4.9/5 from 130+ combined reviews across Google and Edinburgh Trusted TraderEdinburgh Trusted TraderWritten quote before work starts12-month workmanship warrantyOne project lead throughoutWhat the available reports mean for your renovation
The paid review is separate from construction. Regional scope, travel and fee are agreed before booking or payment. A Home Report normally includes a survey and valuation, a property questionnaire and an energy report, although some properties are exempt. The questionnaire can include listing and conservation information. Contractor-led advice helps you consider what the available information means for your proposed renovation, its sequence and cost drivers. Specialist survey and legal questions remain with the appropriate professional. Confirm the building’s status and identify affected original fabric. Obtain advice on consent requirements for internal as well as external alterations. Ask your designer which character guidance and consultation are relevant to the proposal. Use that information to develop a defined construction scope. Before buying or changing a shared property, confirm HMO licensing with Fife Council and your solicitor. An existing licence does not transfer automatically; see the policy explanation below. Older buildings can contain mixed materials and successive alterations. Use reports and visible interfaces to identify further investigation before specifying work.Property context and service details
Local questions to resolve before renovation
Check shared-letting planning and licensing
Fife Council’s St Andrews HMO overprovision policy starts from a presumption of no further growth, but each application must be considered on its merits. Renewals and recent changes of ownership are among the policy exemptions. This does not guarantee a licence or mean that an existing licence transfers automatically. Before buying or changing a property, confirm the licensing position with Fife Council’s HMO licensing team and your solicitor. Proposed changes to occupancy, escape routes or fire precautions also need to be checked.
Listing and original fabric
Confirm building status and identify affected joinery, fireplaces, floors and room arrangements. Obtain consent advice for the proposed changes.
Heritage comments and the planning process
Have your designer explain relevant heritage comments and possible revisions. Consultation responses inform the process; they are not a consent decision.
Medieval rubble behaves differently
Assess older rubble construction from its materials, condition and past repairs. Obtain specialist advice on moisture and proposed alterations where needed.
What the Pre-Purchase Feasibility Check includes
The standard walkthrough reviews visible construction and the information available about the property, including homes you are considering buying. Concealed conditions remain unknown until investigated. Invasive investigation can be arranged and priced separately. This is contractor-led feasibility advice, not a structural survey, valuation or legal report.
A paid, structured assessment that gives you a written record before you commit.
The non-invasive walkthrough
Arranged around access availability. Before or after you make an offer, before is better. We review the visible renovation constraints and the information available about the property.
Planning questions and next checks
We review visible construction, available records, cost drivers and questions to resolve. Planning decisions, legal advice, valuation, structural assessment, specialist investigation and design remain with the relevant authority or appointed professional. Hidden conditions and a proposal’s acceptability are not established by the visit.
Realistic budget range
Based on current contractor and material costs. Where relevant, an assessment of the cost premium for heritage-standard materials and the additional requirements of working within a listed building or conservation area.
Written Feasibility Summary (PDF)
Delivery timing is agreed with you. The written summary includes a Red, Amber, Green list of unknowns, likely scope, cost drivers and questions for the appropriate professional.
Fee offset against project
If you proceed with Sweet Homes for the renovation work within 60 days, the £420 including VAT (£350 plus VAT) feasibility check fee is offset against the project cost.
How the feasibility check works
Straightforward. You share the listing, we walk the property, you get a written record.
Get in touch with the listing
Share the property listing link and any photographs you have. If you have specific concerns about listed building status, conservation area constraints, or planning rules, bring those questions to the conversation. Send your enquiry by form or email. We will reply and arrange a follow-up call to talk through the project.
We agree the visit and fee
The fee is £420 including VAT (£350 plus VAT), fixed before we arrange access. We confirm the visit date around seller availability.
The non-invasive walkthrough
We walk the property with you, or alone if you cannot attend. Check the Home Report and available records, then confirm the implications for your proposed work with the appropriate professional.
Written summary
Your written summary records visible observations, construction scope, cost drivers and unresolved questions. Delivery timing is agreed, and the record is yours to share.
What this actually costs you
An Edinburgh walkthrough and written summary cost £420 including VAT (£350 plus VAT). Fees further afield are agreed separately using this as the starting point. We confirm the scope and fee before you book or pay. You can take the written summary to any contractor. Sweet Homes may also quote for later work. If you agree renovation work with Sweet Homes within 60 days of the walkthrough, the consultancy fee is deducted from the project cost.
Trusted Trader verified 4.9 stars · 130+ combined reviews across Google and Edinburgh Trusted Trader 12-month workmanship warrantyWhat clients say about working with Sweet Homes
Their work was neat and of the highest standard. They were punctual, hard-working and always tidied up after themselves at the end of the day. We all said how nice it was to have them working in the shop, and none of us would hesitate to use their services again.
Tailors Ltd, Verified Trusted Trader review
Brunon does a clear and thorough written quotation before the work, so you know exactly what is expected. He tries to simplify jobs, rather than complicate.
Verified Google review
Meticulous in respecting our property. He knows exactly what he is doing.
Verified Trusted Trader review
Illustrative renovation questions
Changing rooms in a licensed shared property
Confirm how bedroom, escape-route, fire-precaution and facility changes affect the licence and planning position. Use the council’s requirements to define the construction work.
He knows exactly what he is doing.
Verified Trusted Trader review
Altering partitions in a listed townhouse
Confirm listing and identify the partitions and original fabric affected. Obtain consent advice and any structural assessment before defining the work.
A clear and thorough written quotation before the work, so you know exactly what is expected.
Verified Google review
Modernising a building with older fabric
Record visible material changes and interfaces between construction phases. Agree further investigation of moisture, structure or materials before specifying openings, insulation or repairs.
Meticulous in respecting our property.
Verified Trusted Trader review
A proposal attracting heritage comments
Ask your designer to explain relevant heritage comments and any revisions. Use the resulting proposal to define construction work; comments are not a consent decision.
They owned it from start to finish.
Verified Google review
Ask about a feasibility walkthrough in St Andrews
If you are considering a property in St Andrews and want to understand what the renovation will realistically involve before you commit, we would be glad to hear from you. Share the property listing link and any photographs you have. The walkthrough is £420 including VAT (£350 plus VAT), fixed in writing before we arrange the visit.
★ 4.9/5 · 130+ combined reviews across Google and Edinburgh Trusted Trader
“Their work was neat and of the highest standard. They were punctual, hard-working and always tidied up after themselves at the end of the day. We all said how nice it was to have them working in the shop, and none of us would hesitate to…”
Tailors Ltd, Verified Trusted Trader review
The short enquiry form covers the property, location and the work you are considering. Send your enquiry by form or email. We will reply and arrange a follow-up call to talk through the project.
Where we cover around St Andrews
We advise customers at their properties in St Andrews. Our registered office handles registration and mail only; customers do not visit it. St Andrews does not have a direct rail service; the nearest station is Leuchars, five miles from the town centre.
Not sure if we cover your area? Call or email with the property address and we will confirm.
St Andrews feasibility check: things worth knowing
Confirm the position with Fife Council and your solicitor before buying. Applications are assessed on their merits, with policy exemptions for renewals and some recent ownership changes. Neither an existing licence nor an exemption guarantees approval or automatic transfer.
Confirm how room, escape-route, fire and facility changes affect licensing and planning. Establish the council’s requirements before defining construction work.
Ask your designer which consultation and character issues apply. Consider relevant comments while keeping the council’s decision separate.
Confirm listing and identify affected original fabric. Obtain consent advice for the particular internal or external changes.
Set work from the actual fabric, condition and previous alterations. Obtain investigation or design advice before specifying insulation, openings or repairs.
Define intended occupancy, bathrooms, kitchen facilities, ventilation and access. Confirm planning and licensing before relying on the use and pricing fit-out.
We agree the delivery timing with you. The PDF records visible findings, unknowns and likely cost drivers, and can be shared with your solicitor or another contractor.
Guides before a local advice appointment
Read these general guides before asking about local renovation advice. The scope and appointment arrangements are agreed for your property.