Leeds home improvements - some frequently asked questions to help you.

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If you have any further queries please contact us or ring 07703 648887

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Where can I get design ideas and inspiration for my home improvements

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From us, we're happy to advise, see our gallery or visiting our existing clients work (by appointment only). Google images by searching 'landscaped garden' or 'interior design ideas' etc. Pinterest is another online source. Perhaps there was a hotel room or bathroom you liked. The decor of a bar or restaurant. Or you were wowed round a friends house. There's also the myriad of property programmes on TV. Short answer: everywhere.

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Does your home improvement extend to also being a construction or building company

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Mostly no. We specialise mainly in non structural home improvements and makeovers to lift your rooms such as painting and decorating, interior design, home staging, landscaped gardens, outbuildings, garden offices and kitchens and bathrooms. Achieving rooms that work for you.

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Although we 'can' build (including 24m2 kitchen extension see gallery), our passion is more on design and decor of your rooms, homes and gardens. We still put our beautiful brick and concrete blockwork skills to good use, for your projects like garden walls and secure garden rooms. Any structural alterations will be subject to building regulations. We are also skilled at carpentry and joinery - see gallery. This covers any requirements for frames and roofs for outbuildings. Also stud walls when reconfiguring rooms.

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What areas do you cover

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We prefer spending our time helping our local Leeds clients than on travelling. Being based in Roundhay LS8 we are mainly kept busy in North Leeds. Places like Adel, Alwoodley, Chapel Allerton, Cookridge, Headingley, Horsforth, Meanwood, Moortown, Roundhay, Shadwell. The LS6, LS7, LS8, LS16, LS17, LS18 postcodes. Though through recommendations we have worked on home improvements as far afield as Huddersfield and even London. So we 'will' travel if we are excited about your project. Because of our support network of preferred and trusted suppliers, qualified trade and building regulation professionals we best serve the people of Leeds... 

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Can I view previous customers work

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Yes. We are proud of our work and would actively encourage and be more than happy for you to see existing client work. You can see for yourself the high standard of finish and remarkable transformations. You may even pick up ideas and inspiration to bring to your project. Please note to respect privacy, all existing client work visits are by appointment only.

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What are you day rates and project prices

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Each project is unique and we would need to site visit to assess your rooms and home and discuss your requirements. Including quality of finish, before being able to accurately price.

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As a guide our rates for our owner, Andrew, would be from £25 to £40 per hour, £200 to £320 per day. Depending on the service, scope of work, length and complexity of the project. Whether it is bespoke, design, skilled labour, consultancy or a combination. All skilled elements of your work would be carried out by Andrew himself who is responsible for all the transformations throughout this website. The rate would also include project managing your work from start to finish.

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(Please note day rates are not just 'time on site'. There is often a lot of work out of hours or behind the scenes to support and best help your project). Plus the rate covers overheads and insurances so that your work is carried out safely and professionally.

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Other rates may include qualified trade (we work with) such as Gas Safe engineer, and NICEIC electricians, budget approximately £200 to £250 per person per day. Professional services such as private building regulations - project specific and POA

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To protect you, a breakdown of your work and materials will be provided in a written estimate or quotation. Where possible, we will try and give you a project price to get you the best value.

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How much should I allow for materials

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Materials will depend on your project requirements and design. We are happy to work with you and advise on this to get it right for you. There are certain basics such as CE structural timber that will be the same whether we source it from Wickes or from our builders merchant. We would always recommend branded such as Dulux for paints. Regarding: wallpaper, furniture, furnishings, kitchen worktops etc. price depends how 'designer/high-end' you want to go. For outside how exotic, tropical, established you want your plants etc. Seeds can cost pence, whereas a mature tree may cost thousands. We believe in transparency and Google is a great initial place to start searching for prices...

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"The best thing is to have a budget for each room and your overall project. We can advise on what can be achieved for you within that" 

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Who is responsible for sourcing the materials and do you add a markup on materials

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Our Leeds home improvements service is bespoke and tailored to your requirements. As such, we're happy to offer our advice, experience and expertise, though ultimately go with your preference regarding materials, as it is your home and your project.

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If a customer wants to take responsibility (see below) to calculate, research and purchase all the materials (e.g. for a decorating project: all the tins of paint and any rolls of wallpaper, plus paste!) then we will happily install these for you on a labour only rate.

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Most customers prefer our fully managed service where we take care of sourcing all your materials to save your time.

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Getting the right materials on site and on time is critical to a projects success. And it is easy to underestimate how much time can be invested in the following responsibilities:

• Selecting the correct materials (brand, colour and finish etc.)

• Calculating the correct quantities of materials

• Checking the availability of materials

• (As above, if necessary, being able to source alternatives)

• Shopping around and getting the best value for the materials (e.g. if one store is doing a 3 for 2 on paints etc.)

• Ordering the materials (by phone, online, or in store)

• Arranging collection or delivery of materials

• Storage and transportation of the materials

• Checking the correct materials and quantities have been supplied

• Checking the condition of the materials - to ensure the best finish for your project

• (As above, sorting any returns or swapping materials)

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Love Your Home Leeds will research the best materials and prices for you from our Leeds builders merchants (Milfords), or a DIY centre (such as Wickes), or a trade catalogue (such as Screwfix), or any other reputable supplier, and may add a small markup of around 10-20% to the online price, when quoting. This goes part way to reflecting all the time and costs involved in providing materials, as part of our service, to ensure your project runs smoothly.   

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How much should I budget/pay for a particular improvement

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Your home and project is unique and our work is tailored to your particular needs and bespoke. So as above, we would need to assess your site and discuss your requirements, including personal specification and quality of finish to provide an accurate price. However to help you do your research and as a general budgetary guideline for your improvements:

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Note all our services include free no obligation initial consultation including advice and ideas:

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• Painting and decorating walls, ceilings (papering/painting) / with woodwork - would typically start from £500/700 per room. And from £2,000/4,000 for a home, (depending whether it was a 2 bedroom flat through to a 5 bedroom home, for example). Increase your budget if you choose designer or high-end paints and wallpapers. Or if you're adding/restoring character or architectural detail. Allow contingency if walls/ceilings are not in good condition, as sometimes may need re plastering. The size, condition, complexity of the rooms/home will affect the final price.

• Interior design, initial consultation is free. Then chargeable, by agreement, for more in depth consultations and service that includes mood boards, concept design, (furniture, lighting etc.) layouts and specifications with shopping list for new items, and project management to ensure work completed to timelines and budget, allow from £500 to £2,000 per room (higher end of the scale would include a more fully coordinated service, more time allowed for being on site, and saving more of your time with less involvement from yourselves, including sourcing and purchasing on your behalf). Packages could be discussed for whole house designs.

• Home staging, free initial consultation. Then chargeable service for in-depth assessment and written summary report listing what needs to be done to make the property more appealing to buyers or tenants, with an estimate of how much the work may cost. Plus discuss the improvements that may be best to focus on being respectful to any budgets and timescales. Home staging reports start from £290 to £590 depending on the size of property, as well as amount and complexity of the improvements. Please note this is a cosmetic not structural report.

• Landscaped gardens. Smaller projects such as new lawns can start from a few hundred pounds, depending on size and shape. For a full garden design with features such as new lawn, paths, patios, lighting, walls, fencing, flowerbeds, garden structures, budget from £5,000 to £20,000. (The higher end of the scale: the grander the design and more features you'll be able to achieve). The size, complexity, material finish, your choice of 'how established' any plants, and how much excavation and soil removal etc. will all affect the final price. 

• Garden rooms - outbuildings, summerhouses and garden offices. Completely bespoke design, hand crafted and built on site, (including odd shapes to suit your garden space). Allow from £1,000 to £2,000 per m2 for the build/construction. Budget typically from £5,000 to £30,000. The size, complexity, material (timber/cladding and or brick/block), foundations, insulation, electrics, doors, windows, intended use, exterior, decor and interior finish and spec will all affect the final price. 

• Garage conversions, bespoke design, finished painted and decorated, with new windows, doors and floor, with electrics, to building regulations where necessary, budget from £10,000 to £20,000. Nearer mid to higher end of the scale if garage is a double, and/or needs more structural work such as a new roof. Budget more for fittings as intended use, interior decor and spec will all affect the final price. 

• Gravel drive, for consultation, design, digging down, laying compacted hardcore stone, and finishing with top layer of gravel, would start from £60/70 per m2. Increase budget for more expensive gravel, and or to incorporate landscaped flower beds, plants, or walls, fences and gates into your design.

• Kitchens - open ended - as many factors such as size, spec, units, worktops, splashbacks, lighting, decor, plumbing, electrics, removal and disposal of old kitchen, will all impact the price. Appliances alone (check online at AO or John Lewis for example) can start at hundreds and run into thousands for the latest tech. (So apart from the smallest of kitchens) it is prudent to allow from at least £10,000 to £20,000 upwards - the larger and more higher range kitchen you go.

• Bathrooms - open ended - as so many variables, and your bathroom budget can be affected by your choice of: how functional through to high-end or designer your taps and shower are. Tiles alone can range from £10 per m2 to well over £100 per m2. Plus other considerations such as suite, decor, lighting, towel rails, plumbing, electrics, removing/disposing old bathroom, will all affect the price. So allow from at least £5,000 to £10,000 upwards - the larger and more luxurious bathroom you desire.

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For the above, and all your other home improvements please do not hesitate to contact us for a personalised estimate or quotation.

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Is everything included in the price

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Your work and materials will be detailed in a written estimate or quotation, so you'll know what you're paying and what you're getting. If anything extra is added or there are any design changes to the agreed work, after work begins, or if any unforeseen issues arise, then these will be assessed. Where applicable any changes and additions will be quoted, priced and chargeable as extra work.

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What are your payment terms and how do I pay

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Depending on the projects size (value and length) we will agree a schedule payment plan through the works, which will be in writing so that everybody is clear and knows what to expect.

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Typically this may include payment for materials at the start of and/or throughout the project, regular stage payments for work carried out, and then a final payment when all the work is completed. 

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For any services external to Love Your Home Leeds, where you chose to deal direct, such as if you were sourcing materials yourselves, council planning, private building regulations, gas, or electric etc. then please check with these suppliers as payments will be according to their terms. 

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We provide receipts for any payments to ourselves, including upfront or deposit payments. You also receive an invoice at the end for your records.

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We accept payment by bank transfer, or cash (receipt will be given).

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How do I get a quotation

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Contact us or ring 07703 648887 and we will arrange an appointment with you. We're happy to offer free initial ideas and advice. And provide a no obligation estimate or quotation.

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Do I have to pay to get a quotation

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In most cases no.

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Free: We're happy to discuss your enquiry over the phone, should you so wish enable you to see existing client sites, and arrange a site visit to further assess your home improvement requirements, and offer initial ideas and advice. For most decorating, interior design, home staging, landscaping, garden room or kitchen bathroom improvements, we'll be able to measure up, and use our experience to estimate the work and materials required, and so be able to offer you a free no obligation estimate or quotation, to help your decision making.

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Paid for part of service: In cases where a client wants us to draw up detailed plans or designs, or liaise with or involve professional services (such as an architect, structural engineer, local planning, or building regulations), or do exploratory work, to assess the feasibility of a project, or conduct in depth research, before being able to properly estimate or quote, then we reserve the right to charge for our professional time on either an agreed hourly, day rate or project price. For larger and more complex projects it is far better to invest in proper planning from the outset to ensure a smoother project and best results.

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What is the process of getting my home improved / what happens next

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Depending on the service your require the process will generally be: you contact us for an initial chat to discuss your requirements, this will involve us visiting your home/site to assess the work. Sometimes clients like to see existing completed work which we are happy to arrange. We'll then provide an estimate or quotation listing the work and process.

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If you feel we're the best fit for your project we'll walk you through what your project will involve including: designs, start and end dates, ordering materials, site safety, payments, and any certificates that may come with your work.

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How long does work take

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Each project is unique and each home has its own characteristics. You maybe have your own vision and idea of what you want, including the finish, so we would have to visit you to assess.

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As an example: we once painted all the ceilings in an entire 2 bedroom flat in a single (long) day. On that occasion everything including existing condition of the ceiling went in our favour. Whereas refurbishing every room in a house including landscaping gardens could be a several month project.

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Can I help with parts of the project

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Primarily we offer a complete service for those who prefer us to take care of your project from start to finish.

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However our size and nimbleness means we can do as much or as little in your project as you'd like us to. The more you do, the more you lower our fees. The more we do, the more time you save. We recommend all the skilled work is done by us. If you want to clear rooms in readiness, or strip wallpaper, then we can advise on how to do this safely and efficiently. Likewise, we can advise if you want to do all the shopping for paints, furnishings, plants etc.

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Do you take on small jobs, (such as assembling flat pack furniture, hanging pictures, or putting up a shelf)

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Mostly no. Our clients we help get best value on medium to larger home improvement projects such as the interior design of a whole room, or the redecoration of a whole flat or house. So we wouldn't travel miles to quote on putting up a single shelf.

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That said, if your home improvement project included these elements as part of your finished design, then we would be happy to do any - furniture assembly, picture hanging, shelf fitting type - finishing touches, as part of your service.

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Also, if we were already working on a project in your home, and you asked if we could help with a smaller job while we were there, then again we would be happy to assess the work, quote where necessary, and help.

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The exception would be existing and ongoing clients (where we have already helped with larger projects) and as part of our ongoing relationship and service we would be more than happy to assist with even the smallest of jobs. 

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Will I need planning or building regulations

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Most of our internal works (such as painting, decorating, interior design and home staging) and outdoors (most of our garden landscaping and outbuildings) will not need planning permission or it will fall under permitted development. Listed buildings may need listed building consent. Leasehold properties may also need consent from the freeholder.

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A good place to start is the governments planning portal. Also by contacting your local council planning (I have personally found Leeds planning team to be very helpful). We can help you with this.

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We will also ensure that all work, where necessary, is built to building regulations. We use a highly recommended private building regulations company to oversee this and issue a completion certificate at the end of your improvements. 

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How much disruption will there be and will I have to move out

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It is very unlikely you would have to move out. 

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Being polite and professional, we understand this is your home and will try to keep disruption to a minimum. It often (e.g. decorating) helps speed up the work if rooms are emptied of furniture. Equally we can move items to the middle of rooms and protect and cover with clean dust sheets. Where necessary, we will hoover and clean up anything caused by our work at the end of every day. We'll leave your home clean, tidy and and transformed at the end of the work (like in the - see gallery images).

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Even if we were renovating your entire house, we would work with you. We'd try do this in stages, room by room, so you have use of the rest of your house. From our experience and own home renovations sometimes there can be noise (from tools), dust (from sanding). Or your furniture will be in other rooms. There may be times when electricity will be switched off for short periods, or (for example for new kitchens) days you may have to cook your dinner in a microwave. Sometimes there may be a skip out front, or vans parked outside. Any trade who says otherwise is not being upfront with you. But in my and our customer experience the efforts and lifestyle changes afforded by your home improvements will be totally worth it.

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Is rubbish removed

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We will manage waste on site to keep your home as clear and safe as possible. As part of our service, we can discuss options and price for the removal of rubbish. Either for smaller and greener items to be disposed of safely in council recycling as trade waste. Or heavier items (such as building waste, rubble, soil) using skips. Or employing a professional, licenced waste removal company.

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Do you clean up

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Yes. Where necessary we can clean, hoover, tidy at the end of everyday. However there maybe times we are working in a room that you do not need to use. With your agreement it may be best to leave some tools and equipment in there. Rather than load them too and from our van everyday. This means we can focus more on your work and get your improvements completed sooner.

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At the end of every project we'll leave your home clean, tidy and transformed - like in the gallery images.

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Are you insured

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Yes. We have full public liability insurance and are happy to show you for your reassurance.

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Is work guaranteed 

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Yes, our work is guaranteed. Guarantees normally range from 12 months to longer - to reflect the length of a product which has a longer guarantee. Your guarantee period will be detailed in your estimate or quotation and your invoice for your records. Our workmanship is to the highest standard and where necessary to building regulations. Examples of what's not included in guarantees are things out of our control such as wear and tear, or acts of god (storms or flood etc.).  

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