First time period property - wise?

[LadyofDunedin]

Advice much appreciated!

After a pants few months and a lot of disillusionment at life etc I have (by some miracle!) been offered a far more generous mortgage in principle- woo! (First time buyer)

It was instigated by me seeing a period property in my area that had been on market a whole and owner vacant = negotiation!

The flat has gorgeous features and a lot if potential to , I hope, add value .. And make even more beautiful.

Some questions about older properties I would very much appreciate advice on!

1. the doors are original but unfortunately painted and suffering bud up of paint. How much roughly to fix this? 4 doors
   
   
2. similarly, the door frames and skirting ? (Although I think I can do this myself ??)
   
   
3. beautiful high ceilings - yeah! But hall ceiling needs filled (wee crack) is this a big job in an old property to smooth / fill?
   
   
4. finally, and most exciting... The bedroom is huge!! (It's only a one bed) BUT there is no storage in flat - none. Thinking I COULD build walk in wardrobes (think fitting out with ikea) with the help of a carpenter, anyone Any experience? Tips/ costs?
   
   I should finally add I do not have masses of money for this, more a few years project and a good positive start for me. Hoping to take a second viewing this week with family, I just wanted to sound out indicative costs / experiences .... Which will of course be reflected in my offer made!!
   
   Tia !

[senua]

Your questions are all about the interior. My worry is that you are buying a flat in a period property - what is the position if major works need doing?
Are you buying an asset (a flat) or a liability (a share of a huge future repair bill). Have the leaseholders built up a contingency fund for such things?

[LadyofDunedin]

Hi there
In Scotland so no leaseholder position. Joint responsibility for roof between 15. Same goes for common repairs. I've had the property surveyed structurally - ok.
I'm just questioning the interior aspects as I'm excited and would love to hear similar experiences/ recommendations

[Bostonpj]

We had all the doors here dipped at a local stripping place. They collected and returned the doors same day and it was about £8 per door. Worth every penny IMO and a lot faster and safer than messing about with chemicals.
The skirting and dado probably can be sorted with lots of elbow grease, sugar soap and some sandpaper then a fresh coat of paint.
If you have a ladder to get you up high enough to repair the ceiling then filling a small crack in the plaster isn't difficult, just awkward!
I've never fitted wardrobes, we bought a huge pine wardrobe instead

Good luck! I am sure you'll have it looking amazing in a very short time.

[LadyofDunedin]

Thanks , Boston ! I was beginning to think I would get no replies !

Just £8 a door ??? I thought at least £100

[Sunnyshores]

Paid £15 per door in Manchester, fab job. Agree filling ceiling is easy enough. Fitted wardrobes may be cheaper by a chippy. You could build the frame, put in the rails and shelves but leave doors until you have more money. They always look better if they really do fit bespoke.

[LadyofDunedin]

Wow, where do you find such barginous companies?! I'm in central Scotland

What's a chippy?

[craftysewer]

A chippy is a carpenter.

[craftysewer]

You wouldn't actually need a carpenter to build your Ikea wardrobes. Just lots of patience and someone to help you (holding bits together whilst you put in the screws, etc) and then lift them into position.

[pinkje]

OP I have Pm'd you some details of a joiner in Central Scotland.

[Bostonpj]

It is a lot cheaper than you'd think, you then need to leave them hanging and once thoroughly dry, wax or vanish them (or ignore them and hope the pixies will come in and sort it when you're sleeping like we have...)

I absolutely love period properties and have never lived in a new build. Worth every extra penny in renovation.

[LadyofDunedin]

Thanks all and to pink for the amazing recommendation.

In terms of the carpenter / wardrobes idea.. I was thinking I could do the inserts from ikea but would need a carpenter to build a good surround to walk into, as it were? I felt it may need to be fairly bespoke as the modern ikea esque casings would look all wrong?

If anyone has alternative ideas I would love to hear them!

[LadyofDunedin]

So... I called the agent to arrange viewing #2 to take along my surveyor and parents and it's SOLD.

Hopeless. I viewed at 8pm Friday night and price drop, no notes of interest/ previous offers/ no follow up calls from agent and I hear this



I was hoping finally things were looking up and looking for a new project...?

Back to the drawing board then... Thanks for all the advice!

[Bostonpj]

Oh no! Most stressful thing ever buying a property. Hopefully you'll find your perfect home soon

[Sunnyshores]

That is so annoying.

They cant of known you were seriously interested as there is no way the seller would have accepted an offneer without getting the agent to go back to you first. Although if this had happened you could have been in a very stressful bidding war..

[HarrietSchulenberg]

Not sure how property law works in Scotland but would you be up for a spot of gazumping? If contracts are not yet exchanged could you make a higher offer in the hope that the seller might accept?

[LadyofDunedin]

Can't gazump in Scotland!

I think the agent was crap! She said oh I was off sick etc and all the excuses in book...

[LadyofDunedin]

Apparently also opening viewings on Sunday (something I was also not aware of!!!!!) suspect that's where the offer came from.