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Starting your home renovation project can seem like a daunting task – where are you going to find the extra budget? The spare time? Can I deal with any issues or problems on-site?
We’ve prepared a guide to 4 key questions to make sure you answer before you start your home improvement project, whether it’s a full refurbishment, a loft extension, or a single-storey extension. Answering these challenging questions upfront will help you to plan and schedule effectively and lead you on your way to a stress and hassle-free home improvement project.
This question will enable you to gain a great idea of your needs and priorities. Goal setting will enable you to create a brief that better meets your needs and priorities. Key goal setting topics you need to consider are:
How much will my house extension cost? This is the most common question we get asked as architects and designers, and unfortunately, there isn’t a clear-cut answer. The total build cost will depend on things such as the quality of the kitchen and sanitary ware you choose and the structural complexity of the project. To help you get started with figuring out your budget, here are 2 key considerations:
To find out more, read our ‘Guide to House Extensions Costs’ blog post and check out our ‘Fees’ page on our website.
There are several surveys, permissions and approvals that you will require to complete for most home renovation projects. This is the stage of the process that you’ll likely require professional help and advice.
You’ll need to check this before starting work to avoid any nasty legal issues down the line. Over half a million buildings in the UK are listed, and you can check your address at British Listed Buildings.
If so, this may affect any works you are planning to the exterior of your home and may require you to achieve full planning permission (where permitted development would normally apply). Before you start, check your home status with your local planning authority.
The Planning Permission step is where your architect or designer packages up your chosen design and acts as the agent between you and the council to achieve approval. However, you don’t always need to go through planning, and often home improvement works can be completed through Permitted Development.
If you require more information on this, read our permitted development blog post or contact us within your brief, and we can advise on the best way forward for your project.
To achieve planning permission and for us to be able to design your home effectively, you’ll need to have several surveys completed. An experienced architect will advise you on what specific surveys you will require to progress your project. At Aura Architecture can advise and organise these surveys on your behalf, using our list of trusted and approved contractors.
To determine the condition of the ground and water levels before building.
An in-depth inspection of your drainage system, using high-tech CCTV cameras which are inserted into your drains.
Provides a detailed evaluation of a property’s condition, recording risks and potential extra costs that may be incurred.
Captures the position and measurement of all structural and aesthetic features of the property and allows the architect or designer to start work on new layouts.
To maximise your space, light and add value to your property.
Before you start working with any 3rd parties, make sure your selected partners have good reviews through Houzz, Google or Trustpilot and are open and transparent with you about their fees and schedules and can provide references if requested.
Make sure you ask your builders to sign a contract that includes payment schedules, insurances and timeframes.
We at Aura Architecture pride ourselves on our open and transparent service, so if you are looking to start your next home improvement project, Create Your Brief or Contact us Today. We can manage your project from end to end, helping you answer all these important questions.
Download our FREE 10-step guide, guiding you through the home improvement project from start to finish. Also check out our social media pages, Houzz and Pinterest boards, for reviews, recommendations, inspiration and more.