There are thousands of new build houses popping up on estates all around the UK. New build houses are often cheaper than older ones, but there’s usually a reason for this. They often lack some of the comforts of older properties, such as a large garden, relative privacy, a sizeable driveway, and a spacious interior.
Many older properties also have original features such as stained glass windows, wooden beams and decorative features like alcoves. New build properties are often built as quickly and as cost-effectively as possible, meaning they tend to look the same and aren’t architecturally challenging. This is, of course, absolutely fine and they make fabulous homes for all kinds of people, but they aren’t for everyone.
Some people want a project and to really put their own stamp on a house, and that’s where renovation houses come in.
Social media and reality shows will have you thinking that renovating a property is relatively straightforward, but as anyone who has ever attempted it will tell you, it’s certainly not easy. So, if you’re thinking of buying a project house, here are five tips you’ll want to bear in mind that could just help you on your journey.
1. Create a clean slate
A lot of people are surprised at how much others leave behind when they move house. Not everyone will take all their furniture, so the responsibility will fall to you to completely clear the house in order to start from a clean slate. It’s a good idea to hire a removal company – or a van if you want to do it yourself – to get rid of domestic items like sofas, appliances and garden debris. It’s best to try and make this the first job you do. When you start the renovation process you’ll need space to not only store your own belongings, but to also carry out the necessary work, and the last thing you want is to still be juggling old beds and bags of rubble three months into your project.
Once you’ve got rid of bulky items, completely strip any walls and floors you want to renovate. This way, you don’t have to worry about preparing surfaces when the build is underway – you can get stuck in immediately. Doing this early on will also highlight any issues that were potentially hiding behind the plaster and carpets, so you can budget more effectively from the beginning.
2. Do it yourself
Most people who take on a project house do not have infinite resources and money, and this means some good old fashioned elbow grease is needed. Determine what you can reasonably do yourself (painting, laying floors and maybe even a touch of tiling), and then see how much it will cost you to hire tradespeople for the remaining jobs. Too often, tradespeople cost more than the actual materials and consume a big chunk of your budget, so saving money where you can by doing what you can will certainly help with your finances.
3. Prioritise jobs
Lots of older houses have outdated décor and facilities, but when you’re undertaking a project that is likely to take months or even years, it’s important to prioritise what absolutely needs to be done versus what can be lived with. For example, if your bathroom looks a bit ugly but actually functions whilst your living room has a severe case of damp, it’s best to sort the biggest issue out first. A ugly tile or squeaky cabinet isn’t the end of the world and can be lived with whilst more pressing issues are dealt with.
4. Overbudget
You can save money by doing jobs yourself, but it’s almost guaranteed that you will end up spending more than you anticipated or budgeted for. For this reason, it’s best to have a contingency plan. For example, if you have allocated £5,000 for the bathroom renovation, make sure you have a buffer of £2,000 in case something unexpected comes up that needs to be dealt with, or in case the work takes longer than first thought and you need to pay your tradespeople for longer. Having a buffer will certainly come in handy, so it’s well worth overshooting rather than undershooting and having to beg, borrow and steal later on.
5. Don’t cut corners
No matter what type of project you’re doing, it’s imperative that you don’t cut corners, especially when it comes to your house renovations. When you do a half-job first time round, you’re setting yourself up for more work and more money to be spent later down the line. So, as tempting as it is to add one more layer of paint over already saturated walls for the sake of making your house look temporarily presentable, don’t do it! Do a proper job first time round and you’ll thank yourself later.
Summary
Hopefully these tips have helped you if you’re thinking about taking on a renovation project.