How much would I need?

[Newstarto]

To entirely redecorate a small 2 bed terraced house in London?

Due to divorce I’m having to leave the family home and look for something else but I’m struggling with price. I’ve seen the above - it’s a nice layout and really nice area, has double glazing and central heating. But would need complete redecoration - new carpets, painting, carpentry (cupboards falling apart) new kitchen and bathroom. New patio.

I can do a lot of painting myself but not the major stuff. It’s either a house like this or a flat for my budget so I’m trying to work out what I would need to budget for these works. Do you think £20k would cover it? Any thoughts?

To add, it’s fine to live in - just shabby. Structurally fine

I renovated a 2 bed flat five years ago and spent £40K+ but it also needed plastering throughout and a new back door putting in where there hadn’t been one previously, and some electrical work. I’m in NW England. Prices have practically doubled since then. £20K is a tiny budget. You’d have to get the cheapest of everything, massively cut corners and do a lot of the work yourself. And I’d forget about the patio for now.

I think you could do this for 20k. Just be really careful about doing stuff yourself (other than patio)

You need to set up a spreadsheet and include an estimate for everything, dont guess, and then you can alter items if it comes to more than your budget

You need to be really thorough with your planning

To include kitchen and bathroom - no you probably need to double it

If you are relatively hands on and willing to shop around for fixtures and fittings, and if you were able to get one company to do the lot in one go, 20K is not unreasonable

Ooooh I love a project!!!

It depends you could def do it for £20k depending.
Bin off the patio that'll cost 1-2k and can wait.

If the plaster isnt blown and you can keep the woodwork (skirtings and door frame)
you can do the bedrooms and living room /dining room to a good standard yourself for about £400-500 per room all in.
So I reckon £2.5k if you DIY all the regular rooms yourself and shop about aggressively.
Forget having a "vision" and go with the flow on what's available.

My tips

Carpets
get the room measurements and go to carpet right and look through their offcuts it is SO cheap and if you buy more than one you can normally "do a deal".
Do not buy underlay or carpet grippers from them - buy online yourself way cheaper.

Curtains and light fittings / shades
Curtains I keep an eye on Argos - you get lined black out ones very cheaply..
Light fittings get on eBay and Facebook - I have had some in perfect condition for a £5 that were still for sale in JL for £80-100

Wardrobes and storage
always IKEA pax and billy bookcases with a fancy door handles or painted...if you have budget left over you can do a hack to upgrade there's a billion insta videos on it.

Kitchen & bathroom

the standard recommendation is always DIY kitchens. I really rate them - I've bought 3 now.
I always source appliances separately.
Worktops - I got wood effect laminate with "SQUARE EDGE PROFILE" from DIY for the utility. It is soooo good if I had known I'd have got it for the kitchen too

For bathroom forget metro tiles etc - get BIG tiles it's way cheaper overall.

You need to set up a spreadsheet and include an estimate for everything, dont guess, and then you can alter items if it comes to more than your budget
You need to be really thorough with your planning

I don’t own it now - just working out what I’d need to offer to budget for the works. Looking more like £40m is needed then. Outside needs to be done as is currently rotten broken wood

I assume the condition is reflected in the price? If not, then money spent on it will be wasted. Also remember, if you are a bit short of money all you have to do is make the place comfortable clean, paint and new carpets.. FWIW people think I have a new kitchen, only painted the cupboards.

I live in an area where a high proportion of the houses are Edwardian terraces. First house I bought/sold I spent as much on the rebuild as the house cost. When it sold, it went for the same price as ones that had been done in bits and pieces of DIY ... there is a price for the road.

The more you spend the more of a bargain the next person gets. In fact, maybe it's worth you looking at slightly more expensive houses that don't need work?

@Tumbler2121 thank you, I’m working out what I would be willing to pay. If not this I couldn’t afford a house but a well decorated flat is an option.

If if's fine to life in and just shabby, you do not need to do anything immediately.

Move in and do it up gradually as funds allow.