How do you know whether to buy a house that needs renovation?

[ThisMustBeMyDream]

I'm having trouble in working out what I should buy. I have have sold my house and I've seen a house that meets everything i want in location, space and garden. I'd have £18k left from my sale/purchase for renovation, but could muster 25k to begin i think. Maybe another 10k later down the line.
The house is perfect size wise and doesn't need extending. From what I can see so far it doesn't need rewiring (but may need extra sockets though) or windows. However it does need a full refurbishment otherwise. It needs a new kitchen. New downstairs toilet and ensuite (which is actually just a loo and sink, no shower). New bathroom suite and tiling. Ceilings all need skimming, some need boarding and plastering (has some awful exposed beams with what can only be described as plyboard paneling in a house that was never intended to have such!). New staircase as current is an absolute deathtrap with huge wide gaps between balustrades and open steps. New internal woodwork and doors. Probably some replastering/skimming. Full redecoration and flooring.
I have absolutely no idea where to start with costing such a job, or if I would bite off more than I could chew with it. Can anyone help with advice? It is north west England prices BTW. I have estimated the kitchen costs to be around 8-10k based on the kitchen I've just done in my house costing 5k. The house is 4 upstairs bedrooms, big living room, dining room, downstairs bedroom (would be a playroom for us) kitchen, utility area, bathroom and then the two extra toilets. I wouldn't be going for expensive stuff, mid range really. Like I'd not be having quartz worktops and the like. I wouldn't be able to do much work myself either. Maybe a bit of decorating. Is this achievable, or should I just be sticking to "done" houses that maybe just need bits doing to personal taste?

Looks like a good house to take your time over, I was expecting much worse. (We’ve been looking at some neglected wrecks that need around £100k on them so it’s coloured my perception of work needed). What on earth have they done to the ceilings though?

Most of that will be fixed through jobs you can do yourself and decoration. I’d budget more for your kitchen though, minimum £15k when you’ve factored in flooring and appliances (depending on your taste of course). We did a similar sized bathroom in old house for £9.5k, with high quality products, like a large Matki shower unit. You can take your time though, it looks liveable, just dated.

Good luck, hope you get ‘the feeling’ in your viewing

Unless the survey throws up a nasty surprise it looks like what needs done is purely cosmetic, so it’s really a question of what you can live with and for how long if the bare bones of the house are right, which it looks like they are.
I’m a year into a house that’s not been touched for 40 years and have surprised myself on what I can put up with because the house is right

I did a renovation last year (also north west so work tends to be cheaper than what you would pay down south) and this is what I paid for work doing to a three bed, 2 reception room house;

Bathroom; £4K including fitting
Plastering of the full house including ceilings; £4.8k
Full re-wire; £2.5k
Flooring; £2k
Internal doors; £1k

I did every thing else myself (I say myself, my mum, dad, grandad and boyfriend did it, I just did tip runs).

I ideally need a new kitchen but I painted it with frenchic and had it plastered and nee flooring and EVERYONE that comes in says how much they love my new kitchen, so I'm leaving that in for as long as possible.

I think you can do it, I had zero clue when I bought the house I just thought yay a new carpet and a lick of paint will do the trick.

I still have a couple of unfinished jobs but the list is getting much much smaller!

The position of the dining room relative to the kitchen is odd. I would also be tempted to turn bedroom 5 into a bathroom.