Owning a home, explained.

Look after the home you already own

One of the easiest parts of home ownership to underestimate is ongoing maintenance.

A small issue doesn't always become a large one, but understanding what's changing around your home can give you more choices about what to do and when to do it.

That means paying attention to the major parts of the property—not because everything needs to be replaced early, but because it's useful to know their condition and approximate age.

Your roof, heating and cooling equipment, windows, plumbing, electrical system, foundation and drainage are all examples of things worth understanding over time.

You don't need to become an expert in all of them. The goal is to notice changes, understand when something deserves a closer look and get the right information before making a larger decision.

Renovate with a purpose

Before asking “Will this renovation add value?”, there's a better first question:

What are you trying to accomplish?

You might be renovating because something needs to be replaced. You might need another bedroom, a better kitchen or more usable living space. You might simply want to enjoy the house more. Or you may already be thinking about how the home will eventually present when you sell it.

Those are different reasons to renovate, and they don't necessarily lead to the same decision.

A renovation doesn't have to return every dollar at resale to have been worthwhile. If you improve something and enjoy it for the next ten years, that's part of its value too.

At the same time, spending more doesn't automatically mean the house becomes worth the same amount more.

The useful question usually isn't:

“Which renovation has the best return?”

It's:

“Does this improvement make sense for this house, for what I want from it and for how long I expect to be here?”

Stay, renovate or move?

Sometimes a house isn't working anymore.

Before assuming you need to move, it can be worth understanding whether the problem can realistically be solved in the home you already own.

Can the layout be changed? Is there room to create what you need? What would the work actually involve? How much disruption are you willing to live through? And after spending the money, would you have the home you really want—or would you still be compromising on the things you can't change?

Moving has costs too.

So the decision isn't simply renovation cost versus moving cost. It's also about what each option actually gives you.

A renovation may let you stay in a neighbourhood you love. Moving may give you things the current property can never provide. Staying exactly where you are may turn out to be perfectly reasonable too.

There isn't a formula that can make that decision for you. But there is a lot we can understand before you make it.

Keep track of the work you've done

It's surprisingly easy to forget what has been done to a home over the years.

When was the furnace replaced? Who installed the roof? Was a permit obtained for that renovation? Is the warranty still available? What exactly was done when the electrical panel was changed?

Keeping a simple record of improvements, repairs and larger replacements can make owning the home easier.

That might include invoices and receipts, permits and inspection records, warranties and manuals, contractor information, and the approximate dates when major components were replaced or repaired.

You don't need a perfect history of every small job you've ever done.

But when something needs attention later—or when you eventually decide to sell—having good records can make it much easier to understand the property and explain what has been done.

Permits are worth understanding before the work starts

Not every project requires a building permit, but some do.

If you're planning a significant renovation or changing how part of the property is used, it's worth finding out what approvals may be required before the work begins.

That's particularly important when you're considering structural changes, additions, finishing or altering certain spaces, or creating an additional residential unit.

For a London property, the City of London's building permit information is the place to check what currently applies.

Building permits (City of London)↗ (opens in a new tab)

Source: City of London↗ (opens in a new tab), Building permits

Could your property work differently?

Sometimes getting more from a property doesn't mean moving or undertaking a major renovation.

It might mean changing how existing space is used.

A basement could potentially provide additional living space. A bedroom might become a home office. Changing family circumstances could make multigenerational living more important. Some homeowners may also wonder whether their property could accommodate an additional residential unit.

The important word is could.

Having enough physical space doesn't automatically mean a particular use is permitted or practical.

Depending on what you're considering, there may be zoning, building, fire, parking, financing, insurance and tax considerations to understand.

So rather than starting with:

“Can I put an apartment down there?”

It can be more useful to start with:

“Here's what I'd like the property to do. What would have to be true for that to work?”

Then we can figure out which questions need answers before you start spending money.

Understand the age and history of your home

Construction methods have changed. Building standards have changed. Materials and mechanical systems have changed. And over the years, previous owners may have renovated, repaired, added to or altered the original house.

The goal isn't to make assumptions based on the age of the home. It's to understand the particular house you own.

If something looks unusual, has changed, isn't performing properly or you're planning work that could affect it, that's when it may be worth investigating further.

Notice it. Understand it. Then decide what—if anything—you need to do about it.

Thinking about selling someday?

You don't have to be putting a sign on the lawn next month to start thinking about how prepared your home would be for a future sale.

In fact, having more time can give you more choices.

There may be maintenance you've been putting off, improvements you're considering, rooms that need attention or simply things about the property you've stopped noticing because you see them every day.

That doesn't mean you should start renovating everything because you might sell someday.

Some things may be worth doing. Some may not matter very much. And some projects may make sense for your enjoyment of the home regardless of whether they eventually affect the sale.

How ready is your home?

This is why I created the Seller Readiness Score.

It's a free app for homeowners that gives you a way to look at different parts of your property and think about how prepared the home may be for a future sale—without assuming you're ready to list it today.

The purpose isn't to give you a list of renovations you have to complete.

It's to help you take a more objective look at the home, identify things that may deserve attention and start thinking ahead.

You can be curious about selling without being ready to sell.

See how ready your home is to sell →

Wondering what your home is worth?

Sometimes understanding your home's current market value is useful even when you're not planning to sell.

You might be considering a renovation. You might be wondering whether moving is financially realistic. Or you may simply want a better understanding of where you stand.

I can prepare a market report for your property using current market information. It can include comparable properties currently for sale, relevant recent sales and market charts for London or your local area.

That gives you real information to look at when understanding your home's market value, rather than trying to reduce it to an automated online estimate.

You don't need to be ready to sell to ask.

Ask Jonathan for a market report→

Current London market information →

Owning the home is a process too

We spend a lot of time talking about the process of buying and selling homes.

There's a process to owning one too.

You maintain it. You repair things. You improve some things and leave others alone. Your needs change. The neighbourhood changes. The house ages. Sometimes you adapt the property to your life, and sometimes you eventually decide that a different property makes more sense.

You don't need to make every decision with resale in mind.

But when you're about to spend significant money on the property—or you're trying to decide what to do next—it can help to understand how that decision fits into the bigger picture.