ALTERING, extending or refurbishing your home is never easy but the most successful jobs always start in the same way — with a bit of thought.

Architect Nigel Peel advises that home owners should start with a wish list.

“You have to start with the end in mind as this will help keep you focussed on what you want to achieve,” he said.

“When we first meet I always ask couples the same key questions, which go to the heart of how they use their home. I get them to think about what rooms they use most often and what they use them for.”

Added Nigel, of Architect Your Home, Manchester: “The trick is not to worry too much about the details at this stage — the technology, or the materials or even shapes — rather to concentrate on what you want to achieve.

“Of course, there are various regulations that will need to be considered but for starters think about what you want to achieve.”

Nigel said most major home improvement projects fall into four main categories. These are: - More space. It’s normally when a new child is on the way, or the kitchen is too small and not really fit for purpose. Or maybe you are planning to work from home or want somewhere for your guests — the bottom line is you need to create more space.

- Better space. Our homes weren’t built with today’s life styles in mind, it may be big enough but perhaps it doesn’t work as well as you’d like.

You may want a better view of the garden, or bring in more natural light or you may feel cut off when you are in the kitchen.

For example it is now common to want a computer in the heart of the home that the whole family can get to for surfing the net — but having one plonked on a cupboard doesn’t really work.

- Increased value. With more and more people planning to stay in the property for the long term they are keen to know that the money they invest will increase the value by at least as much as the improvements cost.

- Change of use. Can the cellar become a games room, a bedroom and en-suite bathroom or can the car port be converted into a living room ?