Home renovation is an exciting time for any family, couple or property developer. There can be incredible finds, like discovering beautiful original features underneath panels, or just under years worth of accumulated dust. Renovations North Wales, means a chance to put your own stamp on a home - being able to put down roots and settling down in a home that you’ve created and curated yourself. 

A successful home renovation relies on being prepared for the uncertainty of undertaking a big renovation project. This relies on the understanding that there will likely be some surprises in store along the way. It’s also how you deal with these surprises that will determine whether your renovation is a successful one. Having a brief idea of some of the hidden costs that can emerge during a renovation project can make or break your dream home. A step-by-step plan of action should help your project remain on track and more importantly, on budget. 

Set a Work Schedule

Having a schedule of work - even if it is only a brief outline is critical to anyone wanting to complete a big renovation project. This outline will include every single job that needs to be done from the start of the project to the end - in the right order. Ideally, if you know who will be completing the work and how much they have quoted the job for should also be included. 

Here is an example schedule of works for a house renovation project, your house designer, builder or general contractor should be able to advise you on your own version. 

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  Complete a through assessment of the condition of the house -pre-renovation

  
  


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  Stop any further damage or decay to the property

  
  


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  Building & planning permissions

  
  


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  Assess the structural stability

  
  


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  Any demolition work

  
  


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  Dealing with any elements of damp

  
  


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  Inspect the drains

  
  


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  Sorting out site access for larger projects

  
  


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  Completing any of the major building work

  
  


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  Fix any issues with the exterior of the building

  
  


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  First initial fix of the interior issues

  
  


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  Plastering and letting it dry out properly 

  
  


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  Flooring being laid 

  
  


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  Decorating the house through

  
  


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  Final deep clean to remove all traces of builders, dust etc

  
  


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  Move in, and fixing any snags found

  
  

Finding a Renovation Project

Properties that are primed for renovation are often described as being “in need of modernisation” in the listing details. This is quite a broad statement and it can mean anything from the property requiring a new kitchen, some quick and easy cosmetic fixes, to removing the giant tree growing through the middle of the house. 

So, before embarking on your renovation project, set your budget and decide what level of renovation works you are willing to undertake, physically, mentally and budget-wise. 

Finding the right property can take some time, the obvious places to start looking are with your local estate agents and some online property databases. Local auctions are another great way to find a diamond in the rough, so to speak. 

Things to Check When Assessing Property Potential

So, what’s the best way to make sure you don’t get lumped with a money drain? Before choosing your prospective property, you should always have a survey conducted in order to find out the state of the property. 

However, before you even think about making an offer, there are some things that even the untrained eye can look out for. 

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  Location

  
  

The old saying goes something along the lines of ‘buy the worst house on the best looking street’ - and this is still great advice for anyone on the lookout for a renovation bargain. No matter how much TLC you give a property, it can only be as good as the area it is in; so it makes sense to check out the local amenities, schools and the amount of green space in the local area. 

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  Expensive Repairs

  
  

Keep an eye out for things that could cost a small fortune to repair. For example, repairing a roof could set you back a decent chunk of your budget, so it’s important to inspect the roof thoroughly, look for missing or damaged tiles.

You may choose to upgrade the windows from single glazed to double or triple; this will reduce heat loss and house running costs but there will be an initial outlay. 

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  Scope to Extend

  
  

If the house is not big enough for your family requirements, you need to strongly consider how you could change it to rectify the problem. It might be easy to convert the existing space - such as an attic or garage. Or the garden might be suitable to have a rear extension, without compromising on outside space. 

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  Modern Heating & Electrics

  
  

This isn’t a dealbreaker by any means, but it does have implications if the house needs a complete rewire or central heating to be installed. There is a significant cost attached to each job, so unless you are confident in your DIY abilities, you’ll need to factor in paying the professionals.