending on your location and the works you’re undertaking, you may need to consider planning permission, building regulations, have technical drawings and use a structural engineer – all of whom have a cost. Make sure you look at what your project needs and budget accordingly.

Create a spreadsheet, noting down every little thing you’re going to need to complete your project – from builders right down to the finishing touches. Don’t forget to include any furnishings and make sure you’ve costed an efficient number of skips for waste removal.

Be sure to consider the knock-on impact of your decisions and who else may need to be involved, and therefore budgeted for, as a result. For example, you may want to add an island to your kitchen – this could mean you also need a plumber and an electrician. Consider your project as a whole and leave no stone unturned. The more thorough and ruthless you can be, the more accurate and realistic your project costs will be.

Set yourself a budget that you’re comfortable to spend – and always keep this in mind when making decisions. You may not be able to achieve or have everything you want – and that’s OK – defining your vision and knowing what you want to prioritise will help with this.

Don’t be afraid to acknowledge that something is out of financial reach – look at other more cost-effective options and see how you can bring costs down to a more comfortable number – and never be embarrassed to remove something from your pre-project scope, the goal is to achieve a beautiful home, not financial trouble.

Budgeting can be tricky, stressful and timely. If this is causing you to sweat slightly, don’t panic! as we can take that burden from you with our Phase I Feasibility Study. This helps define your project scope and does a deep dive into what everything is likely to cost you, as well as suggesting local suppliers, suitable products and conceptual designs that are right for your project. We can curate detailed cost management as well as look at what you can achieve within your financial comfort zone.

3.Prioritise  

Creating a priority list is key. It will help you stay on track, manage your budget effectively and avoid feelings of overwhelm.

Focus on what matters most – is it a particular room you wish to change or is it making structural alterations that add value and function.

Look back on your vision and determine what you absolutely must, or want, to get done vs what you’d like to get done. Anything on the latter should be much further down your priority list.

Make sure that your priority list is aligned with other key decision makers – ensuring you’re all on the same page and working towards the same end goal to avoid any unnecessary spend righting wrongs.

With our Phase I Feasibility study we help you determine where to focus your efforts for the greatest impact, ensuring that the essential elements are handled first, with room to explore the exciting finishing touches later.

4.Consult experts early

Getting advice on planning, structural or design considerations early one will save you money in the long run – they will work with you and your budget to achieve the best possible outcome for your project. This is also an area in which hidden surprises can be uncovered – you may need full planning permission instead of permitted development, your property structure may require more support than originally thought or the design you had in mind may be the most expensive option available.

Surrounding yourself with the right team from the off will enhance your projects success. You want professionals who understand your vision and can guide you through every step of the process. With our hands-on project management, we coordinate all the details and maintain open communication to ensure your project is in capable hands.

Experts in home transformations, The Collective Edition guides you through the entire process. From conception to final handover. You don't need to go it alone anymore.

5.Create a timeline

Home renovations take time, so make sure you plan ahead. Depending on the complexity of your project, you’ll need to factor in lead times for materials, scheduling tradespeople, potential delays and snags.

Creating a programme that shows the project timeline, will help you keep on track and ensure things are happening when they’re meant to.

A detailed programme will also tell you when you need to make decisions by and when products need to be purchased.

Invest in developing your timeline, it will be your project bible that communicates your expected schedule to all those on site.

Don’t worry if you’re short on time, we ensure everything runs like clockwork, from the first plan to the final touch, so you can enjoy the transformation without the stress.

That concludes our top 5 starting points – as an additional tip, stay involved!
Even with a project manager, your input is invaluable. Be part of the decision-making process and enjoy the creative journey. We’ll keep you updated at every step and ensure you’re involved with all the fun parts, like selecting finishes and design details, without the stress of managing the logistics.

The Collective Edition are here to simplify home transformations.