The topic of home improvement covers a broad range of professions. Your home improvement dilemma might be primarily focused on interior decor or giving your home a bit of a spruce up; projects that alter or repair the aesthetics of your house. However, home improvements also include building works, plumbing, re-wiring and landscaping services as well as work done on outdoor structures.

Maintenance, general upkeep and repairs fall into this category as well. All the issues mentioned and more can be addressed by our team of qualified home improvement professionals. They are able to offer you guidance on works you believe need to be carried out. THey can also advise on quotes you have received from trades people and make sure you are being given the right advice. Our advisors can save you a lot of trouble and extra expense down the line.

If you want to ask advice from our team of home improvement professionals, you could save yourself a lot of time and money – call out fees can be very high and it is not always possible to get someone out as soon as you need them. Being able to get information quickly can be advantageous.

The home improvement Experts on Expert-answers.com have years of experience, and are ready to take your question. This is a very easy way to get practical advice for FREE.

What Do You Need To Consider Before Starting Home Improvements?

• Be sure to contact your Local Authority Planning and Building Control Departments if you are doing significant work on a property.
• If you are doing work that impacts adjoining or shared walls, you may need to issue a Party Wall Notice.
• If you are doing a project which makes significant structural changes you may need the help of a structural engineer to help you obtain Building Control Approval.
• If you are working on a listed building or you live in a Conservation Area, check with your Local Authority for any restrictions that may be in place.
• Consider whether your building projects will add value to your home. A local estate agent can help you assess whether you will see a return on your investment if that is of concern to you.
• Once you are ready to begin work, it is a good idea to inform your home insurance provider and ensure your cover is not affected. There can be a higher risk of potential damage if you’re removing walls or opening up the roof as may be the case if you are extending or doing a loft conversion.

Home Improvements – Costs

• Make a list of absolutely everything you would like to have done, this will help when getting quotes.
• Make sure that VAT is included in the quote.
• Set aside some money for any unexpected costs. It’s quite common to go over budget – rule of thumb is to allow 10% on top of total cost.
• If you are using a loan or other credit to pay for the work, consider interest when working out the full cost.
• Agree with any tradespeople who will purchase items.
• Clarify at the start what marks the end of the project. Get this in writing.

How Do I Finance Home Improvements?

You have several options when considering renovation costs. You can finance them:

• With cash
• By remortgaging or by taking out a secured loan for improvements
• Credit card.
• Using your mortgage for home improvements will usually offer the cheapest rates. Always shop around for the best deal.

How Do I Find The Best Tradespeople?

• Use personal recommendations
• Search online and read reviews
• Always get at least 3 quotes for any work
• Ask for references
• Get a quote in writing if the job is substantial
• Ask if they are registered with a trade body
• Ask if they are registered with a trading standards scheme?

The home improvement Experts on Expert-answers.com have years of experience, and are ready to take your question. This is a very easy way to get practical advice for FREE.