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Whether you’re buying a new property or revamping your current home, a large-scale renovation project gives you the opportunity to totally transform your living environment. From changing the floorplan and adding extra features to create more space, to updating your décor, there are endless options to consider.

However, renovating a property can be stressful, particularly if you go into it without knowing what to expect. If you want to ensure that your home improvements are a success, take a look at these eight ways to simplify your renovations:

1. Consider All the Options

Before you finalise your renovation plans, make sure you’ve considered all of the options. You might have a clear idea of how you want your property to look, but there may be elements you haven’t even considered. By taking the time to research successful renovations and looking at other projects, you can get inspiration for your own home improvements.

Similarly, talking to architects, property planners and interior designers can help you to decide what style of renovations are right for you and your home. Professional advice may seem unnecessary if you’re already committed to a particular idea, but it can save time, money and hassle further down the line.

2. Have Plans Professionally Drafted

Before any work can be undertaken, your renovation plans will need to be drafted. Creating building plans requires expertise, experience and specialist software, so don’t be tempted to do this yourself. Electricians, builders, plumbers and other tradespeople will be working from these plans, so it’s well worth having them drafted by a professional. Any errors or mistakes could lead to catastrophic building problems and may even affect the safety of the structure.

Having plans professionally drafted will ensure that everyone working on your property is on the same page, and it’ll improve site safety too. What’s more – you’ll have peace of mind that your renovations will be carried out to your exact specification when the drafts are finalised.

3. Appoint a Project Manager

It’s likely that a wide variety of professionals will carry out work on your home at one stage or another. To ensure renovations are carried out strategically and without unnecessary delays, it’s essential to appoint a designated project manager. This person will be responsible for the renovations as a whole and ensure that tasks are completed on time and to an appropriate standard.

Many homeowners decide to act as project manager when carrying out renovations, and this is certainly a viable option. However, you’ll need to determine whether you have the time and expertise to immerse yourself in the role. Project managing renovations can be a full-time role in itself, so don’t assume you will be able to oversee renovations from a distance or check in with tradespeople every few days. Instead, you’ll need to be on hand to resolve queries, troubleshoot potential issues and implement effective solutions.

5. Find the Right Supplier

Depending on exactly what renovations you’re planning, you’re going to need a range of materials. In addition to general building supplies, you may require metal and timber supplies, for example. Working with a supplier who can provide all of the materials you need, at a cost-effective price, ensures supplies can be accessed easily. Furthermore, when you find the right supplier, you can be confident that work won’t fall behind because materials aren’t on site when they’re needed.

At Armstrong Supplies, for example, you’ll find a wide range of building and timber supplies, including roofing, landscaping and drainage materials, as well as tools and equipment. With the option to order building supplies online and have them delivered straight to the site, it’s easy to manage renovations and ensure materials are always accessible.

6. Get Planning Permission

If you’re planning large-scale renovations, it’s likely you’ll need planning permission from your local planning authority (LPA). Failing to obtain planning permission when it’s legally required can result in all sorts of problems, including monetary fines and being ordered to undo the changes you’ve made to the building. Due to this, it’s vital to check whether planning permission is required for your proposed renovations before they get underway.

Most applications take at least eight weeks to be processed, although this can be substantially longer. If you want to avoid unnecessary delays, apply early and make your proposal as professional as possible. Working with an architect can help to ensure your application is approved on its first submission, as they have in-depth knowledge of planning regulations. If you need to adjust your plans, professional assistance can help you to achieve your property goals while satisfying the relevant LPA’s requirements.

7. Live in or Live Out?

You’ll need to decide whether you’re going to remain in the property when renovations are being carried out or whether you’re going to use alternative accommodation until the work is complete. If you’re buying and renovating a new home, for example, you may choose to remain in your current property until your new home is habitable.

If you’re renovating your existing home, things can be a little trickier. However, some homeowners choose to rent alternative accommodation or stay with family and friends until the renovations are complete.

Depending on the work that’s being carried out, your home may be without power, heat and/or water for lengthy periods of time, so you’ll need to bear this in mind. In addition to this, there will be numerous hazards to watch out for, so be sure to take this into account, especially if you have children or pets.

8. Create a Schedule of Works

A schedule of works lists every bit of work that needs to be undertaken in order to complete your planned renovations and will be the document that guides you through the process. Before any work starts, it’s vital to have your schedule completed and agreed by contractors. As well as detailing every task that needs to be carried out, include the person or company responsible for the work and the price agreed on the schedule too.

If you don’t have extensive experience in the industry, you’ll need professional advice when creating a schedule of works. Confirming how long it will take to construct an extension or rewire a property can only be done by the relevant professional, for example, so don’t be tempted to use your own time estimates.

Planning Your Home Renovations

There’s no doubt that renovating a property takes time, energy and dedication, even if you’re not carrying out the work yourself! No matter how carefully you plan the project or how detailed your schedule of works is, there will inevitably be some unforeseen issues that will crop up at some point. While you can’t predict exactly what will go wrong, something usually does. By factoring in the possibility of this, you can allow some leeway into your schedule and prevent one missed deadline from having a knock-on effect on the rest of the project.

Although property renovation can seem stressful at the time, creating your dream home is always worth the effort. With the right planning, you can ensure that every feature of your property is crafted to your exact specifications and that your renovations bring your ideas to life.