Renovate or move; that is an age-old dilemma for homeowners. The truth is, if you love the town or community that you live in and you have a great plot, there really is no reason to move. You can always turn an ordinary house into your dream home but great plots in good neighbourhoods are few and far between. Before you put yourself through the stress of buying a new house, consider renovating the one that you already own.
With the current uncertainty in the UK property market, property-experts Open Property Group believe: “Most houses have the fundamentals that you need and turning your existing home into your dream home could be easier than you think. In some cases, you may have to gut the entire interior but typically some clever remodelling can make a big difference to your living space. Don’t be put off by all the horror stories, there are many examples of successful home renovations and it is possible to turn your existing home into your dream home without having a nervous breakdown or blowing your budget.”
Open Property Group have highlighted below why and how renovating your existing property should be at the forefront of your mind for 2019 and 2020!
A successful renovation starts with a good plan
As with any project, you get what you plan for and the better your planning, the smoother the renovation will be and the more likely you are to get the home you always wanted. Your renovation plan will help you get through the tough times and ensure that your project stays on track, on time and under control. It will help you keep track of the budget, building schedule, contractors, deliveries, and materials.
When you plan your renovation, you need both an overreaching design plan and a detailed room by room plan. You need to know what your overall vision is for your home and how it will all fit together, but you also need to decide on how you will implement your plan in each room. Without a clear overall vision of your dream home, you could end up with several beautiful, but mismatched, rooms.
The visualisation stage is your opportunity to dream big but when you put your plans on paper, you need to be practical. You have to decide what stays and what goes. Are you going to make structural changes; redo bathrooms, put in a new kitchen, do you need to knock out walls and replace windows and internal doors or are your changes going to be mostly cosmetic.
Once you have decided on your overall design and style, you need to focus on the specifics of each room; paint colours, type of flooring, lighting, curtains, fittings, and furnishings. When you plan your renovation try to make the most of any special or unique architectural features that you have in your home, like vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, vintage fireplaces, and period tiles. These are the elements that make your house interesting and unique and you don’t want to get rid of the character of your home. Lighting also has a significant impact on the ambiance of your home. It can set the mood and enhance the design aspects of the space. You should plan to have three levels of lighting; general lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting.
A realistic budget is an essential part of any successful renovation
You can dream big, but before you commit to your renovation plan, you need to commit to a budget. It is this budget that will ultimately determine which of your grand plans you can implement, and which will have to be shelved. Take your wish list of what you would like to do in each room and do some homework, utilising the latest smart-luxury home technology available to buy. Research the price of materials and building costs and add in a contingency to pay for those nasty surprises, like replacing electrical wiring or fixing faulty plumbing. Spend money on quality, buy the best fittings that you can afford and get a reputable contractor to do the work.
A thoughtful renovation will add value to your home
Renovating your home is all about adapting your existing living space to suit the needs of your family and lifestyle, but a thoughtful renovation will also add to the value of your home. When you renovate put your wish list front and centre, especially if you plan to live in the home for a long time, but also consider how your changes will affect the resale value of your property. Make wise choices and spend money on quality fittings and finishes.
When you decide to renovate your home, be prepared for the challenges but remember that it will all be worth it to get the home of your dreams.
