Whether you're going to do it yourself, or call in the experts, you need to sit down and make a plan of what you would like, maybe it's an extension, new kitchen or even a loft conversion.

Loft conversions are becoming very popular, they are turned into an extra bedroom, office even a playroom for the kids. Not all lofts are suitable for conversions; maybe the beams are too low.

If you want to do an extension, you first have to get planning permission; this isn't normally turned down, depending on the size and what it's for. This usually means waiting for about a month.

Maybe you want to knock a wall down to make a room bigger, this is normally best done by a professional. You don't want to start knocking a wall down, only to find it all comes down and you're left with a big mess, this can be very costly, in getting it fixed.

Kitchen remodelling is very time consuming. Have you got the room to put in everything you need? Also is the plumbing adequate? You don't want to have a dishwasher and washing machine, only to find the plumbing is only set up for one or the other. If your kitchen is small and not much room for many cupboards, there are cupboards you can buy now, with a single door, but the space inside is of a double cupboard, handy for small corners, and filling in unwanted gaps.

Perhaps you want to put a shower room in a bedroom, best to call in a plumber for that, as pipes have to be laid under floorboards and getting a water supply to it. Once that's done you can do the rest.

Conservatories add quite a bit of value to your home, they can be used as offices, or as family rooms even dining rooms. They are great in the summer, can be cold in the winter, but you can soon fit a radiator or electric heater.

Try and have a budget for each job that needs doing, it's quite easy to go over budget when it's not absolutely necessary. Get quotes from reputable tradesmen cheaper isn't always better, and make sure everything comes with a guarantee, it's so easy to get ripped off these days.