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When embarking on a property renovation project, being organised and systematic is the first step towards ensuring a smooth process.

Whilst building your dream extension, basement or loft conversion is exciting and you want to start work with all guns blazing, it’s a good idea to slow things down and take your time in planning every little detail. You’ll be surprised about how many fine points you will need to consider.

We recommend starting the groundwork well in advance of when you want the building work to start. For many of our clients that means a year in advance give or take to obtain the necessary permissions, iron out any issues with neighbours and conduct in-depth research on builders, costs, kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, decking and all the nitty grittys of your property renovation project.

SDA Build London has created a FREE downloadable Project Management Checklist that might help you plan your project … step by step.

Ready to download

So, what are the aspects of a property renovation project that you need to consider?

The first step is to appoint an architect to create your plans and submit them to your council for planning permission. The architect is a vital member of your team as nothing can progress until the drawings and plans have been approved by the local council. It is advisable to choose a local architect who knows the rules and regulations of your area. If, for example, you live in a conservation area, planning regulations and restrictions will differ from those outside the conservation area. It’s usually the local architects who are aware of do’s and don’ts.

Planning permission approvals take 8 weeks from the date of submission, assuming there are no problems. If your plans need to be amended or your neighbour objects, this 8-week timeline might be stretched until the council, the neighbours and yourself are happy.

You will need a structural engineer to prepare detailed structural drawings so a builder can give you a quote. We’ve sometimes had clients ask us to quote based on planning permission drawings. Whilst we can provide very rough estimates with planning permission drawings, it’s impossible to prepare a detailed quote without structural drawings that tell us how much material we will need to complete your project.

You will also need building control permissions. Building controls are minimum standards for design, construction and alterations to almost every building. You will need to get building control approvals by applying via the Planning Portal. This is usually done or should be done by your architect prior to commencing work. Once you have given a Building Notice or submitted Full Plans, you can start work at any time, but you must give the Local Authority a Commencement Notice at least two clear days (not including the day on which you give notice and any Saturday, Sunday, Bank or public holiday) before doing so.

Do give us a call on 0208 191 7595 or drop us an email at enquiries@sdabuildlondon.co.uk if you’d like a FREE consultation on how we can help plan your renovation project.

Coming to the end of a home renovation is a time of mixed emotions – excitement, frustration, worry and, most of all, impatience to settle back in and have your home to yourself. However eager you are to get back to normal, though, the process will be smoother if you hold off a little. Follow these tips to make putting your home back together as seamless as possible.

Please click here to read the article on Houzz.

Give the SDA Build London team a call if you are thinking about a property renovation project. We’ll be happy to come around for a FREE consultation on what you can and should be doing to enhance your property’s value.  Call 0208 191 7595 or email us at enquiries@sdabuildlondon.co.uk to book an appointment.

We enjoyed this article by Sarah Warwick in “Real Homes,” on glass box extensions as a part of your property renovation project. We’d like to share it with you.

HOW MUCH WILL A GLASS EXTENSION COST?

‘While a conservatory can be a relatively inexpensive alternative to a more solid extension, a glass extension will almost certainly be more costly.

‘You will probably want it to flow from the rest of the house, which may mean compensating for the areas of glass by increasing insulation levels elsewhere or carrying out other energy-saving measures. High-specification glass, the structural solution and alterations to the rest of the house are all costs that are likely to be greater than if you build something more conventional.

‘Fees are likely to be higher for the architect or designer and structural engineer, too, as more work will be involved. You may also have to employ a thermal consultant, unless you’re building something more solid. Budget for a minimum budget of £3,000 per m².’

Do give us a call on 0208 191 7595 or drop us an email at enquiries@sdabuildlondon.co.uk if you’d like a FREE consultation on how we can help with your extension.

Read the article here…

When you are looking for a home or property to buy, in our view, there are three ‘types’ of properties you could go for;

• The “Diamond”– This is a home that is ready for you to move into with no renovation work needed. It’s what you wanted, but as everything is new and fresh, you don’t feel the need to add anything more. You will pay a premium for its pristine condition and everything may not be to your taste, but it saves you the hassle of undertaking any building work.

• The “Rough Cut”– This is the sort of property that most people buy. It’s liveable, but it’s a little tired and not exactly what you want. You might decide to live in it for a few years and do bits and pieces of renovation each year or undertake a complete refurbishment and rent whilst the building work is going on.

Here are some examples of our “Rough cut” properties:

Little Boltons, Kensington

Dolby Road, Fulham

3. The piece of “Coal” – This is a property or a home that needs a complete overhaul before you even step into it. It’s likely to be in a dilapidated state with no modern amenities and might need be demolished and rebuilt.

The good news with this sort of property, is that you are likely to get it at a discounted price. But be prepared to keep aside sizeable funds for the refurb. Whilst purchasing renovation properties like this can be a bit of a project, gems like these are few and far between.

We love working with pieces of “Coal,” transforming them into our clients’ vision. Here are some examples of some of these properties.

Vicarage Road, Henley On Thames

Radipole Road, Fulham

Chiddingstone, Fulham

Finding them will need some clever detective work on your part. On the other hand, a property like this gives you the opportunity to build your dream home in exactly the way you have envisioned it.

So how do you go about finding these pieces of coal or renovation properties?

• The first step is to decide what area you want to buy the property. You might shortlist two or three areas. Drive around to see if you like the look of the houses. If there are streets you particularly like, note them down. Once you’ve decided on the area or areas, visit the local estate agents and discuss what you are looking for and your budget. Whilst they are usually in the know about the renovation properties available in the area, they will look to sell you a “Rough Cut” or a “Diamond.” If, you get to know some of them, they may give you first dibs on potential properties, before they advertised.

As most of our clients are based in South West London & North London, we thought we’d share the names of some of top the estates agents in those areas.

South West London Estate Agents

North London Estate Agents

• Local newspapers are also a good source to find these hidden gems. Often these properties are obscurely advertised so you will need to spend some time poring over them…a magnifying glass might help 🙂

• Walk around the area extensively. You might see properties with unkempt gardens or boarded up properties in disrepair that look like potential to you. Talk to the local agents about it. They may have insider information about it. Whilst this may seem aggressive, you could contact the owner directly and ask if they might be interested in selling. Sometimes people are unaware of the value of their property until someone tells them what they could potentially get from its sale.

If you’ve found a property that that needs complete refurbishment, give us a call on 0208 191 -7595 or email us at enquiries@sdabuildlondon.co.uk. We’d be happy to pop over, have a look at the property and have a FREE no obligation chat on what we could do for you.

We have an experienced team of architects, structural engineers and interior designers with over 15 years’ experience in renovating homes, so whatever their state, don’t hesitate to contact us.