What I Wish I'd Known Before Starting Renovations

They say you never stop learning, and in the renovation field, that's undeniable. As an Engineer specialised in integral renovations, I created my own ritual years ago – at the end of each renovation project, I write down my list of "lessons learned", a habit I picked up during my time working at an Oxford University spin-off.

Over time, I've realised that despite years of experience in the industry, there's always something new to learn. However, after six years of comprehensive renovations, today I am confidently sharing those lessons learned that I wish I had known before I began – those that will save you money, time, and many headaches!

Today I'm sharing:

• Expert tips for saving money

• Strategies for finding reliable tradespeople who are easy to communicate with

• The correct order of work

1.      Design is Everything

It's incredible the incredible amount of decisions you'll have to make during a renovation, and it's essential to make them before the project begins. It might seem obvious, yet I'm still surprised by the number of renovations that start without a properly executed design. As an Interior Designer, I dedicate a significant amount of time to developing the creative direction of a project. It's during this valuable time that I connect with my client's style and vision; it's this time for dreaming and imagining where the project takes shape, leading to a beautiful and cohesive home.

At this stage of the project, I recommend that you take the time to communicate your vision, your desires, and anything you consider relevant so that your Interior Designer can create a personalised, not standardised, home for you and your family.

Once you've approved the creative direction, we'll move on to the phase of drawing up plans and the technical proposal, and with that, the selection of tradespeople and brands we'll work with. Dedicate time to analysing the layout proposals and the technical details. Starting your renovation with the most important decisions regarding layout and installations will allow you to effectively communicate your vision to the Designer, who will then communicate it to the rest of the team, avoiding disappointments, misunderstandings, and keeping your project on track.

When you begin your renovation project, you'll discover that you underestimated the number of decisions you'll have to make. Although, of course, when you do it with the help of an expert, these decisions become much simpler as you're supported and guided by a professional who understands your vision and knows how to create beauty. Even so, I recommend that you begin your renovation with as many decisions made as possible, before starting any demolition work.

You might not have stopped to think about it, but every decision you make (or leave for someone else to decide for you) has an impact on the design of your home. From the layout of the tiles and where the cuts will go, to which decorative trims will be used on the corners to ensure a proper finish, to the colour of the grout. All these decisions are easier if you have a professional by your side who relieves you of the burden of making them.

When you embark on a complete renovation project with us, before your renovation begins, we will have defined EVERYTHING below and made all the relevant purchases. This is amazing because it will free you from a huge number of decisions:

• Layout

• Lighting and installations

• Kitchen furniture and finishes

• Taps and sinks

• Appliances

• Wall and floor tiling

• Sanitary equipment

• Light fixtures

• Bathroom tiles

• Flooring

• Bespoke furniture

• Wallpaper

• Choice of fabrics and bespoke tailoring

  
  
  
  

2.      Make your life easy

It's the little things that make domestic life easier and more enjoyable. You don't want to end up using extension leads because you haven't planned enough plug sockets, or end up using auxiliary fans that take up floor space instead of well-planned ceiling fans. You must plan the installations even outdoors; thinking about plug sockets in terrace areas is also key.

The order of the renovation is also important. If you are going to modify the drainage of the property, you must plan the sequence of the renovation well. You may need access from the ground floor to modify the drains on the upper floor. Start from the top floor downwards so you don't have to do the work twice.

3.    Slow and steady winds the renovation race

I know you're eager to see your house transformed, and believe me, I understand, but remember 'slow and steady wins the race'. You must trust the process. A successful complete renovation begins with meticulous planning. It's not just about choosing colours and materials, but about defining each stage of the project, from the layout of the space to the selection of the right professionals. Don't underestimate the time, energy, and effort involved in organising a renovation and all the tradespeople, before and during the renovation.

At Lady J. Interiors, we define a realistic timeline with deadlines for each task. This is essential for coordinating the various contractors and organising them so that one's work doesn't affect the work of others, as well as avoiding unnecessary delays.

There's nothing worse than having a builder waiting for tiles to arrive because you haven't taken delivery times into account, or running out of materials. Each manufacturing batch is slightly different from the next due to temperature variations in the manufacturing process. This means it's always necessary to order extra tiles, because if you need to make a repair in the future, you don't want to have variations in tone.

There will be faster stages during your renovation when you will be super excited (e.g., demolitions), and there will be slower stages (the rebuild). You'll wish the painters could transform your house on the first day, but they will be almost the last to come in. Why? Because the sequence of work must be extremely well-defined to ensure that your budget is invested effectively.

4.     Maintain a Proactive Attitude

In the world of renovations, there's no such thing as over-planning. Identifying every item in each and every room – kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry. – is necessary for a successful renovation. This requires meticulous planning, from the kitchen sink, the taps, the kitchen cabinetry, to properly calculating how many rolls of wallpaper you'll need.

Delivery times are much longer than you imagine. And believe me, you don't want to make choices about your home's finishes (which will last no less than 10 years) based on what products are in stock because you're in a hurry and don't have the time to make the perfect decisions for you.

I recommend that you stay calm during the renovation and be prepared for unforeseen events. The important thing is not that problems don't arise, but how you deal with them. A proactive and problem-solving attitude will help you resolve any unexpected issues that come up during your renovation. If you have a reliable team, they will take care of offering solutions to any unforeseen events that arise, making the process significantly smoother.

In my years of experience, we have encountered numerous unexpected problems, such as a contractor accidentally drilling through a water pipe or causing collateral damage to your property. Our problem-solving attitude has allowed us to bring all projects to a successful conclusion and, over time, minimise or avoid those unexpected problems. And this inevitably leads us to the next point: the importance of the team you choose.

5.      Cheap labour can be the biggest mistake

Be suspicious of companies that "do everything". You know what they say… "jack of all trades, master of none". Specialisation guarantees quality. Cheap labour can be the biggest mistake you ever make. In my first renovation, I made the mistake of buying beautiful Porcelanosa tiles and hiring cheap labour who didn't know how to lay them correctly. The tiling had many imperfections: uneven grout lines, corners where no edging profiles were used, so the edge of the tile was visible. Poor tiling can even lead to water leaks.

Regarding the execution of plumbing and electrical installations, working with a qualified technician is essential. When you're paying for labour, you're also paying for the experience of the person doing the work, and that's your best investment. Working with experienced tradespeople who can advise and guide you in your decisions, people who, if you have a problem, will take responsibility for it and solve it, who know and properly apply the regulations, is essential.

Our work team is carefully selected and constantly edited, ensuring that we work with experts in each of the renovation fields, and at the same time, all personnel are insured and have their own liability insurance.

6.      Establish a realistic budget and factor in a 20% contingency

Managing a complete renovation budget is no easy task. Establishing a realistic budget for your renovation is crucial. A detailed budget will allow you to have financial control and avoid unpleasant surprises. However, considering an additional margin (10-20%) for unforeseen events can help make the process less stressful.

In Spain, if you work with competent technicians, you'll see that each technician specialises in their own field. Therefore, to renovate an entire property, you will need different trades: builders, plumbers, plasterers, painters, carpenters, specialists in bespoke furniture, aluminium work, and a long etcetera.

When a contractor prepares a quote, they do so based on what they see. However, once the renovation has started, all the things that are not visible are discovered, leading to unexpected budget increases. In all my years of renovations, I've come across everything: iron pipes completely degraded by corrosion (terribly harmful to health), leaking asbestos drainage pipes (nowadays completely prohibited), wooden floors where we were only going to replace a few pieces and found them completely infested with woodworm, leading to the need to change the flooring throughout the entire property.

Unfortunately, complete renovations are not an exact science, and therefore, the most reasonable thing to do is to have a 'cushion' or a small amount of savings set aside equivalent to 20% of the total renovation cost. Believe me, it will save you a lot of headaches.

7.      Reconsider whether you need to live in the property during the renovation

I've done many renovations, some with clients living inside, others with clients out, and although we can do your renovation according to your needs, the difference is massive. Reconsider living in the property during the renovation.

When you embark on a complete renovation, you invest a considerable amount of money. Living in your house significantly delays the renovation (the same renovation that takes 6 months can extend to 10 months if we have to do it in stages because you are living inside), and it also subjects you to exhausting emotional stress: living and working with noise that is always disruptive, living with dust (for months), seeing people coming in and out all the time invading your privacy. Of all the investments you can make, renting an Airbnb while your renovation is underway is one of the things you will be most grateful for; it's one of those decisions you make for yourself and your mental health.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is doing a renovation in stages, thinking it will be more economical. In the world of renovations, labour is much more expensive working in stages than working in one go. Furthermore, labour costs increase with time. Renovating your house in stages can make you lose sight of the overall vision, increase your levels of frustration and personal dissatisfaction, and result in living in a home whose style is not consistent throughout all the rooms.

8.      Set aside time to organise your belongings

If you have many personal belongings that you want to keep, I recommend renting a storage unit (e.g., Bluespace in Sitges) where you can store all your belongings cleanly and safely. This will not only protect your belongings but will also significantly facilitate the complete renovation process for the contractors.

If you are going to get rid of old furniture before the renovation, plan it well in advance. You might be surprised at how expensive it is for other tradespeople to take care of getting rid of that furniture and managing the waste. However, if you plan ahead, you can get rid of that furniture yourself or even give it away to someone who needs it, thus saving some unnecessary expenses in your renovation.

9.  And what about the garden?

Many people focus all their energy and budget on renovating their interiors, often leaving the garden as their last concern. When I start an interior design project, I apply a holistic approach: I carefully consider how the owners enter their house, how they use the outdoor space, and what things are out of sync with their lifestyle and aspirations.

If you plan your renovation wisely, some minimal work in the garden could help you create more welcoming outdoor spaces without significantly increasing the budget. You can take advantage of having builders on-site to build planters, install barbecue areas, replace those slippery tiles with non-slip ones, or create a welcoming area for your guests.

Remember, a home is for living in and sharing with your loved ones. Weigh things up and ask yourself: how could I significantly improve my quality of life? And you'll see that some decisions cost very little and add a lot of value.

If you would like an expert hand to guide and accompany you in your complete renovation in Sitges, helping you create an extraordinary home for you and your family, please get in touch with me by filling out the following questionnaire at the bottom of the page. I cannot wait to hear from you!