How to Renovate a Building into a Restaurant or Café

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Many investors dream of opening a restaurant or café, and if you’ve bought a property that’s a fixer-upper, you may be considering turning it into a dining establishment. While you will no doubt have some ideas about what you want the finished product to look like, it can be a challenge to put these ideas into practice and create a space that’s both practical and stylish. Here are some tips to get you started:

Come up with a concept

It’s not enough to say “I want to open a restaurant” or “I’m going to open a café”; you need to ensure you stand out from the other places in your town or city, without alienating your core customers. While the statistic about 90% of restaurants failing in their first year is false, the failure rate is about 17%, which is still a gamble for investors. A lot of the time it’s because not enough research has been done, so they’ve either opened in an overcrowded local market, opened something inappropriate for the local area, or simply not offered good value for money.

Think about the space available

Restaurant space really needs to have a flow, the foyer needs to be open and welcoming, the dining room should be easy for servers to get around, and there needs to be easy access between the kitchen and the dining area. Take a look at how the building is laid out and think about the practicalities of turning it into a restaurant. Look at some examples of restaurant floor plans to see what other people have done and whether this might work for you. 

Think about the décor

Once you have the concept for your restaurant and an idea about how you’ll use the space, ideas for the décor should come naturally. You want something that’ll be appropriate for the sort of restaurant in terms of style, so think about your cuisine, average customer, and how formal or casual your restaurant will be. You might want to start looking for restaurant tables and other furniture and pick these out first, then from there, start planning colors, decoration and the finishing touches. It’s worth working with an interior designer, as although this can be expensive, they can help you achieve an up-to-date look and a unique style.

Consult with your chef and staff

When you’re renovating the kitchen area, it’s worth working closely with your chef, especially in the lead up to opening. An experienced chef will have worked in many different kitchens over the years, so will no doubt have lots of thoughts about what works and what doesn’t. If this is your first restaurant or café opening, it’s important to take feedback on board from those who’ve done it before. 

Many people think they can open a restaurant, but it is a tough renovation project and requires a lot of vision. It’s important to have a realistic budget in mind and to hire professionals to take you through the project, so you have the best possible chance of getting it right first time.

Getting Your Home Ready for the Market: A Guide

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It can be very difficult to detach yourself from a beloved home and force yourself to have the objective and analytical mind needed to prepare a property for the market. However, if you want your home to sell, there are certain steps you must take in order to improve your chances in a competitive market. 

Make Sure to Declutter 

Moving home is the perfect time to prioritize your belongings, not only because it allows for a much tidier atmosphere for when potential buyers are viewing, but because it also means less items for you to have to transport over to your new home. Eliminating clutter from your home can give the impression of a property having more space, as well as it having a more clean and inviting feel. 

Invest in Improved Windows 

Upgraded windows can really add significant value to your property, as well as improving the overall look of your home and reducing issues such as visible condensation. Installing double glazed windows is a beneficial investment, as you should make your money back when your home comes to sell. Potential buyers may be deterred by any home which only has single glazing and which they need to upgrade themselves; a task many buyers may not be prepared to do. 

Try a Fresh Coat of Paint

A new coat of paint can make your home look fresh and ready. Especially in lighter shades such as white or cream, a fresh paint job can provide a light and airy feel, and really open up a space to allow it to feel a lot bigger. Buyers may also prefer the option of a fresh canvas in order to put their own stamp on the property, rather than having to deal with the previous homeowner’s bold and eccentric wallpaper choices.

Store Away Personal Items 

A potential buyer will like to envisage themselves in your property in order to see whether they are best suited for it. It’s difficult for a buyer to do this if your home is overrun and abundant with personal items such as family photographs and ornaments. Although you still want the property to feel like your home while you’re still living in it, it’s a good idea to store away your more treasured, personal items while viewings are taking place. You can always display them again once the viewing has finished.

Update the Front Door 

The exterior of a property can sometimes be neglected when it comes to home improvements. Yet the exterior is the first thing a buyer will see when they arrive for a property viewing, and often it’s this first impression which can affect their decision. Having an attractive and welcoming front door can actually make all the difference. A solid and upgraded door not only gives the buyer a sense of security, but it can also add a cleaner and more stylish look to your property’s exterior, especially if the previous door was in a shabby condition.