Renovation costs

[endoftether82]

So we're thinking about offering on a property that needs loads of work. It's not quite a wreck, but needs almost everything redoing.

So rewiring, replumbing, new kitchen, bathroom etc.

We'd be doing it on a tea budget , and I'm just trying to work out if we can do it in stages so that we can save up money in between to then do the next stage etc.

Has anyone done this? And if so any advice on what absolutely needs to be done first and what can wait?

[steppingout]

We've done this - we did wiring and plumbing first as they're the most messy and disruptive (unless you want to do structural work/have to do any essential maintenance first e.g. leaks). They have to happen before you can do any decorating so worth getting out of the way. After that it's really been a case of what we can least happily live with. Its definitely taken more time and money than we'd anticipated, although as it gets done it's very satisfying.

[endoftether82]

Thanks so much stepping. May i ask roughly how much it's ended up costing, what you did and how big the house was?

[steppingout]

Three bed/two reception rooms, structurally ok but needed to strip and decorate every surface in the house, with new central heating, structural alterations and almost total rewire. We also live in an expensive area for trades. Plumbing was about £8000, including new large capacity boiler (but I should point out that we put in really expensive rads) rewire quotes were 3,200 to 5,000 for a three bed house. Other costs really depend on how much work needs doing - our plaster has all been ok, for example, saving 4-600 per room and we've done all the decorating ourselves, with paint/paper/sandpaper/filler I'd guess £200-250 per room so far. Structural work has been the big thing - 40,000 to take out two walls, put in custom bifolds, enlarge an existing opening, new WC and plaster throughout plus a few other bits. Ikea and DIY kitchens are good value - we allowed 7,500 for appliances, wood worktops, and units and fitted it ourselves. Fitters were quoting 1200-1800. Haven't done the bathroom yet!

[BabyBed]

Depends if it's a Lap Sang Souchong or PG tips budget 😁 But interested to know because looking at a similar workload...

Electrician suggested £1000 per bedroom but for whole house, if you see what I mean, as a rough guide.

I watched an amazing program (Old house new house or something?) where the budget trippled (yikes) but the lady went insane on the kitchen and spent £25k I think. How is that even possible?!?

[Geneticsbunny]

Hi. As well as the messy jobs like rewiring it is essential to make sure the building is watertight before you start decorating so make sure any damp bits and roof problems are fixed before you replaster.

[wowfudge]

£25k on a kitchen? Very easy if you are seduced by some of the marketing out there, keeping up with the Joneses and fancy appliances!

[betterbemoreorganised]

To do a house in stages you really need to be able to close sections of the house off and live in another part.
As others have said structural work first, then wiring and plumbing. Always start at the top of the house and work down for plastering, joinery and decorating so the finished areas don't get ruined by people trailing through to work on other rooms.