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To have building work or just renovate

25 replies

bluebeach · 12/11/2023 09:43

This has been going round my head for months if not years and I’ve basically stagnated in not being about to make a decision.
1930’s ex council solid 3 bed semi. I imagine staying here at least 10 years. Current house value about 300k, ceiling price about 370k. I don’t want to move as 400k would just lift me out of ex council house- would just be another 3 bed house in a slightly posher bit of town.
I will attach pics. The right image is how it is currently

Would you embark on building work, (knocking down single skin utility room, to re build slightly bigger and install a steel) to create a ‘squarer’ kitchen dining room with new kitchen. I feel like although only gainly 1m in width it would create a much nicer space. Current dining room feels a bit narrow and Utility seems too big.

or, would you keep configuration as is. Keep utility as single skin (‘we have already internally insulated but it has a flat roof so will always feel colder than the rest of the house) but renovate, put in new kitchen and run new flooring through kitchen and utility to unify them a bit. Would be dramatically cheaper to do this.

I have £100k.

Do I blow it all and do this building work that doesn’t really give me much more floor space (‘a few sq m)but gives me a nicer space, or do I spend less than half the amount just making it all look nice.

To have building work or just renovate
OP posts:
Afteropening · 12/11/2023 09:44

Do you need the extra space? Not that it’s much!

ABeautifulThing · 12/11/2023 09:48

Personally. If I could afford it and the budget will achieve the goal, I'd do the utility replacement option.
You intend on staying in the house for a long time. You will get so much enjoyment from a home that flows better and is warmer.
This kind of Big Project in a home, is a one in a generation thing (at most) which, once done, fixes that home into a version of itself that will be unlikely to ever be altered significantly...
I think though the total bill is higher for the expensive option, I think the pleasure per pound spent is greater in the rebuild one (I've you've got through the mess of course 😆).

ABeautifulThing · 12/11/2023 09:50

Though, a space for mucky boots is very useful (here at least, I'm rural), so I think I'd miss that.

Afteropening · 12/11/2023 09:56

@ABeautifulThing it only adds 1sq metre though

ABeautifulThing · 12/11/2023 09:59

Yes, but that makes a surprising difference to the feel of a space!

ABeautifulThing · 12/11/2023 10:00

In a room which is just under 4m wide, that's a 25% increase.

ABeautifulThing · 12/11/2023 10:01

Can you ask around your friends and family and see if anyone has a similar size room for you to be in and notice the difference?

ABeautifulThing · 12/11/2023 10:01

Experience it, that is, so it isn't just an abstract idea.

Afteropening · 12/11/2023 10:04

ABeautifulThing · 12/11/2023 09:59

Yes, but that makes a surprising difference to the feel of a space!

But not This kind of Big Project in a home, is a one in a generation thing (at most)

ABeautifulThing · 12/11/2023 10:06

I was thinking of the improvements to the thermal envelope not just the wall moving.

ABeautifulThing · 12/11/2023 10:07

It is only my opinion though. Quite happy for others to disagree. If it was cut and dried op wouldn't have prevaricated for so long.

Afteropening · 12/11/2023 10:08

For £100k and in your price bracket…. I’d seriously consider moving.

you’d be spending £100k on a £300k property knowing at absolute best you’d get is £370k.

ABeautifulThing · 12/11/2023 10:12

But she still wouldn't be in a better house. Just in a different area, for a similar house, which maybe also needs doing up.

Afteropening · 12/11/2023 10:16

ABeautifulThing · 12/11/2023 10:12

But she still wouldn't be in a better house. Just in a different area, for a similar house, which maybe also needs doing up.

yes and my point is - how sure of you of that op? Given this is an extra £100k, representing -1/3 of current property value. Are you sure there’s nothing in between your property and same size property but different location?

ABeautifulThing · 12/11/2023 10:22

Good question.

rrrrrreatt · 12/11/2023 11:55

I personally wouldn’t get rid of a utility room and the downstairs but it’s the one thing I wish our house had.

If you think you’ll need a bigger house in the future is there potential for a loft conversion? You could do that and potentially make the house nicer throughout, future proofing it (only reallt a goer if you like the area). You could also do some pretty smart stuff in the kitchen to maximise on the space so it’s got a bit more room for the dining space.

Edit: also if you were doing a new kitchen could you flip it round so the dining end is in the wider end where the kitchen is and the kitchen is in the narrower end?

bluebeach · 12/11/2023 12:45

Thanks guys.

No I don’t ‘need’ the extra space. Rationally it doesn’t make sense to only increase the footprint by such a small amount. However it’s a v. Good point that by increasing the length of the kitchen diner by 1m, it’s a 25% increase, so could make quite a difference to the feel of the room. I guess it just all feels a bit tight and in my head, that 1m would just give everything some breathing space.

our neighbors have gone wider, but they also went out the front an extra meter…but that was 7 years ago when you could get a detached garage built, two story extension and loft converted for under £100k. Feel like I really missed the boat as now it’s all just so expensive! Their kitchen diner feels lovely and they live in it ( rarely use their living room) though it is bigger than mine would be.

switching the kitchen and dining space… the back of the house, where the kitchen is, is pretty dark as our back garden is raised level so think it’s nicer to be eating in the brighter section, otherwise I think this would def make sense!

Yes, there is potential for a loft conversion although it wouldn’t give us a fourth bedroom., just give us a double as the third room rather than a box room. There is also potential to build above the utility space if it was rebuilt properly. Def not something I can afford right now but the potential is there…which is what my neighbors have done (they have essentially created a 6 bed house). There is always the ceiling price to consider though, I could easily sink several 100k’s into the house!

In terms of loosing the utility room, we’d still have one, it’d run the depth of the house and be 2m wide so still space for boots etc. Just not for bikes and bigger things….would need to make a shed for that (which I wouldn’t mind as it annoys me dirty bikes in the house. I do agree though, having a decent sized utility room is useful, but it feels like it’s at the detriment of the slightly cramped dining space.

In terms of moving….I am looking all the time to see if something comes up but like someone said, I’m looking at at least 400k and they are doer uppers 3 beds or smaller new builds, plus I feel like the cost of moving would be better funneled into doing up this house. I like my current locations, neighbors are all lovely and nice views etc.

I think I know that the sensible thing is to just make good the space I have, it could look so much nicer than it currently does. But I feel as though I’d always be slightly regretting not sorting everything out properly and having a warmer more livable space.

As mentioned before my partner doesn’t want to go down the building route, however the money is my inheritance so I feel like I want to do something that will make me happy! Sometimes I wish I was married to one of those men that was equally keen on home improvements. He’d happily live in a caravan

OP posts:
bluebeach · 12/11/2023 12:48

Sorry, I mean increasing the ‘width’ of the kitchen diner by 1m

OP posts:
ABeautifulThing · 12/11/2023 13:35

There is a lot to be said for increasing enjoyment of the space of your home.
People spend a lifetime trying to find a nice area with neighbours they like and nice views! Moving is a gamble from that point of view.
If you are going to live there for years, having it lovely would be a great use of money. In that sense you aren't investing in the value of your home but improving the quality of your environment.
That said, building works is stressful so it's not ideal that your partner is not keen. Is he at least neutral (not against)?

bluebeach · 12/11/2023 14:09

Thanks @ABeautifulThing I think this is how I’m generally feeling but my sensible head is saying how it doesn’t make financial sense. But like you say there is such a things as ‘pleasure per pound’. I’m generally really frugal and think of all the money I’ve saved by not having nice clothes or haircuts or cars. I also work hard and bring in 85% of our income so feel like I should have a bit of what I want at somepoint in my life!
I’d say my partner is mildly against the idea of it and during the building work I wouldn’t be able to complain to him about anything. I’d be shouldering it all. However ultimately he would agree to it, I think, probably more on the grounds of the house becoming warmer. Our house which was a doer upper when we bought it 8 years ago now really just needs sorting and my daughter has started to comment about all her other friends houses being nicer. I’ve procrastinated for so long!

OP posts:
anyolddinosaur · 12/11/2023 14:29

Have you considered refitting the living room as your kitchen diner, making the existing kitchen your living space and fitting a sloping, better insulated, roof to the utility? Adding cavity wall insulation if you dont already have it would likely improve the warmth of the house more than changing the utility.

MaybeSmaller · 12/11/2023 15:38

I personally think you'd be nuts to spend £100K on a £300K house just to get that. Such a huge amount of money to get such a small improvement.

It's your money but I would keep your configuration absolutely as it is and do some smaller and much cheaper improvements if you want to. Or move.

Afteropening · 12/11/2023 16:17

You can’t force building work OP of your partner doesn’t want it! It’s his house too!

Afteropening · 12/11/2023 16:18

I can’t believe you’re considering spending more than 1/4 if your house top end value for such a small space. Calculate the cost per square footage and I suspect that you will get your answer as to whether you should or not!

LindaDawn · 12/11/2023 16:28

Have you had a quote for building works for £100k and if so does that £100k include a high end kitchen?

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