We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide
Too big of a step?
jimmydee1984
Posts: 6 Forumite
My wife and I are looking to move from a 2 bed end terrace to a 3 bed that we can stay in for quite a while. We decided that we wanted somewhere we could just move into and decorate without having to do any big jobs. Then, we spotted a house...
It's considerably bigger than we were looking for, in a different area (but still local) and is 'in need of modernisation'. The major plus points are that it's an Edwardian semi and the guide price is £10k under our budget.
We are assuming that it will need re-wiring and there is no sign of it having central heating, so that will need to be put in as well. Also, the windows are not double-glazed, so we need to do that (on some of them, it's got a couple of the original windows that we would want to keep). The problem is that we haven't got a clue how much these things might cost to do.
Could someone offer us a rough guide on these jobs? It's a 4 bed Edwardian semi:
Installation of new central heating system (inc. boiler & 9 radiators)
Rewiring of whole house
Replacement of 4 large windows and 4 large bay windows
Like I said, we find it quite daunting but the house has the potential to be a beautiful 'forever' house. We think that we would be able to free up between £17 - £20k to spend on doing these jobs.
Sorry for the long post, but you guys are the experts on these things....quite obviously, we aren't!
It's considerably bigger than we were looking for, in a different area (but still local) and is 'in need of modernisation'. The major plus points are that it's an Edwardian semi and the guide price is £10k under our budget.
We are assuming that it will need re-wiring and there is no sign of it having central heating, so that will need to be put in as well. Also, the windows are not double-glazed, so we need to do that (on some of them, it's got a couple of the original windows that we would want to keep). The problem is that we haven't got a clue how much these things might cost to do.
Could someone offer us a rough guide on these jobs? It's a 4 bed Edwardian semi:
Installation of new central heating system (inc. boiler & 9 radiators)
Rewiring of whole house
Replacement of 4 large windows and 4 large bay windows
Like I said, we find it quite daunting but the house has the potential to be a beautiful 'forever' house. We think that we would be able to free up between £17 - £20k to spend on doing these jobs.
Sorry for the long post, but you guys are the experts on these things....quite obviously, we aren't!
0
Comments
-
You should be able to do it for the money you have available I would of thought.
Your probably best putting a the post in "In My Home" for specifics though.Not Again0 -
Jimmydee1984 - Don't assume, get a survey - especially if you're paying 10k under your budget.Tim0
-
If it needs new windows, CH system and rewiring, it will probably need new kit and bath, total redecoration, new floorcoverings, poss new roof, rainwater goods etc. This lot can easily swallow £20K plus.
As tim_n says survey essential.If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales0 -
Thanks for the replies - having spoken to the estate agent, he says they have under-stated on the details how much work needs doing. We've decided it just needs too much spending on it considering it isn't in the area we want to live in.
One day maybe...0 -
Rewiring - £2k
New central heating £4k
replacement of 4 large + 4 bay (=3 windows per bay?) = 16 windows = £5k
+decorations +floor coverings +kitchen? +bathroom
+the fact that all the above comes out of your pocket and not on the mortgage
+the nightmare of living in a building site for at least 6 months
+it's not the right area
=a bad situation well avoided.
Obviously everyone is different but I wouldn't move into a house needing that much work unless I could definitely afford it and I could afford to live somewhere else whilst it was being done.
Unless it was my dream house in the right area...I'm an ARB-registered RIBA-chartered architect. However, no advice given over the internet can be truly relied upon since the person giving the advice hasn't actually got enough information to give it with confidence. Go and pay someone!0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 354.4K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.4K Spending & Discounts
- 247.3K Work, Benefits & Business
- 604K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.4K Life & Family
- 261.5K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards