Renovating Your Home: A Guide for Londoners

Does the promise of sunny weather have you in the mood for a spring clean? Maybe even a full home renovation? Renovating your home can be a great way to add value, particularly during the current housing market boom or you may just want to renovate for your own enjoyment. Either way, renovating a home in London can be especially challenging. Spaces are smaller, prices are higher and with London’s rich history and architecture you may come up against planning permission issues. However, this doesn’t mean you should avoid renovating in the capital, read on for our top tips on how to make the process go as smoothly as possible. 

As a Londoner you may be wondering if there is any point to renovating in the first place. We would argue that it’s a great time to do so! As mentioned, the housing market is currently booming and so renovating could be a good opportunity to increase your return. On the other hand, property in London is becoming increasing hard to find so you may not want to move. Renovating could therefore be an option to give your house more longevity and save you the time and hassle of moving. 

Where to Start

So where to begin with your plans? Firstly, you must come up with a plan and budget. Be realistic about what you can afford and the time period you might be working with. Remember that London has more expensive labour costs than the rest of the UK so factor this into your costings to make the right decision for you. You should also remember that while your property is being renovated this may cause some upheaval such as having to stay elsewhere while the work goes on and if you have a lot of large furniture or belongings you may need to find a storage unit near you. If you are outsourcing your renovation work, take the time to fully research companies and tradespeople. This may be more expensive at the outset but if you are looking to make some serious changes it is probably the best way to save time and get the results you have been dreaming of.

Choosing Energy Efficiency

Something worth considering when renovating a London property is energy use and sustainability. With the London market and cost of living being as expensive as it is, you could use the renovation as an opportunity to make your home more energy efficient. Many of the homes in London are older buildings which do not have the best insulation so a renovation is a great time to improve this. Think about insulating the façade of the building as well as improving the insulated component connections and constructions. A qualified building developer can help you plan and implement this. When it comes to sustainability, adding in fixtures such as solar panels and underfloor heating will help you to save money in the short term and increase property value should you choose to sell. Of course, it is also a bonus to be able to add some environmentally friendly solutions to your renovations especially given the levels of pollution in London. 

Other Factors to Consider

Finally, Londoners should think about the aesthetics of their renovations. If money is tight there are some simple things you can do to make your home feel refreshed. For example, a quick lick of paint or wallpaper is cost effective but really makes a noticeable difference. 

Renovating may seem like a more daunting task in London than the rest of the UK but it doesn’t have to be. With the right planning and changes you can really add value for your own enjoyment and investment.