any ideas to improve my property?

theGrinch

I will be increasing my mortgage by £10k, which I want to spend on my property 4-bed edwardian property in London. I have already spent 6-months restoring and modernising it. I have rewired and replumbed it adding a new kitchen and bathroom, boiler, decorating, new flooring.

Any ideas what I should spend my £10k on? I have thought of the following:

sanding and polishing floors in reception rooms £800
period fireplaces in main rooms £1500
new windows £3000
renewing tessellated floor in hallway £1200
garden spending £2000
block paving drive £1500

Any ideas if these will be worth the money? Any ideas that I should drop or new ideas?

Pink.

theGrinch,

Are you planning on improving the property with the intention of living in it yourself or with a view to selling it?

Pink

N9eav

Seems like you have done the best job already. They recon the kitchen and bathroom are the big money spinners. Windows which reduce heating costs are a must. If you are selling then some of those items that stand out may help sell the place. If you are staying just get what you want and enjoy it.

divadee

if the windows are the original sash windows like a lot are in london, then do not replace them with cheap upvc. You can lose money that way.

People want the original sash windows now, so it would be better to refurbish the original windows rather than replace.

You can lose up to 10-15% on this come re-sale

Sofa_Sogood

Check that the roof's sound or you might need all of that 10k ...

theGrinch

sadly somone beat us to the windows and changed them about 10 years ago! I would love the original sash windows. not sure where I can get them replicated. I have seem sash window companies but their products arent the same. I assume someone can make them to order, but that would cost a fortune surely?

I intend to live there for another 5 years or so. naturally, in any changes I would like to add value as well.

elona

We are in an Edwardian house as well and are just about to start getting our tessalated floor repaired but because we want it done - we also think it will be a selling point in a few years especially as other houses in street have theirs done nicely.

divadee

theGrinch wrote:

sadly somone beat us to the windows and changed them about 10 years ago! I would love the original sash windows. not sure where I can get them replicated. I have seem sash window companies but their products arent the same. I assume someone can make them to order, but that would cost a fortune surely?

I intend to live there for another 5 years or so. naturally, in any changes I would like to add value as well.

a good carpenter would be able to make your windows for you no problem. Or there are companys that do specialsie in sash windows, they will add value, and also re-saleability.

theGrinch

hi elona, I will need to get my tessellated floor done too. The external path one looks to have been either covered up or been ripped out. I dont think I can replace it, just too expensive. The internal hallway one is uneven and has loose tiles but I will redo it.

I saw one fully refurbed recently and it was really nice.

I am looking to replace the internal doors, door knobs, dado and picture rails and fireplaces with originals too.

Certainly some changes to ones own house are very different to buying for profit or BTL

frugal_dougal_3

Period features are always worth putting in to attract a future buyer, but try to stick to Edwardian or it will look out of place.

If you have high ceilings consider fancy coving and ceiling roses. Fireplaces are always popular and reclamation yards can often provide what you're looking for.

Shame about the sash windows, it will cost you a fortune to have them put back in.

fairenoughclough

As the only people who can afford London houses these days appear to be footballers and seeing Arsenal play the other night foreign footballers are de rigeur, you'll need to install some continental features.

Toilet: privy that presents your No 2's on a shelf for inspection.
Toilet: boot cleaner, sometimes referred to as a bidet.
Kitchen: remove the toaster.
Garage: to fit at least six supercars.
Bungalow conversion: they don't have anything upstairs!
Telephone system: multiple lines for calls from agents/sunday newspapers.
Huge safe: for bungs.