lifestyle
Planning your home improvement project
W
hen it comes to home improvements, the most common question we hear is “how do we go about starting the process of improving our home and who do we ask for help? “ The answer is not always a straight forward one, depending upon the nature of the project you are undertaking, but obtaining the right advice from the outset is vital if your project is to go smoothly. The most common cause of dissatisfaction we hear about is where a Client has employed specialist tradesmen who undertake the majority of the work, but the overall project remains incomplete once the tradesmen have finished their specific aspects.This is not usually the tradesmen’s fault! A great example of this is perhaps a kitchen re-fit where the kitchen is part of a kitchen/dining space and the Client wants the kitchen refitted with the dining room decorated and updated at the same time.The problem comes when the Kitchen Fitters finish their work and the Client is disappointed because they still need to employ a Decorator and possibly a Joiner to finish the rest of the project. This scenario comes about because the Client has not been advised correctly or rather, has not sought out the correct advice from the correct source at the outset. When contemplating carrying out any work or improvements to your home, it is worth remembering that your home is likely the largest single investment you own so it is imperative that you seek professional advice, to ensure you get a good return on any further investment as it is easy to get it wrong. For extensions, refurbishments, conversions and any work that involves structural alterations, your first step should be to talk to a design professional such as an Architect, Architectural Designer or Structural Engineer, who will be able to advise you on whether you need Planning and/or Listed Building Consent in the first instance.They will also be able to advise you on whether you will need to comply with the Building Regulations and the Party Wall Act, or require a Build Over Agreement with the water authority.These may well still be required even if planning consent is not. If you fail to obtain the
appropriate statutory consents for work you carry out, you could face legal action from the Local Authority and be made to put your property back to the way it was before you started.You will also be required to provide these consents when selling your home and if you don’t have them, you may be forced to apply retrospectively to enable a sale to continue.This can be more costly than obtaining them at the start of the project. If the project is an internal one, you may still want to start with an Architect, or it may be more appropriate to talk to an Interior Designer. An Interior Designer can be a great asset on an internal renovation or remodel and will recommend trusted trades and specialists to carry out the entire works.The designer will then act as a Project Manager to oversee the whole project and ensure every detail is taken care of. In addition to organising and overseeing the fitting out and remodeling, they can also advise and guide you on decor and furnishings, ensuring that your project adds both desirability and value to your home. Many people may be concerned with the cost of appointing a Designer for their project, but rest assured, professional guidance and assistance with your project will pay dividends in the long run.The more time you spend in the design phase, contemplating the finer details, with your Designer using their expertise to guide you past the many pitfalls, the smoother your project will run and more likely it will be finished within budget. Most Designers, whether Architectural or Interior, offer a free of charge initial consultation or in some cases there may be a small fee. Either way, good professional advice at the outset, even at a small cost, can save thousands of pounds in the long run.
Written by Mick Baird at The Sacred Space Company, for further information visit www.thesacredspacecompany.co.uk or contact Mick on 01707 391415. 18
Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950
August 2012