Buying a run down house...

juanlanesra

We've just bought a run down house which needs renovating top to toe.

It wouldn't be occupiable without a new kitchen (incl all appliances) and bathroom plus it has single glazed windows.

Are there any relevant threads that point to undertaking these tasks on a miniscule budget? Due to unforeseen issues we have a budget of roughly £4k.

From what I can tell we're likely to be ineligible for grants etc. (household income approx £60k and we're both 25yo)

Any help/advice greatly appreciated

wallbash

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1186031

Won't help you about cost, way out of date. But it will show you that it can be done.My post starts at #1953

House.buyer.sarah

We bought a house in April this year and although not needed complete renovation we have needed
New electrics
New boiler
Damp proofing
New kitchen ( yet to be done )
New bathroom
Decorating throughout
New carpets
We lived in ours with 3 children whilst work done to save on rental costs , we have so far spent just short of 10k and that was just mainly on materials as luckily for us my husband and his friend are builders/ electrians and plumbers all in one.. My original quote for a full re wire was 3k alone !!!
We had a budget of 7k when we moved in the rest has been done using a 0% credit card with 2 k on it and wages ! So I think we have done really well.. It's totally worth it but it's stressful and we have no time as a family my days out were spent with friends this summer while hubby worked we've had no holiday either but I guess these things can wait and we have very little debt to show for it ( yippee) .
Your income is 20k more than ours too so you should be fine just be prepared to give up life for a while lol x
Good luck

lostinrates

juanlanesra wrote: »

We've just bought a run down house which needs renovating top to toe.

It wouldn't be occupiable without a new kitchen (incl all appliances) and bathroom plus it has single glazed windows.

Are there any relevant threads that point to undertaking these tasks on a miniscule budget? Due to unforeseen issues we have a budget of roughly £4k.

From what I can tell we're likely to be ineligible for grants etc. (household income approx £60k and we're both 25yo)

Any help/advice greatly appreciated

Why would it need a new kitchen plus all appliances? My kitchen is a cooker and a fridge and a dishwasher and some cupboards and drawers ( not designed for kitchen use) I did buy a butchers block. The appliances cost money, the rest of the kitchen cost about £150 plus cast offs. I'm lucky it all pulls together quite well and people are amazed when they realise its not a swanky eclectic kitchen, which they usually do when I point out there is no sink so I have to pop to the next room for some water, then they notice the concrete floors rather than farmhouse flags and it starts to sink in . A lot is on how you cope with it. My temporary kitchen is, IMO, rather chic, and I'm quite happy to live with it for some years. ( though I do hanker after an extractor fan long before that!)

Bathroom, is it tatty or actually leaking? Is the floor sound or do you need structural work?

Frankly its not work skimping on structural work for a 'brand new bathroom'. Anything structural fix before you think about new. Its amazing what limescale remover and bleach can do over weeks.

Its taken us four years to get to bathroom.

Unoccupiable is a little dependant on perspective, We've enjoyed the adventure here. Though we are looking forward to working heating this year, and a new bathroom makes the rest of the mess seem much nicer.

As for single glazing.....yes, lots of us do, in some houses its even desirable

Doozergirl

Have you had a survey carried out?

A house that has a kitchen and bathroom that can't be lived with almost certainly has more pressing issues that nned to be done first - not least because you'd have to undo all the new kitchen and bathroom work to get to it.

Do you have a rightmove link for it, perhaps?

SailorSam

If you're working on a tight budget and you're doing a lot of the work yourselves keep an eye on Freecycle, or even do a wanted. People often renew kitchens and bathrooms even when nothing is wrong with the old ones. Especially if they've just moved into a house.

dotdash79

Ebay for a kitchen, saw one the other week for £250 that looked decent.

I_have_spoken

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Renovating-Profit-Michael-Holmes/dp/0091896002/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410818809&sr=1-1

ukmaggie45

wallbash wrote: »

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1186031

Won't help you about cost, way out of date. But it will show you that it can be done.My post starts at #1953

Hey Wallbash! Thanks for the link back - some of us are getting back together on the old thread! :rotfl:

juanlanesra

Thanks everyone for all the useful comments above.

house.buyer.sarah - hats off to you doing all that with 3 kids!

doozergirl - we have had a valuation report done - nothing major/structural needs to be done but the units and appliances in the kitchen are beyond repair and the bathroom is the same (we might be able to make good the taps and shower but will need a new bath, toilet and sink