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Starting work on renovating or converting a property is always an exciting moment. You are going to be taking something that may not have been given the love and attention it deserves in a long time and breathing new life into it. You will be turning something that is no longer fit for purpose into a new home or creating a building that can be used by an up-and-coming business. Right now, everyone is feeling the pinch in so many ways, and renovating or converting a property is an undeniably positive act.
However, it is important to note that there are several things that you need to be aware of if you are committing to a large-scale project. Whether you are a private owner looking to bring the best people on board to help you with your dream conversion, or you are a team bidding on a project to renovate a property, there are several steps that you need to take before you start work. Missing these steps can have serious consequences that could set your project back by several months. Here are some of the most important.
Know Your Budget
First things first, anyone who has ever done any home renovation or conversion project knows that the costs can start to stack up a lot more quickly than you would expect, or indeed want them to. If you are a property owner looking to convert a building, say a barn, then you need to know exactly how much you have to spend. It is always a sensible idea to give yourself a bit of wiggle room, but you need to be crystal clear on where your ceiling is. Right now, we are seeing costs go up and up across the board, so there is a good chance that you are going to spend more than you may want to. What you need to avoid is spending more than you can afford to.
Pay For Good Surveys
No one should ever commit to a major building project without getting the proper surveys done. A lot of people who have not been down this road before may look at the survey process as something that is there to make life difficult. What these surveys are actually there for is to ensure that the work can proceed safely and without having an impact on the surrounding area and its wildlife.
For example, you wouldn’t want to start doing a lot of heavy, high-impact work without knowing whether or not the ground you are working on is going to be able to take it. You would also be surprised by the number of different types of work that will require a bat survey. What you need to know is that there are 18 different species of bat living in the UK, and they are all protected by law. Whether you are extending your property or simply removing hedgerows on your property, you will need to have a bat survey done. Bat Surveys has over ten years of experience, and their team conducts around 50 surveys around the UK on a weekly basis.
Be Sure That You Have The Proper Permission
Before you commit to any conversion or renovation, you need to make sure that you have the proper planning permission to do so. There are several kinds of building work that will not require you to have planning permission, but it is always much better to check before you get started. If the property that you are working on is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or if it is situated in a designated conservation area, then you will definitely need approval. This can be a lengthy process so it is always a good idea to do this as early as you can to avoid any disruption further down the line.
Health And Safety Is Always Going To Be A Factor
It does not matter whether you are a private owner or a contractor, you are going to need to make sure that you are taking every possible step to ensure that your work is up to the health and safety standards. If you are a contractor, then you should seriously consider taking out business insurance. This will mean that you will be covered for any accidents or injuries that occur on site and will mean that if any accidental damage occurs to the property that you will be able to make an insurance claim. If you are a private owner conducting some major work, then it is always going to be a good idea to take every possible safety precaution. Make sure that you have equipment that works and that you understand how to use it. Protective equipment and clothing such as hard hats, gloves and safety glasses are a necessity. If you are in any doubt about whether you have the knowledge and skills to do the work by yourself, then you should always bring in a professional.
Plan For The Weather
One of the main things that you need to consider if you are committing to major work on a property this summer is to think about how the weather has been changing in the United Kingdom. We have all seen the news stories about extreme weather events in recent years, and we know that flooding is only going to increase in the years ahead. If you are preparing a major conversion or renovation to a property that has been out of use for some time, then making sure that it can handle these conditions needs to be a priority. This is particularly important if the building is close to water or a flood plain. Something else to consider if you are converting a building into a residential property is that insulation is going to be very important. With rising energy costs and wildly fluctuating temperatures, this is one of the best ways to ensure that your building is ready for what’s to come.