Visualizing the finished product is the most exciting part of planning your home improvement project. Suppose you have ideas about improving your kitchen, converting your loft space or adding an extension to your property. In that case, you can explore our interactive detached house, terrace, flat and shop guides to help you plan, advise you on what changes you can make under permitted development rules (without requiring planning permission) and give you information about how the building regulations may apply.
You can also find project-specific information on our everyday projects pages, including detailed guidance on homeowner projects and our end-to-end project advice for the six most popular home alterations.
Making significant improvements to your home requires detailed planning and research for it to succeed in terms of budget and timescale.
To help you get started as quickly as possible, we've written guidance covering the basics of what actions you should take before beginning work on your project.
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Firstly, whether your project is large or small, you must decide whether you can complete it independently or need help.
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You must think about the budget that you have for your project and plan out your spending to avoid costs getting out of control. It is also appropriate to seek extra finance to pay for your project.
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Lastly, you'll need to understand whether your project is within permitted development limits or if you need to apply for planning permission.
Where to begin...
What is the project?
all you need is ... Design
Everybody's taste varies, and different styles will suit different property types. Nevertheless, a well-designed building or extension will likely be much more attractive to you and your neighbours and add more value to your house when you sell it. It is, therefore, worth thinking carefully about how your property will look after the work is finished.
Extensions often look better if they use the same materials and are in a similar style to the buildings already, and some local authorities may insist on this. It is impossible to define good design in this context: there may be many ways of producing a good result. In some areas, the council's planning department issues design guides or other advisory leaflets which may help you.
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Check finance and budget
Whether considering converting your loft, improving your kitchen or adding an extension, careful planning is essential to ensure you are not faced with spiralling costs.
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Before you start, it is essential to prepare a budget and calculate the estimated total cost of the project versus the estimated increase in your property value.
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To start exploring costs and setting your budget, we recommend that you:
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Measure up
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Look around at the choice of products from retailers
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Get quotes from local tradespeople and specialist companies to compare
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Research the sold prices of houses nearby and whether any improvements have been made.
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A substantial alteration to your home will likely result in a healthy increase in the value of your property. Working out how to finance your project is the most crucial element of the planning phase, and the budget will need to be monitored throughout the project.
Usually, extensive home improvements are funded by:
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Remortgage to release equity
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Further advance
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Personal loan.
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The Home Owners Alliance (HOA) offer detailed guidance about budgeting for a home improvement project and advises on the points to consider before you start work.