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The Problem I Kept Facing
In 2017, I started renovating my first property in Tehran. What should have been straightforward became a nightmare. The same thing happened when I tried the second time, but this time it was another property in Dubai. I thought it would be different every time I did it, but I realized it doesn’t matter where you do the renovation—the same problems still exist. And it wasn’t just me.
The Cost Mystery
I got quotes ranging from £8,000 to £25,000 for the same kitchen. No one could explain why. Online “cost guides” were either outdated (2010 pricing) or generic (“kitchens cost £10,000-£30,000″not helpful). This was Iran and I wasn’t expecting much, but still, a simple guide would have made it much easier.
The same thing happened in Dubai: random quotes, and the more high-profile the contractor, the higher the quotes without explaining why the prices would go higher. This time I tried to get the materials myself and find the contractors one by one, instead of just working with one contractor who decides who’s going to work with him and where I would have limited input on materials.
It went better than the second and third time. However, I still made many mistakes that could have been avoided if I had better tools and understanding of the renovation journey.
The Information Maze
I spent hours piecing together information from:
– Pinterest (for design inspiration)
– Reddit forums (for real costs)
– Government websites (for regulations)
– YouTube (for DIY guidance)
– WhatsApp groups (for contractor recommendations)
Every source contradicted the others. Nothing was comprehensive.
The Trust Gap
Who could I trust? The contractor trying to sell me their services? The blogger with affiliate links? The forum user who did one renovation five years ago?
I needed one reliable source with:
✓ Real costs
✓ Regional pricing
✓ Honest guidance (no affiliate agenda)
✓ Practical tools (not just articles)
That source didn’t exist. So I built it.
“I wasted 40+ hours researching costs, materials, and contractors.
You shouldn’t have to do the same.”
Hello!
I’m Alireza.
– 5 years landlord experience
– 4 properties renovated and refurbished
– Software engineering degree, 5 years in marketing and real estate
– I live in London
Features
What Havnwright Does Differently
We’re not another thin affiliate blog. We’re researchers building the UK’s most comprehensive renovation knowledge base.
Real Data, Not Guesswork Icon
We’ve compiled costs from 100+ real UK renovation projects so far. Not industry averages. Our database shows what homeowners actually paid, broken down by region, room, and quality level.
Tools, Not Just Articles Icon
Free cost calculator. We build tools that help you make decisions, not just read about them.
Comprehensive, Not Shallow Icon
We cover every renovation topic in depth: costs, materials, contractors, regulations, energy efficiency, room-by-room guides.
Honest, Not Salesy Icon
No affiliate links to overpriced products. No sponsored contractor recommendations. Just transparent information to help you plan better renovations.