can i suggest that when renovating, try to minimise the amount of structural change. I have heard stories of people wanting to move a window 6 inches to the left so that the LCD Tv can fit symetircally on the wall or remodelling the bathroom so that the bath faces a fung shi direction resulting in all the plumbing required to be redone. This little things add no value yet cost a bomb.
As to when to do, it is easier now not from a cost point of view but more so from avaialbility.
Before you strat plan and plan make sure the plan is right and works. Get cupboard sizes to match tables lounges etc to see if the design actually works.
And aviod architecural designers. looks great on paper, but get a tradesman to build it. If you cant work out how to build it or the designer, exclude it from the design uless acritical design element.
keep things basic in design to make it cheaper. mae it complex, there goes your budget.
good luck
and PS, move out for the duration of the consturction
