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Renovation plan and budget help please

7 replies

ohsitdownnextome · 18/03/2025 13:01

Hello wise people on this excellent advice forum.

I am in the process of buying a 1000 square foot, 3 bedroom 1930s semi that is in fairly good condition for now. Per survey, the flooring, roof/gutters and boiler/electrics are all sound. No damp.

Have attached relevant photos from the listing, which are mostly terrible, and the floor plan.

I can spend about 50k on renovations. I'm not sure how far that would stretch.

If the below list might go beyond that cost, I need to decide what is a must-have right away job and what can be saved towards for later.

Any money saving tips that don't skimp on quality are welcomed.

Here is what needs doing.

Bathroom: definitely needs replacing. It has one of those above-bath showers with a box, which trickles small amounts of warm water. The bathroom is poorly ventilated and a bit mouldy.

Windows: all double glazed and lock nice but the frames are old wooden ones. Serviceable for now but unattractive.

Kitchen: Travis Perkins fitted in 2013 apparently. I would like to do a three meter extension and add an island. Cheapest perhaps to just move the units and fixtures around but perhaps better to do the full thing as new?

Garden: sizeable but all lawn. Having murdered countless shrubs over the years by planting them myself to try and save money, thinking cost efficient to hire a landscaper.

Decor: All grey. Could live with carpets, I think, but fresh coat of paint in every room would be nice.

Fittings: no built in wardrobes. Wondering about cost of Ikea wardrobes in beds 1 and 2. Bedroom 3 would be my partner's office so we'd like to add built in desks/shelves. Ikea best probably.

Outside: pebbledash. Can live with it.

Please advise, wise ones!

Thank you in advance.

Renovation plan and budget help please
Renovation plan and budget help please
Renovation plan and budget help please
Renovation plan and budget help please
OP posts:
ShhhhhItsASurprise · 18/03/2025 13:29

An extension is going to cost you more than £50k for a start.

Discombobble · 18/03/2025 13:40

How much are you prepared to do yourself? Paint is relatively cheap, IKEA wardrobes are good value and easy to construct. If the shower is feeble you could have a more powerful electric shower fitted. Re-using kitchen units can be done, as can painting them, but as pp says, the extension will cost you more than your budget

ShhhhhItsASurprise · 18/03/2025 14:23

Discombobble · 18/03/2025 13:40

How much are you prepared to do yourself? Paint is relatively cheap, IKEA wardrobes are good value and easy to construct. If the shower is feeble you could have a more powerful electric shower fitted. Re-using kitchen units can be done, as can painting them, but as pp says, the extension will cost you more than your budget

Might need to change the wiring for a more powerful electric shower.

Caspianberg · 18/03/2025 14:36

£50k doesn’t go far nowadays

I would:
Prioritise bathroom - that will make the most difference day to day. This could cost a fair amount if you need new plumbing, if you add underfloor heating etc.

Leave kitchen. It looks pretty good condition. If you wanted get the doors professionally painted to a non grey colour

Add wardrobes in bedrooms either side of chimney breasts - ikea pax hack if possible

Fix Up garden a bit.

£50k won’t cover an extension so don’t bother

Discombobble · 18/03/2025 14:58

ShhhhhItsASurprise · 18/03/2025 14:23

Might need to change the wiring for a more powerful electric shower.

Yes, but cheaper than a bathroom refit

MikeRafone · 18/03/2025 15:07

Changing the flooring in the kitchen and getting the kitchen doors wrapped

the window frames can all be professionally sprayed a colour you like to freshen up

new bathroom shower for now

luve in the house to get a real feel for how you want to live, rushing to make changes can be costly with mistakes

MikeRafone · 18/03/2025 15:10

Don’t put shrubs in blobs down each side 😂

which aspect/direction is the garden?

the patio is in the middle of the garden for a reason I guess

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