If you’re buying a house to renovate in the UK, one of the most important steps is knowing when to bring in an architect. Many people wait until after completion, but getting architectural input earlier can save time, money and stress. Alongside your survey, an impartial architect-led pre-purchase appraisal—can help you understand feasibility, planning risk… Read more »
Buying a house is a huge step – and you want to be sure it’s the right one. Maybe the floor plan looks good on paper, but you’re wondering: Could we knock through to create an open-plan kitchen? Is there space for a downstairs toilet? Could we squeeze in an extra bedroom or bathroom? If… Read more »
Finding the perfect property often comes with a vision of potential – reimagining spaces, enhancing light and modernising layouts. If that vision includes removing internal walls, it’s essential to understand the structural and planning implications before you proceed – ideally before you commit to buy. Alongside your survey, an impartial, architect-led pre-purchase appraisal – for… Read more »
Discovering damp in your survey report can feel like a major problem, especially if you’re buying your dream home. Before you panic or pull out, take a breath and dig a little deeper. The key question is: what does “damp” mean in this context, and what should you do next? Alongside your survey, an impartial,… Read more »
You’ve had your home survey done… and the word subsidence jumps off the page. Now what? If you’re considering buying a property or planning renovations to your current home, spotting potential subsidence in the survey can feel like a big red flag. Before you panic, it’s important to understand what it actually means, and who… Read more »
Interviewing an architect is a crucial step in hiring the right professional for your home project. To ensure you find the perfect fit, it’s important to know what questions to ask an architect during the interview process. This article gives 10 of the most common questions that will help you evaluate an architect’s qualifications, experience,… Read more »
What’s the difference between modular, prefab and kit homes? If you are a novice self-builder, It’s easy to become overwhelmed with all of the industry jargon out there. ‘prefab homes’, ‘modular homes’, ‘kit houses’, ‘manufactured homes’ (etc…) are sometimes used interchangeably. However, there are subtle but important differences, and it will be critical to understand them in order… Read more »
Many of us have garages attached to our homes, but often we neglect them, treating them as unimportant utility spaces where un-wanted items pile up over time. Considering the premium value of space in our homes, it’s worth exploring the potential of renovating our garages to serve a practical purpose. Here are some ideas on… Read more »
Finding plots in London and other major UK cities With empty plots of land being difficult and often very expensive to come by, it’s no wonder that many self-builders and renovators instead convert an existing building into their dream home, applying for a change of use to residential. This is particularly of interest in the UK’s… Read more »
Do I need planning permission for a garden room? Garden rooms or buildings do not require planning permission, if they fall within permitted development guidelines. To classify as an ‘outbuilding’ under permitted development rules, it must not contain sleeping accommodation and must be single storey with a maximum eaves height of 2.5m. There are a few… Read more »
