WE LEARNED...

THINGS NEVER GO TO PLAN, so have a buffer. Whatever you think your contingency is going to be, increase it by at least 50%!

IF YOU WORK FULL TIME and are undertaking a major build, get a good project manager who will do the hard work for you.

RESEARCH & PLAN, plan again and wait. My initial ideas have almost all changed due to the circumstances of the renovation, especially what we discovered when consulting the architect, stripping back and what was permitted under Building Regulations.

BE BRUTAL with yourself and expect to make compromises – especially with your must haves. Stick to your budget and if you have to cut anything, then look at what you can amend, alter or install once you have more funds down the road.

DON’T BE BRITISH about raising complaints – if you don’t get the finish you expect or want, or the workmanship is not up to par, push back. You’re paying for it, so expect the best quality.

DECISIONS will come up during the actual build that have cost consequences. If it isn’t part of your contingency budget, then consider the additional cost of doing it later versus doing it now (while the scaffolding is up, or the floorboards are out, or the decorators haven’t been yet etc). Assessing the impact of the outlay now, as opposed to later, can help with the decision making.