How to survive property renovation in London - a few practical tips

Renovation is a great logistic undertaking, which requires considerable financial expenses but also forces you to function in unfavourable conditions. Many of us get stressed out at the thought of property renovation in London. In the article Property renovation in London – how to do it and not go insane we guided you through the basic rules of finding the high-end residential contractors in London and cooperating with London construction companies. Below, we advise you on how to deal with the renovation process itself.

Renovation? Let’s do it!

Most of the British people decide to renovate a house or flat on average every 5-10 years. The metamorphosis most often includes the living room, hallway, kitchen and bathroom. While the renovation of the rooms does not require a radical change in the way the house works, the renovation of the kitchen and bathroom can become a major obstacle for the household members. Each renovation consists of four stages. If you know how to handle them properly, you can be sure that the whole process will last for a relatively short time and that you will achieve a satisfactory result for all household members.

Stage 1. Preparation for renovation

The initial phase of the renovation differs depending on whether it is a house or a flat. In the case of a flat, it is necessary to obtain a permit from the housing community, especially if it involves interference in the common parts of the building. Additionally, it is a good habit to inform neighbours about the work taking place in the flat, so that they are prepared for possible inconveniences.At this stage, it is also necessary to carefully plan the renovation, that is, determine the condition of the building, select rooms, elements of installation and equipment that will change, and then estimate the cost of the entire project. If the budget is already estimated, you can choose a London construction company.

Stage 2. Findinghigh-end residential contractors in London

The renovation team should be above all reliable and timely. It must consist of people who reliably approach their duties and do not treat their work as a pretext for socializing.The services offered by the best high-end residential contractors in London do not have to be the most expensive on the market. The high price does not always go hand in hand with skills. On the other hand, a London construction company cannot be too cheap. Too low a price can mean a lack of experience or skills, as well as the use of poor quality tools. It is worth to find a golden mean and try to get a team that will offer the right price/quality ratio.The team that will be responsible for the renovation of the apartment should have appropriate experience, supported by references from previous investors and clients, photographs and certificates. Such certificates are often issued by construction institutions that offer specific technologies or produce building materials. What else to look for when choosing a construction company in London? Paradoxically - no free dates. Immediate availability may raise suspicions that people working for a given company are not the best professionals and just nobody wants to use their services. Often, you have to wait a bit for the best professionals.

Stage 3. Actual renovation process

If you have decided to use the help of the contractors, then during the actual renovation it is enough to control the progress at work and provide the workers with the necessary range of construction materials. It is also worth remembering to observe the schedule and order of individual works - first the demolition of walls, changing installation, replacement of windows, then - renovation of the floor and finishing works. By keeping the renovation plan and deadlines for individual activities, you will be able to adjust your progress and budget to your expectations.

Stage 4. Cleaning and arranging the interior

The last stage of the entire renovation is the most pleasant, compared to the previous stages (if you do not feel strong enough to arrange the flat yourself, use the help of the London interior designer). Right now is the moment to choose an interior style and adjust the functionality of the room to the destination of the room.At the end, you need to choose the furniture. It is necessary to decide whether you want to leave old furniture or buy new ones. It will also be important to arrange them correctly in the rooms and to choose accessories and fabrics.