House need work... where to start?

9 replies

bobby2step · 09/03/2018 13:07

I bought a Victorian terraced house in Plymouth (3 bed, 3 reception rooms, traditional layout) 2 years ago and have put off doing any work to it. Every room could do with doing, new kitchen, new bathroom, new windows, new soffits and fascias needed too. Positives are that the electrics are in good order and the roof seems to be newly done.

I love the house, it's got such great character, but it just looks tatty and needs bringing back to life. Problem is, is that I have no idea where to start...where the heck do I start? in what order?

I want to live in the property whilst doing any work. Is it reasonable to do work room by room?

I'm not the keenest DIYer, so will be looking to having tradesmen in for the work.

Any advice is welcome.

OP posts:

Chickencellar · 09/03/2018 13:57

I would start with the windows , go to local firm and get some prices. It's not that a messy job but given the choice of start here just in case some plaster work gets damaged. After that is depends on your budget. Kitchen is expensive but would lift the house.

NurseryFightClub · 09/03/2018 14:03

New windows shop around local is usually cheaper than bug brands, then new bathrooms, learn to tile and save a fortune. We installed our own kitchen and saved about £7k. That's all the messy stuff the rest is painting etc..

JoJoSM2 · 09/03/2018 14:20

Are you sure the electrics are good? Or are they old but working? Have you had them checked out? It seems unusual to have good electrics in a very dated house. Generally, I’d say it difficult to do a property up from scratch while living in it. I’d say it’d ideally be gutted first, then electrics and plumbing, windows, then plastering, then painting, floors, bathroom and kitchen.

Original poster

bobby2step · 09/03/2018 14:31

Re: Electrics

The electrics have been checked and have been given an Electrical Certificate towards the end of last year.

OP posts:

himalayansalt · 09/03/2018 14:35

Start on the big exterior jobs. Having new windows put in can damage your interior decor.

If you are mid terrace then also get any garden works done before updating the interior - having stuff dragged back and forwards through the house is really grim.

Then it's a matter of budget really. We did bathroom then decorating upstairs, fitted wardrobes etc while we saved for kitchen. Then kitchen, now just plastering, decorating and new carpets downstairs to go. Only taken 14 years!

BackforGood · 09/03/2018 15:16

Agree, as long as the bathroom and kitchen are functional, then I'd think about all the works that are going to disrupt any decor. So windows, heating system, and electrics (I know you say they are OK, but as you 'do up' rooms, will you be looking to add more sockets, etc?). Then you will likely be saving money on heating costs etc., if windows are better and heating system / boiler more efficient. Then one room at a time. Carpet last, after you've finished with series of trades carrying stuff in and out of your house.

Sweetheart · 09/03/2018 15:21

We have done a fiar bit to our house since buying it 3 years ago and my advice would be do the biggest most industrial jobs first - extensions, new windows etc. Then when you are doing decorating start at the top, back of the house and work your way down because you don't want to carry new furniture up to a bedroom if you have already decorated your hallway and risk damaging the paintwork etc.

When we moved in we did the upstairs bathroom first because it was the worst room BUT then we did an extension downstairs and the house moved by a small margin and has ruined some of our nice new perfect bathroom. Same with having new windows etc fitted - it damaged some decor in rooms we had already painted.

Sweetheart · 09/03/2018 15:22

Geneticsbunny · 09/03/2018 17:35

If you have original wooden sashes you can often get them refurbished at a very reasonable price and made double glazed and draft proof.

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