
The Complete Guide to Renovating and Improving Your Property
Liz Hodgkinson(Author)
Kogan Page Ltd (Publisher)
2nd Edition
Published on 3. December 2006
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-0-7494-4870-7 (ISBN)
Description
The Complete Guide to Renovating and Improving Your Property helps readers make the right decision about every aspect of property improvement - what is worth the effort and what will be a good investment. Informative and enjoyable, it provides expert advice on a wealth of topics, including arranging the finances, finding a good builder, project management and planning regulations.
Whether you are planning to undertake major renovation work, home improvements, conversions, or even build a house yourself, this practical book is essential reading. Full of eye-opening real-life stories and a resource section filled with useful addresses and websites, anyone facing the minefield of home improvement will find this book indispensable.
Whether you are planning to undertake major renovation work, home improvements, conversions, or even build a house yourself, this practical book is essential reading. Full of eye-opening real-life stories and a resource section filled with useful addresses and websites, anyone facing the minefield of home improvement will find this book indispensable.
Reviews / Votes
"a guiding light on the bewildering home improvements scene. a must-have book that you should read cover to cover and refer to again and again - but never lend to others! if liz hasn't mentioned it, it's not worth thinking about" angus purden, presenter, room for improvement, channel 4 "practical, no-nonsense style... peppered with case histories... an honest and thorough guide." square foot "full of useful advice." scotland on sunday "this little gem of a book...is informative, enjoyable, and most importantly, clearly set out." uptown magazine "information on a wealth of topics which will help make the process a whole lot less painful." holiday cottages magazine "essential reading...everyone should read this book before they make the common mistake suffered by so many." northeast house hunter "will prove indispensable to anyone facing the minefield of home improvement." oxford times "with its commonsense approach and tips from a seasoned expert, it's an all round good read." manchester living "informative and enjoyable, it provides expert advice on a wealth of topics...essential reading for anyone facing the minefield of home improvement." news on the block "essential reading for anyone facing the minefield of home improvement." news on the block "her [liz hodgkinson's] no-nonsense approach helps readers make the right decision about every aspect of property development, by covering a wealth of topics from arranging the finances to employing the right contractors; and from planning regulations and project management to add those all important finishing touches." scotland's new home buyerMore details
Edition
2nd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Edition type
Revised edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 138 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-7494-4870-7 (9780749448707)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition

Liz Hodgkinson
The Complete Guide to Renovating and Improving Your Property
Book
07/2004
1st Edition
Kogan Page Ltd
€32.39
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Liz Hodgkinson is a prolific author and journalist who has written over 40 books. She writes regularly on property matters for the Evening Standard and the Daily Mail, and also contributes to The Guardian, The Independent and various magazines and websites. She is the author of the highly successful The Complete Guide to Letting Property and The Complete Guide to Buying a Property Abroad (both published by Kogan Page).
Content
part 1 preparation 1 is it worth it? the true cost of renovation; the state of the property market; is it a good investment?; developing or renovating your own home; buying to let; raising the finance; 'staging' the property; conclusions 2 getting started the builder-client relationship; how much do builders and other tradespeople charge?; be aware of the size and scope of the job; planning permission and other consents; buying a property to renovate or improve; where do you find good builders? 3 the professionals an architect; a landscape gardener; a structural engineer; a project manager; a surveyor; an interior designer; an electrician and plumber; a tiler; a plasterer; a bricklayer; a carpenter or joiner; a painter or decorator; other trades; conclusion; your relationship with the builders or professionals part 2 achieving successful transformations 4 kitchens and bathrooms kitchens; bathrooms; selling on 5 adding on - conversions, conservatories and extensions extending outwards; loft conversions; basement conversions; garages; does the addition add on value?; financing the addition; renovation insurance; windows; energy efficiency 6 renovations and restorations the right builders; planning permission and so on; developing for profit?; finding and financing the right place; listed building consent; conservation areas; noise and noise prevention; money matters;the process; conversions 7 self-build 153 michael jordan's experience; when is a self-build not a self-build?; planning permission;the utilities; the plots; skills needed; bungalow gobbling; barn conversions; timber frame houses; self-build for profit? 8 finishing touches doors; windows; blinds and curtains; flooring; fireplaces; lighting and other electrical considerations; painting and decorating; wallpaper and other decorative features; shelving and storage; dressing and staging
Part 1 Preparation
1 Is it worth it?
The true cost of renovation; The state of the property market; Is it a good investment?; Developing or renovating your own home; Buying to let; Raising the finance; 'Staging' the property; Conclusions
2 Getting started
The builder-client relationship; How much do builders and other tradespeople charge?; Be aware of the size and scope of the job; Planning permission and other consents; Buying a property to renovate or improve; Where do you find good builders?
3 The professionals
An architect; A landscape gardener; A structural engineer; A project manager; A surveyor; An interior designer; An electrician and plumber; A tiler; A plasterer; A bricklayer; A carpenter or joiner; A painter or decorator; Other trades; Conclusion; Your relationship with the builders or professionals
Part 2 Achieving successful transformations
4 Kitchens and bathrooms
Kitchens; Bathrooms; Selling on
5 Adding on - conversions, conservatories and extensions
Extending outwards; Loft conversions; Basement conversions; Garages; Does the addition add on value?; Financing the addition; Renovation insurance; Windows; Energy efficiency
6 Renovations and restorations
The right builders; Planning permission and so on; Developing for profit?; Finding and financing the right place; Listed building consent; Conservation areas; Noise and noise prevention; Money matters;The process; Conversions
7 Self-build 153
Michael Jordan's experience; When is a self-build not a self-build?; Planning permission;The utilities; The plots; Skills needed; Bungalow gobbling; Barn conversions; Timber frame houses; Self-build for profit?
8 Finishing touches
Doors; Windows; Blinds and curtains; Flooring; Fireplaces; Lighting and other electrical considerations; Painting and
decorating; Wallpaper and other decorative features; Shelving and storage; Dressing and staging
1 Is it worth it?
The true cost of renovation; The state of the property market; Is it a good investment?; Developing or renovating your own home; Buying to let; Raising the finance; 'Staging' the property; Conclusions
2 Getting started
The builder-client relationship; How much do builders and other tradespeople charge?; Be aware of the size and scope of the job; Planning permission and other consents; Buying a property to renovate or improve; Where do you find good builders?
3 The professionals
An architect; A landscape gardener; A structural engineer; A project manager; A surveyor; An interior designer; An electrician and plumber; A tiler; A plasterer; A bricklayer; A carpenter or joiner; A painter or decorator; Other trades; Conclusion; Your relationship with the builders or professionals
Part 2 Achieving successful transformations
4 Kitchens and bathrooms
Kitchens; Bathrooms; Selling on
5 Adding on - conversions, conservatories and extensions
Extending outwards; Loft conversions; Basement conversions; Garages; Does the addition add on value?; Financing the addition; Renovation insurance; Windows; Energy efficiency
6 Renovations and restorations
The right builders; Planning permission and so on; Developing for profit?; Finding and financing the right place; Listed building consent; Conservation areas; Noise and noise prevention; Money matters;The process; Conversions
7 Self-build 153
Michael Jordan's experience; When is a self-build not a self-build?; Planning permission;The utilities; The plots; Skills needed; Bungalow gobbling; Barn conversions; Timber frame houses; Self-build for profit?
8 Finishing touches
Doors; Windows; Blinds and curtains; Flooring; Fireplaces; Lighting and other electrical considerations; Painting and
decorating; Wallpaper and other decorative features; Shelving and storage; Dressing and staging