When it comes to refurbishing your London property, it’s all about adding value at every step of the process. Many projects are finished out without achieving their full potential.
Here are four simple ways to make sure that you draw the full benefit from your place.
- Improve as you go: When you’re adding new elements to your property, take time to think if you can aesthetically and structurally improve your build. This can involve adding double glazing, switching up your heating with a Hive or Nest thermostat, or changing your Wi-Fi or internet provider. Also remember to try and take some steps to preserve unique elements as well as improve them. Many London flats have iconic older elements, and any property refurbishment in London should aim to highlight these historic features. By highlighting a truly unique element of your build, you can retain some classical character and massively improve your resale value.
- Your builder is your sensei: A good tradesman is worth their weight in gold, whether it is finishing out a quality job or applying their expertise to bring your costs down or provide innovative solutions to common problems. If you are considering doing work yourself, take some time to know when to hire someone and give them space to work after agreeing your initial timeframe. A good builder is difficult to findand souring a relationship with a professional over a slight lapse in the build can massively cost you in trust and force you to approach an unknown quantity for future work. Bearing this in mind, always aim to secure at least three to four quotes in order to enjoy an in-depth understanding of what the build is about.
- Write and research: If you’re keen on being hands-on with your build, slowing downand thinking things through can seem a little counterproductive, especially if you have a partner sharing your space. Writing downa dedicated plan can help externalise your design and ensure that you don’t miss any critical steps and give you a chance to refine and check-in on your work. This can help you take a waterfall approach and understand what elements have to be addressed first and what fundamentals need to be checked before you press on,.
- Think ahead: While planning your build is essential, take some time to think outside the box and manage any variables that are different to control and eliminate problems before they happen. Remember that any serious renovation work will produce material waste. Hiring a skip may seem expensive but can save massively on transport costs and effort as you dispose of your materials. It’s worth remembering that extensive rebuild work can knock out your power or restrict your access to your kitchen or facilities, so try and come up with a backup source of for cooking and sleeping arrangements if needed. Also, don’t forget that you can re-sell some of your materials on sites like Gumtree to help recoup some of your costs.
Get the most out of your property refurbishment in London by following this hard-won advice
