How to Plan a Major Home Renovation?

Renovating your home is an exciting prospect. Whether it’s extending the kitchen, adding a loft conversion, upgrading energy efficiency, or modernising outdated interiors, a major home renovation offers the opportunity to create a space tailored to your lifestyle and future needs.

However, without careful planning, the journey can quickly become overwhelming—both emotionally and financially. From budgeting and permits to choosing the right professionals and managing timelines, there are many moving parts to get right. At LB Group, we’ve seen how thoughtful planning makes a world of difference in both residential and investment-led renovation projects.

This guide walks you through each essential step to help you confidently plan a major home renovation, minimise risks, and maximise the value of your investment.

Set Clear Renovation Goals

Before you begin hiring contractors or sketching designs, it’s crucial to understand exactly what you want from your renovation. Clear goals act as your compass throughout the process and help you stay focused on what truly matters.

Ask yourself:

• What problems am I trying to solve?
  
• Is this renovation about improving lifestyle, aesthetics, or increasing property value?
  
• Do I intend to live in this home long-term or sell/rent it?

Some homeowners aim to future-proof their homes with energy-efficient upgrades or create multi-functional spaces that accommodate hybrid working. Others see renovation as a strategic investment—particularly in property hotspots—where value-added refurbishments can significantly enhance resale potential or rental yields.

For those with a business-oriented mindset, aligning your renovation goals with your long-term property strategy is an essential early step.

Assess the Property’s Current Condition

Next, evaluate your home’s current state. A visual inspection might reveal surface-level issues, but a more comprehensive assessment is often necessary—especially for older properties.

Consider hiring professionals to:

• Conduct a full structural survey
  
• Check for damp, mould, or subsidence
  
• Assess roofing, plumbing, wiring, and insulation
  
• Evaluate the age and efficiency of your heating system

Overlooking hidden problems can result in major delays and unexpected costs during the build. Having a realistic picture of your property’s limitations early on allows for smarter budgeting and design decisions.

At this stage, business-minded homeowners—particularly landlords or portfolio investors—might benefit from consulting advisers, who can interpret survey findings through a financial lens and recommend practical next steps.

Create a Realistic Budget

Budgeting is one of the most important (and frequently underestimated) elements of any home renovation and remodeling. While it’s tempting to focus on the design vision, it’s the budget that determines the scope of your project.

Key factors to include in your budget:

• Design and architectural fees
  
• Labour and materials
  
• Planning applications and building control fees
  
• Structural work or demolition
  
• Fixtures, fittings, and finishes
  
• Temporary accommodation (if applicable)
  
• Contingency fund (recommend at least 10–20%)
  

Cost overruns are common in renovations, often due to unforeseen complications. That’s why building in a generous buffer is not just wise—it’s essential.

If your renovation forms part of a larger financial plan such as buy-to-let property upgrades or inheritance restructuring consulting with financial experts. We can help you map short- and long-term returns while considering tax implications and lending strategies.

Understand Legal and Regulatory Requirements

Even the best renovation plans can fall flat without meeting the correct legal requirements. Ensuring your project complies with local planning laws and building regulations avoids penalties, stop-work orders, or costly rework.

Here’s what to check:

• Planning Permission: Required for major alterations like extensions, loft conversions, or structural changes.
  
• Building Regulations: Covering safety, fire, energy efficiency, ventilation, drainage, and more.
  
• Party Wall Agreements: If your renovation affects a shared wall with neighbours.
  
• Conservation Area Restrictions: If your property is in a listed or protected zone.
  

It’s good practice to speak with your local planning authority early. Some homeowners hire planning consultants to manage applications and reduce approval times.

A due-diligence mindset, often encouraged by advisers at LB Group, helps prevent future issues and keeps your renovation project aligned with both compliance and cost control.

Choose the Right Professionals

The success of your renovation largely depends on the team you assemble. The right professionals bring experience, oversight, and creative solutions—while the wrong team can lead to delays, disputes, and spiralling costs.

Key roles you may need:

• Architect: For design, drawings, and possibly managing planning permissions.
  
• Structural Engineer: For load-bearing assessments and calculations.
  
• Builder or Contractor: To carry out the works.
  
• Project Manager: To coordinate trades and ensure timelines are met.
  
• Interior Designer (optional): For finishings and spatial planning.

When selecting tradespeople:

• Review portfolios and references
  
• Confirm accreditations (e.g., FMB, NICEIC)
  
• Ask about insurance and dispute resolution processes
  
• Get detailed quotes and contracts in writing

Develop a Timeline and Project Plan

A major home renovation isn’t just about what gets done—but when and how.

A typical project may follow:

1. Planning & approvals
   
2. Demolition or structural changes
   
3. Building works
   
4. Electrical & plumbing installations
   
5. Plastering and finishes
   
6. Decorating and fit-out
   
7. Snagging and inspections

Delays can arise due to weather, planning setbacks, or material shortages, so timelines should remain flexible. Also, be realistic about when you can live in your home again—some phases may require temporary relocation.

When managing multiple trades or investments simultaneously, a detailed Gantt chart or project timeline is crucial. At LB Group, we often help property clients synchronise their financial calendars with their renovation milestones for cashflow clarity.

Monitor Progress and Communicate Regularly

Even with the best team in place, staying engaged with your project is essential. Regular site visits help you catch issues early and keep things moving efficiently.

Tips for project communication:

• Designate a point-of-contact (e.g., project manager)
  
• Set weekly check-ins or site meetings
  
• Document changes in writing
  
• Use project tracking tools or shared folders

Keep an open mind, but don’t be afraid to speak up if something isn’t aligning with the plan. Whether you’re investing emotionally as a homeowner or financially as a landlord, consistent communication ensures you’re not caught off guard.

Business-savvy clients often treat renovations like mini-projects within a wider strategy. That means aligning progress reports with budgeting tools or income forecasting—something helps many clients integrate into their wider financial planning.

Prepare for the Unexpected

No matter how well you plan, surprises will occur. It’s part of the renovation journey.

Common issues:

• Hidden damp or asbestos
  
• Delays in planning approval
  
• Material shortages or delivery delays
  
• Cost inflation or contractor availability
  
• Scope creep from design changes

Rather than fear the unexpected, prepare for it. Include contingency in both time and budget, and make decisions promptly to avoid work stoppages.

Stress levels often rise during renovations, particularly when living on-site. Setting clear boundaries, protecting your personal space, and practising patience all contribute to smoother outcomes.

In a business sense, this resilience mindset is something that clients often develop as part of broader property or lifestyle transformation planning viewing challenges as opportunities to adapt and optimise.

Final Walkthrough and Post-Renovation Steps

The finishing phase is often the most exciting—but don’t rush through it. A proper review helps ensure everything meets your standards before you make final payments or move back in.

Final tasks to complete:

• Conduct a snagging inspection (list of small issues to correct)
  
• Request completion certificates and warranties
  
• Test all systems (heating, electrics, appliances)
  
• Arrange deep cleaning if required
  
• Update your home insurance and notify your mortgage provider if necessary
  
• Take final photographs for records (especially if renting or reselling)

This is also a good time to assess how the renovation affects your home’s energy performance, future maintenance, and resale value. For property investors, these post-renovation metrics often feed into wider portfolio planning—a service that advisory firms like us support as part of strategic property reviews.

Key Takeaways: Renovation with Purpose

Planning a major home renovation tip doesn’t just involve bricks, beams, and budgets—it requires vision, discipline, and the right support network.

Final tasks to complete:

• Conduct a snagging inspection (list of small issues to correct)
  
• Request completion certificates and warranties
  
• Test all systems (heating, electrics, appliances)
  
• Arrange deep cleaning if required
  
• Update your home insurance and notify your mortgage provider if necessary
  
• Take final photographs for records (especially if renting or reselling)

This is also a good time to assess how the renovation affects your home’s energy performance, future maintenance, and resale value.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long does a major home renovation typically take?

The timeline depends on the scope of the renovation. Minor internal changes might take 4–8 weeks, while larger projects involving structural work, extensions, or full-home upgrades can take 3–6 months or more. Always build in extra time for unforeseen delays such as weather, planning permissions, or material shortages.

2. Do I need planning permission for every renovation?

Not always. Some works fall under Permitted Development Rights, such as certain types of loft conversions or single-storey extensions. However, if your property is listed, in a conservation area, or if your plans exceed specific limits, planning permission will likely be required. It’s always wise to check with your local planning authority.

3. How can I avoid going over budget during a renovation?

The best way to avoid overspending is by setting a realistic and detailed budget from the outset, including a 10–20% contingency fund. Get fixed-price quotes where possible, limit last-minute design changes, and monitor progress regularly. Seeking guidance from property or financial advisers like we can also help you plan smarter.

4. Should I move out during the renovation?

This depends on the nature of the work. For major projects that involve plumbing, electrics, or demolition, moving out temporarily may be safer and more convenient. Discuss this with your contractor early on and factor accommodation costs into your budget if needed.

5. What professionals should I hire for a major renovation?

Typically, you may need an architect, builder, structural engineer, and possibly a project manager or interior designer. Choosing experienced and accredited professionals is key. For complex or investment-based projects, it’s also beneficial to speak with financial planners or property advisers like those at LB Group.