Renovating a house can be an exciting endeavour as you potentially breathe new life into an old property or add a new extension so that it better suits your lifestyle. Unlike building a new home, you’re not able to start from a blank canvas, meaning that undertaking a successful renovation requires skill, patience, and planning. Renovating can be complex and be prone to many issues and expenses that can sometimes turn a renovation into challenging ordeal. Here are some useful points people need to know before they embark on a renovation project.
Survey the Building Before Your Purchase It
A building survey is vital before any renovation project begins, as these will be able to highlight any major issues the property might have, such as problems like dealing with damp or structural movement, which can suggest that a renovation is going to be pretty costly. A building survey typically costs between 500 to over 1000 depending on the size, location, and age of the house. It’s a good way to figure out the health of a house, but there are still some hard-to-discover problems that surveys can’t uncover that might present themselves as you begin your renovation. If you find your house has subsidence issues for example, you’ll need to factor this into your budget. Piling work will need to be carried out by a company such as Purkelly to ensure that your house is stable and safe to inhabit.
Age of the Property
If the property that you are renovating is reasonably new then it will have all of the modern safety standards, the materials you’re working with won’t be very old, and you won’t encounter too many issues. However, if the property is a very old one then it might be worth reconsidering your decision to renovate. Usually, when older properties are renovated a lot of issues are found that need fixing to keep the property safe. In some cases, a renovation on an older property costs more than just buying a new house! So, it might be worth looking for a company that says “we buy any house in any condition” and finding a newer house in a better condition.
Get the Right Equipment
When renovating, it’s best to be prepared, and the best way to do that is to stock up with all the tools you need. Even if you’re using contractors to do the bulk of the work for you, it can be handy to have some stuff yourself, as there will be instances where crucial pieces of equipment are forgotten. Be sure to get everything you need for installation, electrical rewiring, sealing, tiling and more from Tradefix Direct.
Don’t Dive Straight In
It can be enticing to go into a renovation project once planning permission comes through, especially if you plan to live in the house during the renovation. Although no one wants to be living in a building site for longer than necessary, taking the time to pause and evaluate before you start work can pay off. This time allows you to plan and thoroughly prepare carefully. It also allows you to do your research into the parts of the renovation you’re going to be doing yourself. For example, you can get tiling help from Tilers Place so you don’t need to pay for a handyman to come in for the day to install your bathroom tiles. Use this time to get to know the house, such as learning which rooms get the most natural sunlight and which ones you gravitate towards. These can inform your proposed layout for the renovated building, and help you build a better understanding of what you want to do.
Budget for Gas, Heating and Electrics
When renovating an older house, the likelihood is that something within the property is going to have to be updated. In terms of electrics, be sure to look out for old fuse boxes, light switches, or round pin plugs as these will have to be changed. Rewiring a three-bedroom house will cost anything between 3000- 4000, so make sure you have that in your budget.
It’s important to be on the lookout for radiators within the property, as a lack of them will indicate that there might not be a central heating system, which isn’t great. Adding an entirely new heating system can set you back between 3500 – 5000 and can be even more in a lot of cases. So when you decide to search for Heat Pumps for Sale, make sure that you invest in reputed manufacturers like HVAC Warehouse or the ones similar to it. Since these systems are to be used for years, it is better to install a good quality device. Always have the budget for these installations and replacements, and even if it turns out, things are good, then that money can be used elsewhere to enhance the renovation.