Period properties make wonderful homes because they satisfy the desire to live in a house that has a lot of character. The fact is that it is nice to come home to a space that really impresses you and that you never tire of looking at or spending time in. If you enjoy living in interesting surroundings then period properties are often more attractive than more modern counterparts that can be rather plain and uninspiring.

Of course, period properties are older than modern properties and as such they need a bit of TLC in order to keep them in good nick. This TLC comes from regular maintenance and proper upkeep. However, you need have repairs and renovations carried out in a manner that does not disturb the period character of the house live in.

For this you need expert assistance. London is home to a design and build teams with a good deal of experience in renovating, maintaining and repairing period properties that are rich in historical features that it is important to retain if the house is to keep hold of the original character that makes it such an interesting place to live.

There are a number of different facets at play when you carry out a renovation or refurbishment on your home in London. Whether you have just bought a new home in that needs considerable refurbishment before you move in, or you feel your current property needs modernising, it is important to consider that managing the project yourself could take a great deal of effort and cause you a good deal of trouble.

Project management is hard work, indeed, there are project managers available to hire specifically for residential renovation projects. It takes up a great deal of time as you try to research and sort out the many legal aspects for your project. The time and expertise involved should not be underestimated.  Elements you need to consider include planning permission, licences, permits and certificates, as well as securing architects, designers, builders and other specialist trades to carry out your renovation or refurbishment to your schedule.

The project manager needs to be able to timetable and schedule all the work that needs doing in advance, not missing a trick and if this is you, it is extremely challenging and draining to somehow fit all of this in around your day-to-day activities. The project management element includes all liaison between different trades involved – carpenters, plumbers, plasterers, electricians, tilers, skips, scaffolding as well as procurement and scheduling for materials that might be needed on site. If you get the timing wrong, order too many or too few, your project could begin to stutter and take much longer. The knock on effect of poor project management is that some specialist contractors that had allocated their time to your project might not be willing to wait for the materials to arrive, or they might not be able to physically do the job for you as other elements are still outstanding. If you want to keep them available for your job, you may need to retain them even when they are not working for you. Often, experienced, high quality trades will move on to another project that is more consistent (and rewarding) for them to earn their living. This could quickly become exceedingly expensive.

It makes much more sense to assign responsibly for the project management of your renovation or refurbishment project to someone involved in the process and who you will be regularly communicating with on a daily or weekly basis such as a local building company in London. You still exercise control over proceedings and will always be kept up to speed on where each element of your project is at – or should be at, and any reasons for delays or rescheduling. By handing this responsibility to a project manager, sometimes the communication between architect, builder, client and project manager is strained and becomes ineffective, slowing the process down with each party blaming the other, putting your project under further pressure as well as those trying to help you. Buildburo take on the project management of significant renovation projects as part of our service, adding substantial expertise whilst saving significant amounts of time and expense. Whatever you decide, we recommend the project management should always be entrusted to experienced renovation professionals. Our sole aim is to create a high quality renovation in a timely fashion, with the least disruption, stress and inconvenience to your household and lifestyle as possible.

When considering buying a house in central London, you will be all too aware that the interiors could do with a little attention or significant modification. That is when it makes sense to get the opinion of an experienced property renovation company who have carried out several refurbishments in the local area.

By consulting a team of property renovation experts before you buy in London, you can identify and unlock the true potential in your prospective home. As you go ahead and buy the property, you will also know exactly what to expect in terms of budget and time scale for a complete interior overhaul. Sometimes, you can unlock enormous potential within your property without the current owners even being aware of it.

When you have discovered a little gem of a Georgian home, a mews house, or an apartment to be your pied-a-terre in London, it does not matter how ambitious your project is, you will need to find an expert capable of seeing the potential in your property with you. They will need to design something that works much better and you will need someone able to renovate the existing building beautifully. A capable and local construction company can create fantastic results, so you maximise your return and enjoy living there immensely. London is remarkably well-served by incredible interior architects and interior designers, along with expert builders and construction professionals able to turn detailed building drawings into a reality. London has a very high proportion of older, period properties and the vast number of discerning home owners are keen to maintain their character whilst updating their homes to unlock their true potential and match their lifestyles.

It’s good practice to keep the idea of full-scale refurbishment in your mind when you are looking for a new home. Often, to get the very best out of a property, you need to think ahead, visualise the potential in each and consider taking a local renovation expert along with you when viewing a property before you buy. After you have visited the property, discussed options with your local builder, considered renovation, interior modernisation, changing layouts and improving facilities in your prospective home, you can work out what the building work will cost. When negotiating for your property, by having this knowledge, you could buy your property for a much more competitive price as well as strengthen your position to secure the property you want.