Navigating the chaos – your blueprint for a flawless home renovation

Navigating the chaos - your blueprint for a flawless home renovation

Renovating your home can stir up a cocktail of excitement and anxiety. But, hey, who says it has to be a recipe for disaster? With the right blueprint in hand, you’re already paving the way to a smoother renovation adventure. Let’s dive into the essentials that’ll keep your home renovation project on track and your sanity intact.

Begin with a clear vision

Dream big, but start focused! What’s the grand plan? Whether it’s carving out more space, upgrading your digs for that resale glow, or simply bringing those Pinterest boards to life, pinpointing your goal shapes every decision down the road. It’s like having a GPS for your renovation journey – without it, you’re just wandering aimlessly.

Set a realistic budget

Alright, let’s talk numbers. We all know that renovations can see costs spiralling faster than a helter-skelter. Start by nailing down quotes and pricing out those materials. And remember, a safety net is not optional – tuck away a good 20% for those just-in-case moments. A contingency is the buffer that keeps your financial stress at bay and keeps the project moving.

Choose the right team

Imagine building a dream team for the ultimate project – your home renovation! This is where you get selective: find contractors and specialists who not only talk the talk but have walked the walk. Dive into those reviews, meet up and lay out your vision. When everyone’s vibes align, magic happens.

Plan the logistics

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty: managing the mess and keeping things ticking. Think about the order of operations and, yes, tackling the inevitable debris. One smart move is arranging a skip hire – keeping your site tidy and your mind clear. Deciding whether to live through the renovation or escape temporarily is another logistic to lock down early.

Secure permits and approvals

Before the first hammer swings, make sure your paperwork’s in check. From building regs to planning permissions, getting these ducks in a row early avoids hold-ups that could throw your timeline out the window. It’s not the most thrilling part, but it’s a hurdle that you don’t want to trip over.

Focus on timing

Timing isn’t just everything; it’s the only thing when it comes to renovations. Plan works around the seasons and your life’s calendar. Exterior upgrades in the dry season? Check. Interior makeovers while the kids are at school? Perfect. Syncing your renovation tasks with the rhythm of your life can sidestep unnecessary headaches.

Communicate effectively

Keep the lines buzzing – staying in touch with your team is crucial. Regular catch-ups ensure everyone’s pulling in the same direction, and it’s your chance to air any concerns. Clear, open dialogues cut through the noise and keep your project humming along.

Document everything

Think of documentation as your renovation diary: contracts, receipts, emails. Track it all. Not only does it help with budget management, but it’s also your shield if things get sticky legally or at tax time. A well-documented project is a defendable project.

Enjoy the process

Through all the dust and decisions, don’t forget to take a step back and enjoy the transformation. This is more than construction; it’s creating a space that reflects you and your dreams. Soak in progress and keep your eyes on the prize – soon, you’ll be standing in the heart of a home that’s truly yours.

And there you have it – your guide to dodging the chaos and nailing your home renovation. With these pointers, you’re not just renovating; you’re revolutionising your living space with confidence. Enjoy the journey!

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Property spotlight: Model village homes

Duke of York Cottages, Port Sunlight, Wirral CH62 5DD

No, we’re not talking about houses in LegoLand or neighbourhoods where Naomi, Linda, Christy, Cindy et al live. Model village refers to those housing developments, popular during Victorian times, that were built, often, by wealthy industrialists for their mill, mine and factory workers.

Some mill and factory owners were largely philanthropic and enlightened, putting their employees’ welfare at the forefront. Often times, that would also mean the enforcement of their religious and lifestyle beliefs on their workforce; temperance and sobriety. Therefore, no ale house was included in their village plans… but often washhouses, a hospital, school, library, art gallery or concert hall and, not forgetting, a chapel for the workers to attend on their day off.

A few of the model villages are very famous; Bournville built by the Quaker owners of Cadbury’s Chocolates, Port Sunlight by the soap producing Lever Brothers and Saltaire by textile magnate, Sir Titus Salt for his Salt’s Mill. King Charles, while still Prince of Wales, developed Poundbury on Duchy of Cornwall land just outside Dorchester in Dorset.

There are around 30 model villages in total, dotted all around the country, but we’ve chosen to highlight homes on the market in the following places (the dates that they were built, are shown in brackets):

  • New Lanark, Lanarkshire, Scotland (1786)
  • Tremadog, Caernarfonshire, Wales (1798)
  • Saltaire, West Yorkshire (1853)
  • Bromborough Pool (aka “Price’s Village”) (1853)
  • Bournville, Worcestershire (1879)
  • Port Sunlight, Cheshire (1888)
  • Creswell Model Village, Derbyshire (1895)
  • New Earswick, Yorkshire (1904)
  • The Garden Village, Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire (1908)
  • Silver End, Essex (1926)
  • Poundbury, Dorset (ongoing since 1993)

175 Model Village, Creswell, Worksop, Nottinghamshire S80 4BT

£95,000 – 175 Model Village, Creswell, Worksop, Nottinghamshire S80 4BT

• Three bedrooms
• Two reception rooms
• Ideal purchase for a first time buyer or investor
• Great for a growing family
• Good commuter links at J29 M1

Manor Place, Bromborough, Wirral CH62 4TU

£160,000 – Manor Place, Bromborough, Wirral CH62 4TU

• Investment opportunity
• Two bedroom mid-terrace property in the heart of Bromborough
• Entrance hall, two reception rooms, kitchen, downstairs wet room & WC
• Two bedrooms, airing cupboard, patio area, rear garden & on street parking
• Located close to the Croft Retail Park and plenty of other amenities
• A great catchment area for primary schools and in easy reach of transport links

Long Row, Lanark ML11 9DD

£220,000 – Long Row, Lanark ML11 9DD

• Spacious three-bedroom end-terrace property
• Lounge and further living room
• Fully fitted kitchen
• Three, good-sized bedrooms
• Family bathroom with four-piece suite
• Picturesque village of New Lanark

Duke of York Cottages, Port Sunlight, Wirral CH62 5DD

£230,000 – Duke of York Cottages, Port Sunlight, Wirral CH62 5DD

• Double fronted cottage
• Three bedrooms
• 846 Sq ft approx
• Freehold
• Recently renovated and ready to move into
• Sought after area
• Spacious accommodation
• Well presented throughout

Caroline Street, Saltaire, Shipley, West Yorkshire BD18

£255,000 – Caroline Street, Saltaire, Shipley, West Yorkshire BD18

• Private paved garden
• On-street parking
• Delightful gas fire in the living room
• Recently refurbished
• Wonderful views and surroundings

Chestnut Grove, New Earswick, North Yorkshire YO32

£270,000 – Chestnut Grove, New Earswick, North Yorkshire YO32

• Grade II Listed
• End terrace house
• 2 bedrooms
• Large rear garden
• Off-street parking
• Overlooking central green
• Subject to estate charge of approx. £380 per annum for upkeep of surrounding area

Market Square, Tremadog, Porthmadog, Gwynedd LL49 9RB

£310,000 – Market Square, Tremadog, Porthmadog, Gwynedd LL49 9RB

• 3 bedroom end of terrace house
• Master bedroom benefits from an adjoining dressing room with wash hand basin
• Family bathroom
• Shower room
• Lounge
• Breakfast room
• Kitchen
• Utility room
• Full-width attic rooms
• Original timber panelled walls
• Inglenook fireplaces
• Decorative tiled flooring
• Sash windows
• Rear courtyard with gate through to a 21′ stone outbuilding/barn which is arranged over two floors
• Enclosed orchard packed with trees and plants
• Timber constructed garden room
• Gravelled area providing off-road parking

Jedburgh, Beaumont Road, Bournville, Birmingham B30 1NX

£375,000 – Jedburgh, Beaumont Road, Bournville, Birmingham B30 1NX

• Conveniently Located End Terraced Period Residence
• Well Presented Throughout
• Interconnecting Reception Rooms and separate Dining Room
• Recently Refurbished (2023) Modern Kitchen with a range of base and wall units and integrated dishwasher, wine cooler, ovens and hob with extractor over
• Three bedrooms
• Elegant, first floor Family Bathroom comprising bath with shower over, wash basin and wc
• Access to a large loft area with potential for conversion (subject to usual permissions)
• Recently renovated (2023) Rear Garden laid to lawn with a large raised patio area
• Side gate with easy access to the rear of the property
• Very well situated for sought after schools to include Bournville Village Primary, St Francis Church of England primary school and nursery and Kings Norton Girls’ and Boys’ Secondary Schools

The Oval, Hull HU8 8PN

£399,950 – The Oval, Hull HU8 8PN

Located in the esteemed Garden Village area, The Oval offers a highly sought after address with a sense of community and exclusivity.
• 4-bed semi-detached house
• Four reception rooms
• Front and rear gardens
• Off-street parking

£475,000 – Francis Way, Silver End, Witham, Essex, CM8

Situated in the garden village of Silver End is this beautiful 1920s detached property which has been extended and renovated to an extremely high standard. This property was originally built for the Industrialist Frank Crittall’s senior staff and was inhabited by his Head Gardener.

• Detached house
• Four bedrooms
• Generous plot
• Kitchen/diner
• En-suite to bedroom one
• Family bathroom
• Freehold
• Numerous off-road parking

Woodlands Crescent, Poundbury DT1 3RQ

£600,000 – Woodlands Crescent, Poundbury DT1 3RQ

• Elegant town house situated in the heart of Poundbury
• A leafy location in much sought after crescent
• Four bedrooms & two bathrooms
• First floor dual aspect sitting room
• Kitchen/dining room
• Attractive enclosed garden
• Double garage with an EV charger fitted

Property spotlight: Passive homes

Hardwicke Road Hastings, East Sussex TN34 3PE

No, passive homes aren’t argument averse or really chilled out. Passive homes are energy efficient, carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative properties.

Our research has uncovered passive homes in every corner of the country and at every price point. There are affordable, social housing schemes all the way up to millionaires’ budget, bespoke builds; starter homes to retirement properties; houses by the coast, in the city centre or overlooking a golf course.

Increasingly, architects, construction companies and property developers will have to be more environmentally conscious when it comes to designing and building properties. Octopus Energy have teamed up with a number of home builders to offer new homes Zero Bills™.

Zero Bills™ homes generate more energy than they consume. They achieve this using a combination of low carbon tech – solar PV and a battery – and electric heating.

Kelham Central, Sheffield S3 8SA

£225,000 – Kelham Central, Sheffield S3 8SA

Kelham Central Showhome from Citu on Vimeo.

• Zero energy bills for two years
• Access to landscaped decking
• Dual aspect design
• Open plan kitchen, living, dining area
• Perfect for first time buyers, downsizers, couples and those living on their own
• Two storey, one bedroom, mid-terrace home
• 35th coolest neighbourhood to live in in the world
• Central location in Kelham Island

High levels of insulation coupled with an airtight membrane, create low U-Values and reduction of any thermal bridges. Your airtight home will allow you to reduce your energy usage and emissions on a daily basis.

* Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems are used to reduce heat loss from ventilation, and filter the air coming into your home, allowing for up to 4 times cleaner air.
* Triple-glazed windows aid with the efficiency of your home, whilst proving to reduce external noise levels- allowing you to live in the centre of a bustling city, without the noise.
* Every purchaser becomes a part of the Community Interest Company which gives residents more control over their surroundings & allows for a no ground rent policy. Our other established communities, created by CICs across Yorkshire, now arrange community activities such as summer BBQs, Christmas wreath-making and even a weekly pub quiz team.
* We maximise natural energies from the sun via solar panels and thermal modelling is used to check if buildings meet our low energy targets (15kwh/m2/year).
* Its central location allows you to maximise on eco-friendly living practices, supported by free on-site bike storage and provisions for electric car charging stations, making the switch to zero-carbon transport easy.

Victoria Gate, Stafford, Staffordshire

From £269,995 to £354,995 – Victoria Gate, Stafford, Staffordshire

Bellway is committed to bringing our customers low-carbon homes built with the future in mind, utilising the latest homebuilding technology to create forward-thinking green communities.

The Spinner – The Artisan Collection from Bellway on Vimeo.

• Electric vehicle charging
• Solar PV
• Google Nest Learning Thermostat
• Air source heat pump
• Energy-efficient homes
• Additional cost-saving technologies – “These include thicker loft insulation, a waste water heat recovery system, thermally broken lintels, PV diverters, and many other advancements. You’ll also benefit from better air quality as we move to an enhanced ventilation system.”

Church View, Bramford, Suffolk

From £320,000 to £640,000 – Church View, Bramford, Suffolk

• Air source heat pump
• Thermally efficient insulation
• Integrated photo voltaic panels
• Battery storage
• Underfloor heating to the ground floor
• Waste water heat recovery system
• Increased cavity insulation to 150mm
• UPVC double glazing
• Electric Vehicle Charging Point

Church View, Bramford offers an exquisite collection of energy-efficient homes powered by Octopus Zero Bills™. This smart tariff from Octopus Energy offers the opportunity of comfortable living with no energy bills.
To make this possible, we’ve added a combination of green tech devices to your new home comprising PV panels, battery storage, a wastewater heat recovery system, blown cavity wall insulation, air source heat pump, underfloor heating, thermally insulated uPVC windows and LED downlights to some rooms. This means that your new home has been built to support sustainable living.

Hardwicke Road Hastings, East Sussex TN34 3PE

£500,000 – Hardwicke Road Hastings, East Sussex TN34 3PE

• 4 bedroom
• 3 bathroom
• Freehold, detached, open-plan residence
• Ash parquet flooring throughout
• Island kitchen and breakfast bar
• Curved, vaulted ceilings
• Off-road parking for 1 vehicle

This sustainably designed, four-bedroom house occupies an elevated position overlooking the unexpectedly bucolic coastline of Hastings… The house’s environmental impact has been carefully considered and forms the crux of its design. An air source heat pump powers the underfloor heating and hot water while a Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery System (MVHR), ensures there is plenty of airflow. Triple glazing maximises solar gain and ensures there is an even temperature inside all year round.

Birdie, The Green, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 5BQ

From £550,000 – Birdie, The Green, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 5BQ

• 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartments with garages
• Overlooking the golf course fairways
• Zero energy bills, zero carbon smart home
• Walking distance to beaches
• On the outskirts of the vibrant university town of Falmouth
• EPC Rating = A
• Solar PV with 9.5 kW battery system
• Air source heat pump
• Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
• PIR occupancy sensors
• Triple glazing throughout
• Produces zero carbon emissions

Property spotlight: Homes on village greens

7 Frant Court, Frant, East Sussex TN3 9DW

When I imagine village greens, I envisage pictures of ancient, shared parish lands, local pubs, games of cricket, maypoles, bucolic village fêtes, red phone boxes etc. I always thought that village greens were square or rectangular; however, using Google Maps as a tool, I’ve seen circular ones, triangular ones and irregular shaped ones.

It was only during my researching for this post that I realised that village greens are still being created today. Considerate property developers constructing new estates sometimes design their houses around a village green. The village green may contain a children’s playground, picnic areas, ponds and other leisure features.

Apparently, living opposite or close to a village green or other green public space can boost the value of a property. That said, there are many affordable village green properties currently for sale around the country.

6 Lawrence Road, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees TS17 8QF
6 Lawrence Road, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees TS17 8QF

6 Lawrence Road, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees TS17 8QF

£235,000: 6 Lawrence Road, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees TS17 8QF

Nestled in a quiet residential area overlooking ‘The Green’, this delightful property boasts a homely and inviting atmosphere that is sure to make you feel right at home.

• Semi-detached bungalow
• Overlooking The Green
• Two bedrooms
• Generous lounge
• Attractive kitchen
• Conservatory
• Low maintenance gardens
• Detached garage & driveway

22 Village Green, Lennoxtown G66 7BD

22 Village Green, Lennoxtown G66 7BD

22 Village Green, Lennoxtown G66 7BD

£255,000: 22 Village Green, Lennoxtown G66 7BD

• Double driveway
• Desirable corner plot
• Family bathroom, en-suite and WC
• Open-plan kitchen and dining room
• Semi-rural location
• Excellent local walking and cycling routes
• Gas central heating

7 Frant Court, Frant, East Sussex TN3 9DW

7 Frant Court, Frant, East Sussex TN3 9DW

7 Frant Court, Frant, East Sussex TN3 9DW

7 Frant Court, Frant, East Sussex TN3 9DW

£875,000: 7 Frant Court, Frant, East Sussex TN3 9DW

This stunning four bedroom apartment situated within a fine Grade II listed former Victorian manor house dating back to the mid 1800’s enjoying fabulous views over Frant village green and across the impressive grounds with Eridge Park beyond.

• No chain
• Bespoke Tom Howley kitchen
• Far reaching views
• Walking distance of local amenities
• Garage and parking
• Listed gardens