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N° 01  ·  On Your Side, Not Theirs

Don't let your renovation
cost more than it should.

Independent advice on budgets, quotes and builders, before you commit.

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★★★★★ 4.9/5 from 11 verified client reviews Up to £17,000 saved
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The Real Problem

Most renovation problems
don't begin on site

They begin in the gap between what contractors quote and what they mean.

⚠
Scope creep and variation costs Work that wasn't scoped, added mid-project and charged accordingly.
£
Budget shock Quotes that look similar on paper but assume very different things.
⏱
Decisions made under pressure An answer needed today, without the information to give one.
📋
Nobody independent in the room Everyone around the table has a financial interest. Nobody is purely yours.
Learn more →
Renovation plans on site
£0.0bn
Lost by UK homeowners to unreliable builders in five years. There is no mandatory licensing scheme.
Source: Federation of Master Builders, 2025
£0
average underestimate of renovation costs
Direct Line Research
0%
of UK construction firms report a skills shortage. Delays and costs filter down to you.
FMB & CIOB, 2025
0%
of unmanaged renovation projects overspend, by an average of 20%
Source: Checkatrade
0%
of homeowners paid more than their original quote, averaging £2,807 over on larger projects
Source: Checkatrade Research
0%
of UK homeowners spent more than anticipated. 68% never set a proper budget at all
Source: Rated People Survey
0%
of British adults have hired a builder who turned out to be unreliable or unqualified
Source: Federation of Master Builders, 2025
Built on Transparency

On your side, and only yours

Builders quote to win the job. Matching services take a fee from the trades. We take neither, so we can tell you when a quote is fair, and when you don't need us at all.

No builder network No commission Paid by you, for you
How It Works

A professional on your side, start to finish

01
Free planning call
Fifteen minutes on your project, and an honest picture of what to expect.
02
A proposal built around your project
Clarity on scope, budget and where the risks sit. Not a template.
03
A professional by your side
Independent expertise beside you, from first quote to final snag.
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How We Help

Independent guidance
at every stage

Not a builder, architect or designer. We sit alongside you, not the contractors.

N° 01
Most Popular
Early-Stage Guidance and Planning
Know which decisions to make, in what order, before you commit to anyone.
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N° 02
Budget and Cost Clarity
A costed range with clear assumptions, and where budgets typically drift.
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N° 03
Contractor Quote Review
What's included, what isn't, and what to resolve in writing before you sign.
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N° 04
Pre-Construction Support
Watertight scope, a contract that protects you, and a realistic programme.
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N° 05
Ongoing Advisory Support
A second opinion when variations land or timelines slip mid-build.
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Learn more about our services →
What A Review Catches

The things a quote doesn't tell you

Real examples of what we found in contractor quotes, and how each was resolved before signing.

Electrics
Full house rewire, pricing
Found
The quote priced electrical points at around £124 each across 111 points, roughly double the typical market rate of £60 to £70. A separate line also charged to test the existing wiring, which made little sense when the whole house was being rewired with a new consumer unit.
Action
We set the per-point rate against market benchmarks and asked the contractor to justify both the rate and the redundant testing line.
Outcome
The homeowner went into the conversation knowing exactly which line to challenge, rather than accepting a five-figure electrical section at face value.
Payment
Loft conversion, terms
Found
The payment schedule had 96% of the contract value due before practical completion, leaving a final payment of just £2,000. A separate clause also let the contractor request larger payments weekly, overriding the schedule entirely.
Action
We flagged both as standard points to renegotiate: a 5% retention held until the defects period ends, and the open-ended weekly clause removed or capped.
Outcome
The homeowner kept real financial leverage to get snagging resolved after completion, instead of paying almost everything up front and losing all bargaining power.
External works
Paving, garden wall
Found
The entire external works section, paving, garden wall, and boundary works, sat at £0 despite being described in the scope. The headline total looked complete but silently excluded a whole area of the job.
Action
We told the homeowner not to budget from the current total and to obtain pricing, or agreed provisional sums with defined caps, before contract award.
Outcome
A cost that would otherwise have surfaced mid-build was brought forward into the decision, so the real budget was clear before anyone signed.
Damp
Full renovation, provisional sum
Found
A £12,500 provisional sum covered damp investigation and remedial works, with the true extent confirmed only after strip-out. It was the single largest open line in the quote, and the actual cost could land well above or below it.
Action
We recommended commissioning an independent damp and timber survey before signing, so the scale of the work was understood in advance rather than discovered mid-project.
Outcome
The biggest uncertainty in the budget was turned into a known quantity before commitment, rather than a number that could move sharply once walls were opened up.
Fixed price
Full renovation, contract basis
Found
The document was titled an estimate and marked provisional throughout, with much of the cost sitting in allowances expressly subject to change. It read like a settled budget but was not a binding contract sum.
Action
We advised asking the contractor to convert it into a fixed-price sum for the defined scope, with the provisional items clearly ring-fenced and listed separately.
Outcome
The homeowner understood which part of the price was firm and which could still move, instead of treating an indicative figure as a fixed commitment.
Decoration
Whole house, finishing
Found
The quote allowed for a single coat of decoration throughout, where three is the standard finish. A one-coat job looks cheaper on paper but leaves an unfinished result the homeowner would have paid to put right later.
Action
We highlighted the single-coat allowance and asked the contractor to confirm whether it was deliberate or an underspecification, and to price a proper finish.
Outcome
The homeowner compared quotes on a true finished standard, so a lower headline number did not hide a lower-quality result.
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4.9
★★★★★
Average Rating
11
Verified Reviews
£17k
Highest client saving
100%
Fully independent, no builder ties
15+
Years experience
Client Reviews

What clients say
about Renovate Better

★★★★★
4.9 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
★★★★★
"Using Renovate Better saved me over £17,000 in disputed variations from my builder. No brainer to use, especially when you need someone to lean on during any renovation."
David Cooper
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
★★★★★
"My builder had me out of pocket for over £12,500 in costs he claimed I had not agreed. Renovate Better reviewed these and brought the costs down significantly. Wish I had used them from the start."
Grace W
Chesham, Buckinghamshire
★★★★★
"Such a great service. The small cost to use Renovate Better saved me over £8,000 in hidden costs alone. Recommended to all my nearest and dearest."
Olivia Green
Balham, London
★★★★★
"Had an awful builder who was charging me thousands in variations and Renovate Better was able to negotiate on my behalf to get the costs down, which was worth its weight in gold."
Nelly L
Forest Gate, London
★★★★★
"Sceptical at first as never knew this service existed, but ultimately the best decision I made during my build extension. Went into it blind until I used Renovate Better."
Jacob Hughes
Sidcup, London
★★★★☆
"Recently purchased my first flat in London that needed work, and did not know where to start with getting a builder on board. Guided me through the whole process, and ultimately saved me both time and a lot of money."
Deliah Hills
Fulham, London
★★★★★
"Used their builder's quote review service. Top feedback and analysis to help me choose the right builder for the right price."
Clayton G
Upminster, Essex
★★★★☆
"The fact they give you a free intro call should say it all. Did not feel pressured into using them, and they exceeded my expectations. Will use again."
Poppy T
Hitchin, Hertfordshire
★★★★★
"Cannot speak highly enough of how much Renovate Better helped me throughout our house renovation. Did not know where to go when looking for expert advice. These guys were great."
Melissa K
Uxbridge, London
★★★★☆
"Recommended by a friend, and have no negative feedback. Reviewed builder's quotes for me to find hidden costs. Would not hesitate to recommend."
Freya Wood
Guildford, Surrey
★★★★★
"Had new kitchens and bathroom suites, and my builder kept asking for more money. Glad I went to Renovate Better before paying out. They saved me a significant amount."
Daniel E
Bushey, Hertfordshire
Planning Permission

Do you actually need planning permission?

Many extensions qualify under permitted development. Whether yours does comes down to size, location and property type.

Often permitted development

You may not need a full application

  • Single storey rear extensions within the depth limits for your property type
  • Side extensions up to half the width of the original house, single storey
  • Most loft conversions within volume limits, to the rear
  • Small porches and outbuildings within size limits
Usually needs permission

A full application is likely

  • Anything beyond the permitted development size limits
  • Listed buildings, and homes in conservation areas or AONBs
  • Flats, maisonettes, and converted houses
  • Two storey work close to a boundary, or anything forward of the front elevation
3 to 4m
Typical single storey rear depth under permitted development, by property type
50%
Maximum of the land around the original house that extensions may cover
4m
Maximum height for most single storey and side extensions

These are general guides, not a ruling on your project. Building Regulations still apply even when planning permission does not, and the rules differ across England, Wales, and Scotland. Always confirm against your own property before committing.

Not sure which side your project falls on?

A free 15 minute call gives you an honest read on which side your project falls.

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The Renovation Timeline

Understanding the phases of a renovation

Most projects move through the same phases. Here is how long each tends to take.

01

Prep

Identify your priorities, set a realistic budget, and gather design inspiration.

2 to 3 weeks
02

Design

Measured survey of the existing property, then new drawings for the proposed scheme.

4 to 5 weeks
03

Planning

A planning application, or confirmation that the work falls under permitted development. Worth checking either way.

6 to 8 weeks
04

Building regs and structural design

Building Regulations drawings and structural engineer calculations for any openings or alterations.

2 to 6 weeks
05

Party wall agreement

Needed where work affects a shared wall or boundary. Timing depends on your neighbours.

2 to 6 weeks
06

Tender process

Inviting quotes, comparing them properly, and appointing the right contractor for the job.

3 to 5 weeks
07

Build

The construction itself. Duration depends entirely on the size and complexity of the project.

3 to 12 months
Total timeline
6 to 15 months
The Handbook

The complete renovation
framework

A 22-page handbook built around an 8-stage framework developed from first-hand project experience. It covers the decisions that actually determine whether a renovation goes well, in the order they need to be made.

Most renovation problems don't start on site. They start in planning. This handbook works through each planning stage before you're under pressure to get them right.

Download the Handbook · £49
Renovate Better
The Renovation
Planning Handbook
An 8-stage framework for homeowners who want to approach their renovation with clarity, confidence, and control.
£49
One-time purchase · Instant digital download
22-page structured handbook
Interactive budget tracker with 36 pre-populated line items
8-stage renovation framework
Decision checklists and risk frameworks
Built from first-hand project experience
Get Started

Start your renovation
the right way

Fifteen minutes, no obligation. If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you.

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