Renovating an entire property is a major undertaking – but it can breathe new life into an old or underwhelming house, turning it into your dream home. We live in a time where many homeowners prefer to renovate rather than move, and the home improvement market is booming.
In fact, 1 in 5 UK homeowners had plans for a major home renovation project in 2024, reflecting a surge in people upgrading their homes. Property renovations can range from updating a few rooms to full structural changes, and when done right, they bring significant benefits. You can customise your living space to your tastes (achieving the exact style and layout you want), modernise outdated systems for better comfort and efficiency, and even increase the overall value of the property.
Why invest in a property renovation? Here are a few key reasons:
Personalisation: A renovation lets you tailor every aspect of your home to fit your lifestyle and preferences. Whether that means an open-plan kitchen for entertaining or a home office retrofit, you’re no longer limited by the original design of the house.
Increased Property Value: Upgrading a property often boosts its market value, making renovation a smart investment. Even simple improvements like redecorating can raise a home’s value by around 3%, while major improvements or extensions might add 10% or more to its worth. (Bear in mind, the exact return on investment varies with the type of project and the housing market, but generally, a well-renovated home will command a higher price if you sell in the future.)
Improved Functionality and Efficiency: Renovations aren’t just about looks, they can greatly improve how your home works. Think of reconfiguring an awkward layout, adding an extra bathroom, or upgrading insulation and heating systems. The result is a house that better serves your family’s needs and potentially lowers running costs (for example, installing energy-efficient windows or a modern boiler).
Avoiding the Cost of Moving: Rather than incurring the expense (and hassle) of moving to a new house, many homeowners choose to renovate their current property to meet their changing needs. This can be more cost-effective and allows you to stay in the location you love, while still getting a “new” home in many respects.
Preserving and Restoring Character: For those who purchase older or period houses, renovating is an opportunity to restore historic charm while updating the living space to modern standards. It’s possible to preserve original features, like restoring hardwood floors or cornices and simultaneously add contemporary comforts like updated kitchens, wiring, and plumbing.
Finding a Property to Renovate
Some people specifically seek out a property to renovate, whether to create their ideal home or to flip for profit. If you’re hunting for a fixer-upper, go in with a clear-eyed strategy. Desirable renovation projects tend to attract a lot of interest.
In the UK, houses in need of modernisation are often in high demand, and buyers sometimes end up paying a premium to secure one. This means the classic advice of “buy the worst house on the best street” isn’t as easy as it once was; competition can drive up the purchase price of renovation-worthy properties, which in turn eats into your renovation budget.
When evaluating a potential property to renovate, always commission a thorough survey or inspection. Older homes can hide expensive issues like structural defects, damp, outdated electrical systems, or even asbestos. Knowing these beforehand helps you budget properly or decide if the project is feasible at all.
It’s wise to budget extra for surprises, seasoned renovators will tell you unforeseen issues will arise once work begins (for example, finding rotten joists under old flooring or discovering that an extension wasn’t built to code). By purchasing carefully ideally below the typical market value for the area and planning for contingencies, you give yourself the best chance of adding value through the renovation process rather than overspending.
Choosing a Property Renovation Company
Unless you have significant construction experience and plenty of time, you’ll likely want to hire a property renovation company to carry out a large renovation. A professional renovation company or contractor can manage the many moving parts of a full-house project from design and permitting to coordinating builders, plumbers, and electricians. Hiring professionals does represent a cost, but the benefits often far outweigh the DIY approach.
A good renovation company will develop a clear plan, ensure quality work, and keep the project on schedule, bringing valuable expertise that prevents costly mistakes. In fact, homeowners who go the DIY route on major renovations often end up spending more money and time fixing issues than if they had brought in pros from the start.
Key advantages of working with an experienced renovation company include:
Project Management: Professionals handle the planning and sequencing of work so that everything happens in the correct order (for example, ensuring structural work and rough installations are done before finishing touches like drywall and paint). They also manage permits and inspections as needed. This comprehensive oversight saves you the headache of coordinating multiple trades and tasks yourself.
Expertise and Quality: Established companies bring specialised knowledge they understand construction techniques, building regulations, and best practices that ensure a safe, durable result. Their expertise means your renovation is done to a high standard and up to code, which is crucial for your family’s safety and for future resale value.
Efficiency and Time Savings: A dedicated team can typically complete renovation work much faster than an owner acting as an amateur general contractor. Professionals know how to schedule work efficiently and avoid unnecessary delays. This means you can get into your newly renovated home sooner. As one source notes, renovating a home requires extensive time and effort; by hiring a skilled team, you save a lot of time and can be confident the project stays on track.
Access to Resources: Renovation companies often have a network of trusted subcontractors and suppliers. They can source quality materials at better prices and know which materials will give you the look you want within your budget. They may also have trade discounts. Additionally, they’ll know reliable plumbers, electricians, etc., so you get competent workers in each specialty.
Warranty and Accountability: Many professional contractors provide a warranty on their work. This means if something isn’t done right or a problem arises due to workmanship, they will address it. Such guarantees give you peace of mind. Moreover, contractors have a reputation to uphold – they want you to be satisfied, as their business relies on referrals and reviews. In contrast, if you DIY or hire unqualified help, you’re on your own for any fixes down the line.
In summary, a reputable property renovation company brings safety, quality, speed, and assurance to your project. As one construction firm puts it, the benefits of hiring professionals – expertise, time saved, warranties, etc. minimise the risk of costly mistakes and ultimately outweigh the costs of their fees. Be sure to choose a company that has proven experience with projects similar to yours and check references or past work. Clear communication about budget and expectations up front is also key to a successful partnership.
What Do Property Renovation Services Include?
If you’re wondering what kinds of projects fall under property renovation services, the answer is quite broad. Renovation companies typically offer end-to-end services covering almost any improvement to a home’s interior or exterior. Common property renovation services include:
Interior Remodeling: Updating internal spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, and bedrooms. This can involve changing layouts (knocking down or adding walls), installing new flooring, cabinetry, fixtures, and finishes essentially giving the inside of the home a fresh design. Kitchen and bathroom renovations are among the most popular and impactful projects.
Extensions and Structural Alterations: Building new additions to increase space (e.g. adding a single or multi-storey extension) or converting underused areas. Loft conversions, garage conversions, or finishing basements all fall into this category and can dramatically increase living area. Structural work may also include removing load-bearing walls to create open-plan layouts, which often requires an architect or structural engineer’s input.
Systems Upgrades: Replacing or upgrading core systems of the house for safety and efficiency. This includes electrical rewiring, plumbing upgrades, heating and cooling systems installations, and improving insulation. Many old houses undergoing renovation will need new wiring or plumbing to meet modern standards. Renovation services typically coordinate certified electricians and plumbers to handle this vital infrastructure work.
Exterior Improvements: Renovation isn’t just inside it can encompass external updates like repairing or rendering the façade, roof repairs, new windows and doors, or landscaping the garden. Projects such as adding a conservatory, installing energy-efficient windows, or redesigning the outdoor space (patio, decking, driveways) also come under property improvements.
Finishing and Decorating: Finally, renovation services include all the finishing touches that make a house feel new. This might be plastering and painting walls, tiling floors and splash-backs, fitting trim and mouldings, and all final fixtures. Professional decorators ensure that once structural and rough work is done, the aesthetic elements are applied flawlessly for a polished result.
When engaging a renovation company, you can usually choose a full turnkey service (where they handle everything from initial design to final paint) or select only specific services you need. For instance, you might handle the decorating yourself but hire professionals for the heavy construction.
