We’ve all heard the horror stories associated with projects of home improvement – untrustworthy builders, projects running way over budget, poor workmanship and disputes with neighbors. Before you begin, just let your head rule your heart for a moment and follow my tips to ensure that their own projects avoid those pitfalls. Some sound upfront planning is the key to a happy and stress-free project of home improvement. 1 – Get the neighbors buy-in – Put a huge expanse house without his knowledge is required to alter its local residents, so get them involved early, they have something to say and make some concessions when reasonable. However, make sure you still get what you want without conflicts arise. 2 – Objective of a usable design but inspiring – Do not go for a cheaper plan and boring, but just make sure you did not choose an eccentric design that only increases costs of any real benefit. 3 – Check that the value to your property is cheap – Ensure that the scale of your project fits the type of housing you have. There’s no point in spending £ 20,000 on a construction scheme that will only add £ 5,000 to the value of your home. 4 – Choosing a builder – Collection of references for similar types of works is essential, but also a good idea to go with the gut feeling of a constructor. It is important that you take with them – after all you’ll be seeing plenty of them in the coming weeks. Also check that the builder has the proper insurance – and things can go wrong. 5 – Can you live with the project as it takes place? – Tidyness – the builder will maintain a clean, regularly hire a skip to dispose of any trash? Working hours – the builders to start at the beginning (and end early!) Can you deal with the alarm a 7 a.m. call every day? Security – if you have small children, is the builder going to be sensitive about protecting themselves from danger? Interruption Plan – Make sure you know, and plan for, no downtime in kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems, etc. Duration – get a completion date agreed in advance and schedule of hard work so you can detect and resolve any excess as soon as possible. 6 – Document your build specification as accurately as possible. This is a must if you want to avoid disagreements and concerns of costs later. At some point, a decision must be made in every facet of construction. Or are made in advance and everyone knows what is happening or someone (the manufacturer or you) have to make decisions later – this can easily lead to misunderstandings and additional costs. 7 – Okay, the cost and document all changes that occur – there will be plenty of amendments to the plan to build despite all his plans, but make sure they agree in terms of scope and cost as they occur, to avoid unpleasant conflicts and expenses at the end of the project. 8 – Payment Plan – to agree in advance when you will pay your builder and quantity. If you pay in stages, according to the distribution and timing. Then you can save interest payments received by planning your loan home improvement (if any) at the right time and not before. 9 – Retaining some money for down payments and approval – According to the manufacturer to retain a fixed amount or a percentage of the total amount of payment until you have reached a final conclusion and obtained approval from local authorities for work. If they do so, be concerned and perhaps find someone else, because this practice is normal. 10 – Plan to fully carry – Do not leave the project unfinished, otherwise your enjoyment of the whole matter will be compromised. If costs are tight, then something will scale back so that you have enough money to finish off work schedule. 11 – Do not underestimate the costs of termination or leisure – a builder will quickly and efficiently as you can, especially if you have only weekends or evenings to spare – Do not stand finishing a big job to do that seem to take for long and spoil the project. 12 – Buy cost – Your builder may want you to buy most of the raw materials through it and benefit from, or share in any trade discounts have in place. It is better to agree how to work in advance. So the plan, the plan and plan again. Choosing the best builder you can afford it and good luck! It all goes well will have a most valuable asset and a better home to enjoy the coming years.