Were you planning to renovate your property? Giving your current or future home a makeover is not something you can improvise! It is important to ask the right questions and prepare your renovation project.
An assessment of the property
Planning regulations
Are there any planning restrictions to consider in the neighbourhood or municipality? Are permits easy to obtain?
The condition
Does the property's electrical installation comply with regulations? Is there any damp? What condition is the plumbing in? Is the insulation adequate?
It is important to have a clear picture of the building's condition so that you can budget for the work properly, and avoid rushing headlong into huge investments.
A project assessment
The planning phase is very important, so take your time. We recommend allowing yourself 1 month to define your project.
No doubt you will have plenty of inspiration boards on Pinterest and be bursting with ideas for bringing more light into the living room, but do not forget that your needs evolve, your tastes change and interior design trends disappear just as quickly as they arrived.
Taking this time to reflect will save you time and money later on.
A budget
The first thing you need to know when setting a budget is the floor area of the property. What type of floor area are we talking about? Gross or net floor area what are the differences?
Next, what type of renovation are you considering? Simple renovation work, such as repainting or replacing tiles, costs between 100€ and 300€ per square metre. Complex renovation work, such as bringing the plumbing or electrical installation up to standard, costs between 800€ and 1000€ per square metre.
To help you, various grants are available depending on the region in which you are buying. Loans for carrying out building work are also designed to support property renovation.
Bear in mind that it is common for the cost of the work to exceed your estimated budget by 10%.
A well-organised schedule
Define the order of the work, from the largest structural jobs to the smallest tasks. This will help you know when you need to think about particular materials and avoid holding up progress because the tiles you fell in love with will take 6 weeks to arrive.
Defining living spaces according to your plans
What will you do with this large 55m² room? Divide it in two to create an extra bedroom for your little bundle of joy who is on the way? Dedicate part of it to a home office? Think about your lifestyle and design the spaces accordingly. Adapt your home to your life, rather than your life to your home.
Consider possible temporary accommodation
While the renovation work is under way, do you feel able to live amid the dust in camping-style conditions, or do you need your creature comforts? If so, remember to allow for the associated costs and arrangements.
Surround yourself with the right people
You cannot become an architect, contractor or plumber overnight: call on professionals for major work! Trying to do it yourself can sometimes make matters worse! Furthermore, if something goes wrong, you will be able to hold them liable.
Psst: Do not forget that you should never pay the final invoice before final acceptance of the work.
J&J Properties
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