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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Moneypit?

23 replies

Misty9 · 20/01/2019 17:55

I really like a 1930s detached house we've looked around. It's 5 bedrooms and lots of space downstairs, but...

it's artex-heaven hell with the stuff on all downstairs walls and ceilings
needs completely redecorating
old back boiler in the fireplace
dated kitchen is north facing so needs a roof lantern or similar to brighten it up
antique 70s carpet everywhere!
old 90s double glazing and glazed front door.

I can so see us living there - but it would be a moneypit, wouldn't it?

Dh is allergic to diy....

OP posts:

RandomMess · 20/01/2019 17:58

You skim over artex, mist houses need their carpets replacing when you buy them, the double glazing could be find for years!

Big cost is roof, electrics, anything structural...

Original poster

Misty9 · 20/01/2019 17:58

Oh, and it's the top of our budget.

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wishingitwasfriday · 20/01/2019 17:59

Sounds like a larger version of the house we're buying! We're going to get the important bits done (wiring, boiler etc) and then so the rest as time and money allows. It's exciting and terrifying all at once!

Original poster

Misty9 · 20/01/2019 18:03

Have you had any quotes wishing ? I'm not phased by the work but dh is - and has been known to take us about a year to decide on a light fitting we both like!

OP posts:

wishingitwasfriday · 20/01/2019 18:42

We've got a few friends who are going to do bits for us, boiler and rewire. Been quoted £2k for the boiler, including removal of the old back boiler and making good the fireplace. £300 labour for the rewire, not sure on cost for wire etc yet.

We haven't got a quote for windows yet but that will be at least 3k.
We know the roof repair is going to be 5k, but we're thinking of doing a quick/cheap repair as we'd like to put an extension on at some point so not point paying twice. Kitchen £8k, bathroom 5k. Then new carpets, decorating throughout.
Hoping to do as much ourselves as possible to save money.

Original poster

Misty9 · 20/01/2019 20:21

That's really helpful thanks wishing - is the £2k including a new boiler??

OP posts:

wishingitwasfriday · 20/01/2019 20:50

It is, although someone else quoted us 3k to do the same. We're not getting the keys until March so starting to get quotes in and putting together an order for what needs doing first.

fabulousathome · 21/01/2019 01:32

£300 for a rewire? You don't mean that for the whole house do you? More like £3000 if all wiring is to be renewed in a good sized house.

RangerLady · 21/01/2019 01:42

If he hates diy and you aren't personally going to do it all you need to have an idea of how much it will.cost to pay someone to do what you want. And know how much it will annoy you if you have to move with the artex etc for a few years!

Apileofballyhoo · 21/01/2019 01:54

The back boiler is a good thing as the plumbing is done for a stove that will heat water and a couple of rads. I've seen lovely inset ones with double doors so you can open them both and have an open fire effect.

It really depends on how willing you are to live with things that are cosmetic. Any chance of putting in an offer that's low enough to give you some spare money for what you think needs to be done?

And also are you insulated from Brexit?

lifebegins50 · 21/01/2019 09:09

You can get plastering for around 2k.

Doors and windows will be expensive, depends on what spec you have but about 20k.
Decorating and carpets, whatever you can put up with..Could there be parquet flooring?

How are the bathrooms? A decent shower and a warm house might be a priority.

I think it depends..If you are coming from a completely done up house and can't afford any works for a few years you may regret it.

However if it's a 15 year house in a good location near schools, family then it could be worth the pain..which might last 5 years (in my experience of doing something similar!)

Original poster

Misty9 · 21/01/2019 09:11

Do you have any pics apileofballyhoo as I can't quite picture what you describe? Also, what would insulation from brexit look like? (I think you'd be a millionaire if you discover and market that one!) We would be buying and selling so I figured any price drops will affect us evenly?

My friendly plumber has just quoted £3.5-4.5k for a new boiler and cylinder (top end Worcester) and said megaflo wouldn't work around here because our water flow is so bad. But he also said the back boiler would be fine for a few years if it's working properly...but we wouldn't be able to remove the gas fire.

OP posts:

HauntedPencil · 21/01/2019 09:27

I've recently been quoted 2.5k for removing a back boiler & installing new boiler.

They are bullet proof through so it might not be that you have to do that straight away.

We will have ended up keeping ours for 2 years.

HauntedPencil · 21/01/2019 09:29

In a 1930s house you might get lucky on finding wood block flooring so have you peeped under the carpet?

We had all the upstairs replaced for c£700 ish before we moved in but we can Sand all downstairs v cheap.

ChariotsofFish · 21/01/2019 09:31

The Artex won’t be as simple as skimming if it’s all over the walls and ceilings and you want to do things like put in a roof lantern or open up a chimney breast. You’re going to have to have at least some of the Artex safely removed to do that, which will add to the cost. (Assuming it is old asbestos containing Artex).

Original poster

Misty9 · 21/01/2019 09:40

Yes we presumed we'll have to get it checked for asbestos and the roof lantern would be a longer term plan I think. The chimney breasts are already open so that's fine I think.

Downstairs flooring is old long floorboards, no lovely block wood sadly, but in good nick it seemed and sanding is easy enough.

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patstar · 21/01/2019 09:44

We bought a house that hadn't been touched since late 60's early 70's, apart from windows and doors that were coming up to ten years old.
First thing we did was take boiler (didn't really work) out of kitchen and put in loft - combi Worcester, cost 3K.
Re wiring with new fuse box - 2.5K.
Everything else, slow, slow, slow when we have the money.
Weird but we did the garden first (south facing)which was lovely last year as I could enjoy it in the sunshine and gave a bit of respite from what needed doing in the house.
We are getting there, but think it will be a six year plan. On year three 1/2 at moment

planesick · 21/01/2019 09:46

Wishingitwasfriday.... 2k for removal of a back boiler and making good the fireplace.

Does that include a new boiler? Where in the UK are you? We are in need of a new boiler as well. We were quoted £4k (East Midlands)

HauntedPencil · 21/01/2019 10:29

We are in the same position in that we've bought at the pretty top end of our budget for a house needing work but it was all we could get.

We are doing things slowly & the difference a lick of paint & getting the flooding done was huge.

I think you need to consider what really essential jobs need doing now & a contingency but these houses have "good bones" and here anyway hold their value really well as they are in demand so we've no regrets yet

Original poster

Misty9 · 21/01/2019 10:32

Thanks haunted that's pretty much how I see it but dh reckons he'd be "depressed" living in a house where all he can see are jobs to be done. It's a good option for us though and gives us the space in the location we want - it just needs work!

OP posts:

HauntedPencil · 21/01/2019 10:35

We could have bought cheaper & done (more) but it would have been a smaller house and probably one we'd want to move from in 5 years or even less with all the stress & fees DH is good at DIY and in the one who would usually stress & find it depressing but I'm actually enjoying it!

It's not for everyone though I know.

wishingitwasfriday · 21/01/2019 10:47

A friend is doing out rewire and coming down for a weekend to do so. He'll be working with my OH, who can rewire but not sign off. Friend has agreed £300 to do so. Obviously there will be material costs on top of this.

wishingitwasfriday · 21/01/2019 10:52

Planesick- we're south west. It's a friend doing it is a bit cheaper than normal I guess. We're quite lucky that we know a few people who are happy to do things for a cheap day rate, which is saving us a lot of money.

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