House renovation help

[Lovelangauge]

Hello,

We’re a young family looking to buy a home within our budget. We think it’s smarter to buy a house that needs some renovations in a better area. We’ve found one we like, but it needs major work before it’s livable.

Could you recommend a trustworthy, creative, and affordable renovation agency? I have a passion for interior design, so I’d love to work with someone who shares that vision. We’re in Stockport, so an agency based here or in Cheadle would be ideal for easy communication and site visits.

Thank you!

Renovations are expensive at the moment. If you aren't doing any of the work yourself, it is likely to cost a lot more to renovate a house that to buy a done up one the same size. Apologies as this is not what you asked but I thought it might be useful when considering what you are about to do. Renovations are not relaxing at the best of times and I can't imagine doing one and then ending up losing money too! Although if it is a long term house then It might be worth it anyway

My daughter did simular but bought a structurally sound but dated home where the kitchen had been replaced recently. They paid about 10 percent less than one would if it were pristine.

This had the following advantages over an "unliveable place"

They could live in it and do what they need over time
One big ticket item, the kitchen, was done already
They are less likely to uncover really expensive issues because it has been "sort of " looked after (they also had a building survey to give support to this)
It's easier to gauge that the lower price of £30k compared to the price a modernised house would fetch ought to be sufficient to cover the work they need to do (gable end repointing, bathroom renovation, plastering hallway and reception rooms, some new windows and complete redecoration).

How much does this cost to do everything, kitchen bathroom, paint etc?

Thanks for your insight l. I appreciate honestly.

we are first time buyer and looking for longer term, do you how much should we make our budget to do everything like everything?

Well our family have had 4 bathrooms fitted this year.

1 was 8k
1 was 10k
1 was 13k
1 was 15k (included building the stud wall room and has disabled access so is a bit different than normal)

Our family had a kitchen fitted to but they've never discussed the cost. We happened to chat about the bathrooms!

If you have to ask, and if you're looking for someone to manage this for you (you're looking for a Project Manager, not an agent), then you're going to need very deep pockets. It may not be the option for you, and it may not be cheaper than buying somewhere that's ready to move into and maybe just needs a freshen up of the paint and paper.

It all depends on the condition of the property when you start and the quality of finish you want to end up with in the end. It's the difference between the before and the after that counts.

My first house had an outside loo. Unless you’ve got pots and pots of money don’t go for a company they will charge anything between 12 and 15% on top of what the work costs for their project managing. If it’s a small house you could do that yourself. If you’re thinking of plastering rewire and re-plumbing new kitchen new bathroom maybe some walls taken down with new windows you’re talking 60,000 minimum that may work for you but it may not.

"...but it needs major work before it’s livable."

That sounds incredibly expensive - unless you have the skills to do much of the work yourself.

"...a trustworthy, creative, and affordable renovation agency?"

It sounds as though you are talking more about interior design here. If that's more what you're interested in then find a house that doesn't need major work.

There is a youtube channel that I follow (I think they're on Instagram as well) called "Milly & Louis | Belgrave Villa Renovation" which is about a young couple who are doing just as you are suggesting and are renovating a house that needs major work before it's livable.

Perhaps have a look at some of their videos before you decide to go this route to see if this is what you want to get involved with:

If you have to ask, you can’t afford it.
Bathroom 10k
Kitchen 20+k
Rewire 10k
Windows from 15 to 30k
Plastering and Ceiling replacement - 20k+
Skimming walls 5k+
Flooring 10 to 20k
Boiler 5k
Radiators and plumbing 10-15k

All ballpark figures.

Plus you have the outside. Drive, chimneys, pointing, rendering, fencing, drainage, patio.

There’s a reason people buy new or nearly new.

There’s an old saying, there is no such thing as a cheap boat. Well rundown houses also figure in that nowadays.

Are you looking for an architect to design structural changes or a project manager to organise and co-ordinate trades to do the work?

A good builder can probably organise everything for you, but finding a good builder is a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack. Talk to the local planning people they may have suggestions, or if you go to an architect he may know reputable builders. Get a few people in to have a look and see how you feel about them, it's really tricky putting your faith in people you don't know.

We bought a relatively cheap unmodernised small house on big overgrown plot, we gradually modernised and extended and now it's a reasonable sized house on a big plot but it has taken us years to get that far. We could never have afforded the finished house we wanted, in the area we wanted with the garden we wanted.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/154044479

this is the house we are thinking because the area is good well that’s also subjective.

Can you find an end terrace, similar size, in that area that's that's done nicely? Then post it here so we can see the price difference

What about this one OP. Is this in a nice area too?

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153839570

That's not as bad as I was thinking it would be. It doesn't seem to need major work, it all just mostly looks cosmetic.

If the front windows aren't double glazed then you'll need to factor in the price for that. You've got a functioning kitchen. The biggest expense will be the bathroom if you want to install some sort of shower.

The one concern looking at those photos are the dark stains on the wall in photo 15. That could possibly be damp. It can be tricky to deal with damp so you may wish to look at that in more detail.

I saw this but we don't want in adswood area.
Our concern is good school primary, secondary. BUT then area should be good enough that's why we are thinking to get bad looking house but in good location.

That's fair enough. Schools are so important of course!

It does say ‘builders or developers’. Personally I’d avoid that one, especially with the shared access.

I would say that even in the north you would be looking at 80,000 easily to do that house, probably more of you use a renovation firm.

They will want to do new electric, new heating system, replaster every room, remove asbestos ceilings, new bathroom ,new kitchen, take down and insulate ceiling in loft room, New windows, decorate , new floors AnD Then you need to furnish it and buy curtains etc too.