Is your renovation your great innovation?

Which renovator are you? The one who has bought an uninhabitable shell to turn into a home or the one who wants to breathe new life and space into the home they have loved for so long.

THERE you were, searching for the perfect plot of land upon which to self-build your dream home and suddenly there it was: the wreck you knew you had to rescue. The roof is all but gone, you can see the rafters; one wall has buckled in, the others are only standing out of force of habit but you can see what it can be once again. Friends think you are crazy and that it would be cheaper just to bulldoze the entire site and start again, but you know differently. It is all down to the ‘three Rs’ of renovation, restoration or remodelling. What needs to be done? Renovation is renewing what you already have in place and adding new parts where necessary, whether it is floor boards or an entire wall. Restoration returns a room or home back to its former glory, respecting the original, or period, features. Remodelling changes the actual structure or use; like ripping out a wall, moving the kitchen to the other side of the house, or adding an extra bathroom, sunroom or annexe. The chances are that you will probably be doing a mixture of all three. If the property is a listed building, or in a conservation area, you must apply for the necessary permissions. A house that is run down and in need of repair can be a potential bargain and be the best way to put your finances to work and get more home for your money. For a start they will almost always have road access, water, electricity, sewerage and mains gas, where available making it easier, quicker and cheaper to get connected to the services. Take into account that in more rural spots when there is a septic tank this might need renewing or repair and if there is a private water supply it might not comply with the latest standards or pass the newer health tests without some major work being carried out. You will need a surveyor’s report. Remember that if it is a major endeavour, comparable to building a new home, an architect will prove just as valuable on this project. If it is a very old and decaying property the first jobs will be to stabilise it and stop any further decay. Planning permission and building warrants will be needed for a major rebuild or remodelling, but if you can keep within permitted development rights this will save more money. These rights can vary and what might have been fine where you lived before in the UK might not be the same in your new location. Once again this is where planning officers can advise you. Though they are becoming more rare there can be grants or VAT concessions available for certain costs. It is worth checking to see if you qualify.