Where do we start??

Lizzy69_2

Hi all :hello:

After much thought DH and I have decided not to move (I think). Basically we would like to mortgage free in 10 years rather than take out a bigger mortgage for a longer term or up the payments by a few hundred pounds. So have therefore decided we would like to make some home improvements. OK, this may cost a bit but feel it would increase the value of the house and we would feel better for it.

All improvements we have made thus far haven't been the best, we aren't the best at DIY (pretty poor to be honest) so we need some expert advice where to start.

We are looking to have a conservatory, new kitchen & bathroom. As we see it though they all have a knock on effect as they are all on the ground floor.

Who do we need to call to come and give us ideas to what improvements we can make? We have some sort of idea what we want, but would like someone to offer their ideas or tell us if our ideas will/will not work.

Any ideas/comments greatly appreciated!

TomandBarbara

glad i'm not the only one - to move or not to move!? We are in a tiny house and would dearly love to move but like you would rather clear the mortgage. Though our ideal dream would be a house with land........

brig001

Not really answering your question, but... whenever we do anything, we are trying to improve the efficiency of the house. We have knocked 40% off our gas bill so far, which gives us extra cash to pay off the mortgage.

For example, if you are renovating a bathroom, take the opportunity to seal round pipes etc. where they penetrate outside walls, look for other draughts and seal those, go for an internal overflow on the loo and block up the old hole. Not hard to do while renovating, and can reduce your bills.

wallbash

what improvements we can make?

Your house, your money, if it makes you happy , go for it.

Only one suggestion , look at other houses in the same street/ close neighbour hood,
no point in building large extensions, vast conservatory's, swimming pools ( I dream)
if you price your house outside the norm. All houses have ceiling based on location.

Lizzy69_2

wallbash wrote: »

Only one suggestion , look at other houses in the same street/ close neighbour hood,
no point in building large extensions, vast conservatory's, swimming pools ( I dream)
if you price your house outside the norm. All houses have ceiling based on location.

Infact we went for a stroll yesterday to have a "nosey" but we didn't come up with much.

As we are not very creative I think what we need is someone to come in and give us suggestions. We don't want anything spectacular just something nice, practical and homely but not majorly expensive.

Who are the best people to advise us?

richardw

With the kitchen vist the diy stores, Magnet etc and start looking at what you like and don't like, same for the bathroom, you can go over the top or just keep it simple.

You can also look online.

Plasticman

Lizzy69 wrote: »

Hi all :hello:

After much thought DH and I have decided not to move (I think). Basically we would like to mortgage free in 10 years rather than take out a bigger mortgage for a longer term or up the payments by a few hundred pounds. So have therefore decided we would like to make some home improvements. OK, this may cost a bit but feel it would increase the value of the house and we would feel better for it.

All improvements we have made thus far haven't been the best, we aren't the best at DIY (pretty poor to be honest) so we need some expert advice where to start.

We are looking to have a conservatory, new kitchen & bathroom. As we see it though they all have a knock on effect as they are all on the ground floor.

Who do we need to call to come and give us ideas to what improvements we can make? We have some sort of idea what we want, but would like someone to offer their ideas or tell us if our ideas will/will not work.

Any ideas/comments greatly appreciated!

Are you sure you're not my wife?? Sounds exactly like us. We are considering a (small) extension so have got a local architect coming to visit next week. We will also be having a new bathroom and kitchen.

If you are just looking to renew your kitchen and bathroom I would suggest a visit to the DIY store and a look at other people's houses on Rightmove!

The comment that wallbash made below about price keeps popping into my mind too. We will be spending money on our house that we will never get back. I suspect that a larger (high quality) kitchen / diner won't add anything to the price of our house as we will hit the ceiling for the area. We want solid wood floors throughout the downstairs too whereas laminate would probably have the same effect if we were planning to sell!

But as we will be doing the work because we want to stay here and not take on a bigger mortgage, it doesn't really matter to us. We will have a nice home to live in and more cash in our pocket than if we had moved.

wallbash

it doesn't really matter to us. We will have a nice home to live in and more cash in our pocket than if we had moved.

Thats the best remark I have heard for a long time. We live in houses, they are NOT :D:D a way to make money :rotfl:

Its time we all started to 'nest' rather than 'invest'.

CKdesigner

Hi, I think you need someone who knows about good design and what needs to be done with your house to achieve this. I really wouldn't bother with the DIY stores, most of their sales people are not designers and frankley if they were any good at design they would not be working in a DIY store. (I will probably get in trouble for saying that) Try a local independent kitchen specialist as these generally are 'Owner/designers' so it is their business to know all the latest products and designs.

I get customers in very similar positions to you regularly visit our kitchen studio, so we are very used to helping with this type of enquirey. We work closely with local builders so can generally look after the whole project.

I am sorry if this sounds like an advert, I don't mean it to, I just think you need someone with 'good' design experience, building knowledge, an understanding of local houses and regularly deals with this type of enquirey.

Good luck.

Doozergirl

I'd look for an achitectural technician. Not quite as expensive as a full blown architect and an architect would be overkill anyway if you just want something modest. But they will have the right kind of imagination that a other's mightn't.

I wouldn't head straight for a kitchen showroom - you'll just end up with a kitchen design.

Can you knock through to create a kitchen diner/open plan living? Big folding, sliding doors to outside? Do you definitely need a conservatory or would a remodel of the downstairs provide you with the right sort of space?

CKdesigner

Doozergirl wrote: »

I'd look for an achitectural technician. Not quite as expensive as a full blown architect and an architect would be overkill anyway if you just want something modest.

I wouldn't head straight for a kitchen showroom - you'll just end up with a kitchen design.

Can you knock through to create a kitchen diner/open plan living? Big folding, sliding doors to outside? Do you definitely need a conservatory or would a remodel of the downstairs provide you with the right sort of space?

Sorry Doozergirl, I don't agree. I regularly have customers in this situation and I will often look at the whole ground floor to make sure all the spaces work well together.

It all depends where you go.