Smaller spaces can often be themost challenging to change. Whether it’s juggling the practicalities of a refit, struggling with your budget,or finding the time to complete the work; making improvements to your flat is a major task for even thehandiest of homeowners.
So, what should you take the time to think about before tackling your London flat refurbishment project?
What can be changed?
When it comes to improving your property, it’s important to know exactly what you can change and the best way to go about it.
If you are renting a flat, you may face restrictions when it comes to making structural changes or what furniture and items you are able to bring in. While this can be frustrating, it is worth remembering that all landlords have legal obligations to follow when it comes to keeping your building up to code – potentially saving you time and money on a refit.
Older flats in certain areas of London may also experience issues when it comes to making physical improvements. This makes checking what is structurally possible very importantas well as checking that the property is free of issues such as mould and dry rot. Some changes may also require planning permission and require you to seek consent from your neighbours and – even where this is not required- you should always aim to keep them informed about when any building or refit works will be taking place.
Try a ‘Two for One
When it comes to carrying out renovation work, it’s simply better to get things done in one go.
If you are scheduling renovation work, take the time to look at the tasks at hand and evaluate how many could be done with one visit from a tradesman. Multiple call-out fees can cause the best-planned budget to inflate and factoring in future tasks can help dramatically reduce costs and interruptions.
For example, this can be as simple as scheduling a professional to repair your plumbing and have them replace an outdated mirror and repair a damaged showerhead in the same visit.This empowers you to better schedule your time and prevent multiple disruptions to your personal and professional life.
Sort Your budget
When it comes to making changes, it’s important to not only understand your budget but to stick with it.
This should involve understanding all the hidden costs of your refit such as parts, labour, or charges for specialist work or guidance. Before starting your refit, always take steps to ensurethat the individuals involved made aware of any potential issues or complications (i.e.: the location of pipes, the condition of plaster, etc). A simple warning can often help avoidingstructural or aesthetic damage and prevent your refit from incurring further costs.
When it comes to interior decoration, you may quickly find yourself spoiled for choice.London is a heavily urbanised city with a wealth of vintage and charity shops. These venues can help you efficiently find authentic items for the fraction of conventional high street prices. Taking an extra bit of time to scour your local area can often land you with a bargain or give greater insight into how you want to manage your new aesthetic.