One of the things I’ve noticed over the years is that refurbishment projects often tell you quite a lot about themselves on the first day. Some start well. People arrive, know what they are doing, have what they need, and get on with it. The place feels reasonably organised from […]
One of the most tempting ideas in property refurbishment is this: do some of the work yourself, save the labour cost, and keep more of the profit. On the face of it, that sounds perfectly sensible. And sometimes, in a narrow sense, it is sensible. But very often it is […]
Somewhere along the line, after a few projects where things had become muddled and jobs had been done in the wrong order, I started writing things down before the work began. Not an elaborate project plan. Nothing involving software, spreadsheets or anything fancy. Just a list. What needed doing first. […]
One of the easiest mistakes to make on a refurbishment project is to assume that if you spend money on a property, you must automatically be adding value. It would be nice if that were true. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn’t. And sometimes people spend quite a lot of […]
If you ask most people why renovation projects go wrong financially, they will usually point to the obvious things. The costs overran. The market moved. The builder let them down. And of course those things do happen. Sometimes one of them is the problem. Sometimes two or three of them […]
A few years into my investing career, someone introduced me to what looked like a very exciting opportunity. It was a substantial property. A lot of work was needed. There were quite a few moving parts to it, including structural issues, planning considerations and multiple units. In other words, it […]
A surprising number of renovation mistakes do not happen on site. They happen before a single contractor is booked, before a single quote is requested, and before the keys have even changed hands. They happen at the planning stage, or more accurately, because there has not really been enough planning […]
Here’s an uncomfortable truth about property renovation. Most people who try it don’t make the money they expected. A fair number make very little. Some make nothing at all. And a surprisingly large number actually lose money, not through bad luck, but through mistakes that were avoidable if they had […]
The Impact of Natural Light on Property Investment Returns Natural light is a feature that can significantly enhance a property’s appeal and investment potential. In fact, a recent survey revealed that under 30% of respondents would pay more for a property with plenty of natural light. Properties that optimise daylight […]
When it comes to increasing the value of your property, few things are as effective as a well-thought-out landscaping plan. Whether you’re preparing to sell or simply want to enjoy your outdoor space more, landscaping can significantly enhance both the aesthetic and financial value of your property. In this guide, […]
