Start your renovation with a clear brief

Describe the outcome before the finishes

Write down the daily problems you want the renovation to solve. Separate must-haves from preferences and record rooms or features that must remain untouched.

• People who will use each room
• Storage, accessibility and maintenance needs
• Items to retain, move or replace
• Target move-in date and any immovable dates

Build a starting information pack

Collect the floor plan, photographs, key measurements, appliance information and any property rules. Mark measurements as homeowner measurements until a contractor or professional confirms them.

Your first three actions

• Choose the correct property pathway in lessons 2 to 4.
• Write one room-by-room brief before requesting prices.
• Set a working budget range and a separate contingency rather than spending the whole ceiling on the first quotation.