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Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

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Original poster

Tips for renovation

15 replies

geojojo · 16/11/2019 13:56

We have recently sold our house and looked around a house today which we are considering making an offer on. It is a beautiful Edwardian house in an ideal location for us but it is in desperate need of modernisation throughout. There is no way we could afford a property like this in this location if it was in better condition. We are very daunted by renovation as we have not done it before but don't want to let this opportunity pass us by. Any tips?

OP posts:

TempestHayes · 16/11/2019 14:10

How much needs doing? Is it just decoration or structural too? Rewire?

We fully decorated this house - new kitchen, bathroom, plastered all rooms, new floor in all rooms, rebuilt bannisters - but the wiring and plumbing were all fine. In our next we're looking at rewiring, repointing and some exterior repairs as well.

It's doable.

fastliving · 16/11/2019 14:14

I guess it's in a condition where you can live in it?
How much money would it take to bring it up to scratch.....how long would it take to save that money?
Does it matter to you how long you live in a unmodernised house - it is your 'forever home'?

MikeUniformMike · 16/11/2019 14:24

It depends on what you mean by modernisation.
If it is structurally sound, then that's a great start.
If it is things like redecoration, carpets, kitchen, bathroom, you could get estimates, as you could with remodelling.
If it is full-on renovations, bear in mind that they usually go over budget and will put a strain on your patience and relationship.
It sounds like an opportunity.

Original poster

geojojo · 16/11/2019 15:45

We Believe it is fine structurally and doesn't need rewriting but it is hard to tell without the survey. My in-laws are looking at it later today and they are a lot more experienced in this area so can probably assess how much work it needs and how much it would cost. A lot of it is just things like wallpapers and carpets which need replacing but the big things are the (very dated and small) bathroom and kitchen. To make the kitchen how we would like it we would want to knock a wall down and combine it with the dining room but would want to assess whether that was possible and how much. It would be liveable I think and we could afford to do things slowly. It is in such a good location it feels like a huge opportunity but I don't want to jump into something we aren't able to complete. So hard!

OP posts:

MikeUniformMike · 16/11/2019 19:32

Get a full survey.
You can live with a crummy kitchen and bathroom. Check that it is all usable.
You would probably replace wallpaper and carpets anyway.
As they say Location, Location,Location.

Things like bathroom suites and kitchens aren't that expensive but it's better to wait until you know what you want your new house to be like.

TempestHayes · 17/11/2019 17:31

Yes, definitely a full FULL on survey. Not that nonsense the mortgage company do - we had a bloke pop in, check the place was still standing, tick a box and walk out again. Our buyers probably thought it was better than that. We had a full one on ours and got 140 pages of intricate examination of the structure.

A house in need of work means Things Haven't Been Done. While they were NOT doing up the bathroom, they were also likely NOT keeping an eye on the guttering and water penetration, on the brickwork, on any cracks, on the roof, on any window flaws or lintel wear and tear.

Our survey threw up some real shockers and it is then you start making decisions about what you can and can't live with.

Just decorating is fine. Getting down and dirty in the wall cavities, bit more stressful.

LizzieSiai · 21/11/2019 23:26

Renovations can be stressful but the results are (usually) amazing. We bought and renovated a 1928 semi...we did everything from replastering, rewire, new plumbing, create understairs loo, knocked walls to create kitchen diner. We went for a full survey prior - better to be safe than sorry - it came up with a few minor issues that were easily fix.

Edwardian properties are beautiful. You should really consider it, especially if you're after a good deal and are planning to live there for a while.

Original poster

geojojo · 22/11/2019 06:39

Thanks guys. We put in a low offer and had it accepted so we have slightly more money to improve it immediately. We won't really be able to do any big things yet though. Very excited but also daunted. I guess I'm feeling that this elderly lady has managed to live there for ages so I'm sure it's liveable for us for a while. I'll be coming to you guys for lots of help!

OP posts:

foxatthewindow · 22/11/2019 06:53

We are in a 1915 house that needs a complete overhaul. So far we’ve done: new radiators, half a rewire, a new water supply and some redecorating. We’ve probably spent £20k already, and have a kitchen remodel to do (£30k) plus two new bathrooms (£10-15k) including a new hot water cylinder and new pipes. We also have to sort out new flooring, and finish the decorating. Our spend is projected at £80-90k. It’s a big house, so you might be able to spend less, but probably not that much. Things like rewiring might not be strictly necessary yet, but the time to do them is before you make the house nice. No point doing it up and doing messy jobs in 5-10 years!

Original poster

geojojo · 22/11/2019 08:38

True. We actually had to completely rewire our current house unexpectedly just after we bought it so know the disruption and mess that comes with it. We think that we will rewire straight away even if it's not pressing as there aren't many sockets in the property anyway!

OP posts:

AnotherEmma · 22/11/2019 08:43

A lot of architects will do feasibility visits, you pay them a small fee to view the house with you and assess what work can be done. I would suggest that you get an architect and/or builder to do this kind of visit - in addition to the full survey.

FWIW I think this is really exciting, it will be stressful but worth it when you've got a lovely house at the end and you've done things how you want

foxatthewindow · 22/11/2019 17:19

@geojojo we are in exactly that position. The rewire isn’t urgent but there are not that many sockets and quite a few random junction boxes and a few too many spurs so best just to get it done. It’s very messy though. And I’m not a big fan of electricians at the moment

JoJoSM2 · 22/11/2019 17:23

Tbh, if s house looks like it hasn’t been touched for 30 years, I’d assume a full rewire, replastering, potentially new central heating.

foxatthewindow · 23/11/2019 06:27

I’d agree entirely except for the replaster. We’ve gone down the filling and lining paper route in some rooms as that seems to be the better option. Some rooms are being replastered, where the plaster has blown

MarieG10 · 23/11/2019 06:51

@geojojo definitely do the rewrite first. I do t understand people that wait, do other parts of the house and then come back and dig up the walls. Get it out of the way and take it from there. Good luck

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