WE LEARNED...

IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES of gaining planning permission by taking a look at the different properties in the area and what they have achieved. If there are other, similar projects on the street, you’ll be more likely to win approval for your scheme.

HOLD OUT FOR the right finishes. In our first renovation, we saved money by compromising on the tiles and finishes that we chose, and ultimately ended up redecorating, costing us more in the long run. This time, we made sure to wait until we had the funds to buy products we knew we would always be happy with.

CONSIDER SMART THERMOSTATS, especially if you have a large home. It’s very handy to be able to control the specific area of the house that needs heating at the time – and being able to do so via your phone makes it so easy.

SAVE MONEY by taking more control over any areas you feel confident in. This can be anything, even if it’s just painting the walls yourself, rather than hiring a decorator.