First-time house renovation

MaggieBaking

Visit houseprices.co.uk to find out what the developer paid for it and make sure your first offer at least, is lower - what you want to pay in the end is up to you, but it's great to know exactly how to bargain. The house is also worth less than he paid for it as he bought it with an assumption/gamble that he could increase the value on it further. Knowing that opportunity is lost means it is worth less.

I say go for it. You will always look back and wonder what if - you may be older, but imagine after one year of renovations you will be able to spend the rest of your life in a home that has such beauty and sentimental attachments. I would be more cautious if you did not have much money to spend on renovations.

You only live once Primerosevilla!!

Leif

The developer may well be cutting his losses having not been able to get planning permission, so as others say, find out what he paid, and offer less. The fact that it is a bit scruffy as you say will turn other people off unless the price is right. He might have been prepared to pay more than market value due to the development opportunity.

How much work needs doing? Are we talking about a bit of painting and decorating, or a new kitchen, bathroom etc? And do you intend to do it yourself? You can always stay in a B&B for a week while the bathroom is done for you. Or have a week away somewhere nice. I have discovered that the amount of work involved can be huge. Are the walls sound, or do they need filling/skimming? Old wallpaper can hide a multitude of sins. What about window boards? Ceilings? Is there vile wallpaper or artex on the ceilings? What are the skirting boards and architraves like? What about the central heating? Fixing all of these things and more takes time and money.

latecomer

Primrosevilla wrote: »

Our house is back on the market and we have travelled to see the house which is now in a worse state than it was 18 months ago.

Are we too old to contemplate even thinking of doing this?

Should I instead book the pair of us into the 'funny farm'?

I have yet to make an offer.

I would say its dependent on a huge number of factors including what needs done, and whether its something you feel you can tackle. Have a read through this thread and you'll find all sorts of experiences from good to terrible. OH says never again although I'm not so sure. certainly wouldn't live in it while its being done.

We have our 3rd builder starting today and given previous history I've got low expectations. Maybe this time we will be fortunate enough for them to live up to expectations......

If you have questions about specific jobs then feel free to ask - people are usually very helpful on here

Primrosevilla

This will not be our first time at house renovation.

We purchased our current house 26 years ago, (1890 semi in Greater London). It was rotten!!! Woodworm, damp, rotten walls from years of leaking gutters. We were unable to live in it so built a brick/breeze garage in the garden with the benefit of a bank loan and when the sale of our then home completed we moved into the garage, tin bath - the lot.

We lived like that for nine months while the work on the house got under way. BUT we were younger then and prepared to slum it. At times I thought I would not live to see the end of it lol.

If I knew how to add pics I could show you all.

aliasojo

/ rant on

The painter I got in to finish off the decorating as I had to leave and had no time to do it myself, has just sent his bill for £450. I visited the house the other day and was really unhappy with the job he'd done. He hadn't sanded enough and loads of areas were left raised and bumpy which of course was highlighted by the paint. Apparently he complained that the paint was poor. (It was Dulux Endurance, I've used this myself and done a far superior job.)

I don't have the time or energy to fight with him about it (eldest son has bad health probs at the moment and we have lots to worry about without even taking into account we are 200 miles away) and middle son who is living in the house just wants to pay him for the sake of a quiet life so I suspect he'll get away with a shoddy job.

I sodding hate tradesmen. I can't even be reasonable enough right now to say 'some' tradesmen.

/ rant off

Hi to all you new people who are contemplating big changes or have just started. My advice to you....change your mind, you need to save your sanity before it's gone for good!

typeractive

aliasojo wrote: »

/ rant on

The painter I got in to finish off the decorating as I had to leave and had no time to do it myself, has just sent his bill for £450. I visited the house the other day and was really unhappy with the job he'd done. He hadn't sanded enough and loads of areas were left raised and bumpy which of course was highlighted by the paint. Apparently he complained that the paint was poor. (It was Dulux Endurance, I've used this myself and done a far superior job.)

I don't have the time or energy to fight with him about it (eldest son has bad health probs at the moment and we have lots to worry about without even taking into account we are 200 miles away) and middle son who is living in the house just wants to pay him for the sake of a quiet life so I suspect he'll get away with a shoddy job.

I sodding hate tradesmen. I can't even be reasonable enough right now to say 'some' tradesmen.

/ rant off

Hi to all you new people who are contemplating big changes or have just started. My advice to you....change your mind, you need to save your sanity before it's gone for good!

Awwwh! Big hug!!!!

Really sorry to hear your troubles with a not up to standard job, and even more sorry to hear about the health issues. Fingers crossed you him and yourselves!! Perhaps as you say it's worth just getting him off your back. Having said that you could say you're not prepared to pay the FULL amount. He already reckons the paint isn't up to standard. If he was a professional and REALLY blamed this as the excuse he'd have known already and explained he doesn't want to use it....of course we all know he's just making up an excuse as you have already done a better job yourself. If you've already discussed the disapointment it might be worth saying you're not paying the full amount as it needs putting right. Just a thought, though I appreciate you might not have the heart or energy at the moment.

Keep us posted!
x

latecomer

Primrosevilla wrote: »

This will not be our first time at house renovation.

We purchased our current house 26 years ago, (1890 semi in Greater London). It was rotten!!! Woodworm, damp, rotten walls from years of leaking gutters. We were unable to live in it so built a brick/breeze garage in the garden with the benefit of a bank loan and when the sale of our then home completed we moved into the garage, tin bath - the lot.

We lived like that for nine months while the work on the house got under way. BUT we were younger then and prepared to slum it. At times I thought I would not live to see the end of it lol.

If I knew how to add pics I could show you all.

As you've done it before at least you have an idea what you are letting yourself into. Be careful not to let your heart overrule your head - easy to do but also if you would be planning on staying there forever then lots of things become less important such as the financials of it.

one of the easiest ways to show pics is to sign up to any free image hosting site and upload your pictures there. you can then put a link to the pictures in your post (once you get over a minimum number of posts).

latecomer

aliasojo wrote: »

/ rant on

I suspect he'll get away with a shoddy job.

I sodding hate tradesmen. I can't even be reasonable enough right now to say 'some' tradesmen.

/ rant off

Sorry to hear your son isn't well

Sorry to hear about painter too - I know exactly how you feel in both respects. Personally I hate the idea of letting someone away with something thats not up to standard but some times I just dont have the will to fight it. Particularly if you have other issues on your mind.

Perhaps best just to pay him but make sure you let everyone know that his work wasn't up to the required standard.

latecomer

Minor update from us - we popped past the house this morning to decide which stones we want for the drive and found that the builder has done exactly what he said he would so far. Have to say I was pleasantly surprised but its early days yet.

He also gave us a reasonable quote for the repairing our front steps - even though they are going to re-use the steps from the garage its still far too much work for me to do so even though its basically labour its not that bad and will hopefully make the front of the house look a lot better.

On the downside - a house has just come on the market along the road from us about £125-150,000 cheaper than we are hoping to get - although its not had any extension or upgrading its still slightly concerning. Also other houses in the area dont seem to be shifting at the moment which is equally worrying if not more so.

We did view a house near where we are currently staying but it was sinking/sunk and although cheap just wasn't something we would take on now with the little one.

PS LLC took his first steps last week - 2 days after 1st bday - and repeated again on sunday in front of Mrs LC and me. me = very proud dad

aliasojo

latecomer wrote: »

On the downside - a house has just come on the market along the road from us about £125-150,000 cheaper than we are hoping to get - although its not had any extension or upgrading its still slightly concerning.


PS LLC took his first steps last week - 2 days after 1st bday - and repeated again on sunday in front of Mrs LC and me. me = very proud dad

That's a sizeable difference. Nothing to say it would achieve that though. :undecided

Well done on getting a decent builder. Hopefully the rest will go smoothly.

Bless. It doesn't seem like a year. :eek: Next steps will be him running rings round you whilst laughing at you being unable to catch him.

Andrew's been a bit quiet lately, wonder how his little fella is getting on too.