doing up a house on a budget

DWhite

Hi all!


I hope people don't mind me posting this on here?

I'm in the process of buying my first home. It'll be shared ownership as that's all I can afford on my income in my area and I'm buying on my own.
The budget I have is quite modest so any house I buy looks like it is going to need some form of work doing judging by what I've looked at so far.

The main things in the houses I've looked at will be kitchens (new units/worktops), new carpets and decorating. One needs a shower fitting, not a requrement but a would like to have.

How can I get this done on a budget? I can decorate, I'm not the best but I can paint walls etc.
It's the bigger jobs such as replacing kitchens and the carpets that has me a bit worried.

There's a few cupbards and things that I could knock down and create more space but they're not supporting walls so I can do that myself I'd have thought.


I'll also need to furnish the houses so that's a priority and will take a chunk of any cash I will have available after the deposit and fees.

tallyhoh

You can get furnishings from charity shops, they usually deliver. Only furniture I've ever bought new is mattresses. Freecycle is good but you usually have to collect.

Check out youtube for decorating & stuff, even carpet laying.

Showers best left to the experts.

Islandmaid

Look at local 'for sale' sites, speak to any friends/relies etc who do building etc - local diy or kitchen design shops - you will be amazed at what certain people get rid of in relation to kitchen/bedroom etc - perfectly fine, just not 'in' this year.

My OH is a Bespoke builder/ kitchen maker and has helped several friends and family members to near on brand new kitchens, or dishwashers or washing machines etc some people have more money than sense....

PS It is now in vogue to have 2 matching dishwashers in 'ones' kitchen, so dirty dishes never have to sully 'ones' sink - also 'one' would never have a washing machine or (low tones) tumble dryer in 'ones' kitchen - I'd one has no room for a laundry, 'one' makes room under 'ones' stairs.... (feel free to insert expletive here) I can't moan too much, they pay Hubbies wages x

bexster1975

Hello and congratulations on buying your first home!

Everything that has been said here.

eBay, Facebook, gumtree, free cycle, charity shops, house clearances, recycling centres and car boot sales are all great places to buy house stuff.

I bet loads of family and friends would like to offload spare furniture for free too. Things were tight for me when I started off too ( I think probably true for almost everyone) but as they say, necessity is the mother of invention.

Also, don't be too quick to change anything expensive unless you gave to as it is often a good idea to live with things for a while until you know what you really want/need to replace and with what.

In the meantime, enjoy looking around for ideas and asking if people are looking to get rid of items.

Bexster

DWhite

Thanks everyone!


I haven't yet managed to buy anything, I've got a few offers in so I'm hoping one at least goes through! It's a difficult market in my area sadly with there being far more buyers than there are affordable homes so you have to be very lucky to find something.


I have the basics already furniture wise, I have 2 x double bed frames a sofa in my ex hubbie's house that I'll have back hopefully. I have a 6/8 seater dining table also at ex hubbie's house thay I'll have back. I have 2 x arm chairs. Washing machine will possibly be second hand short term, dishwasher I'd love but if I have to I can wash by hand! I can make do with other bits as and when I can get them if I've got the basics.

At the moment it's more a matter of getting the house then even if it's baked beans on toast for a while then so be it.


Good advice with the live with it a while and see, though one of the houses needs re carpeting quite quickly as half of the carpets are missing! A good scrub for the rest for a short term would be ok.

I'm more concerned about being sucked into just buying a kitchen and having it fitted because I don't know how to get it cheaper. I imagine it could easily be £5000 for a basic kitchen to be fitted? :eek:


I forgot - they also need new double glazing! 2 of the houses have old wooden double glazing that isn't in a great way. Not an easy, cheap fix with that. Is that just a matter of having to go with a company and paying for it as there's no alternative?

greenbee

Nearly everything can wait... I've been here 5 years and have only just got the floors sorted out. Upstairs I've painted the floorboards, and downstairs was done with second-hand vinyl and/or carpet offcuts donated by friends and family.

I still don't have a kitchen - just a second-hand (tempermental) oven and a few random bits of furniture for storage/work surface.

All my windows were rotten when I moved in, but it took me a year to save up to replace them. I just made a note of which ones never to open in case they fell out...

It was 2 years before I had a shower fitted.

DWhite

wow! I'm more concerned in making it nicer sooner as my daughter will be living there, she's 10, will be 11 by the time she moves in. I want her to feel like it's a home. She will be happy enough as it is, but it's important to me to feel like I can provide her with a good home. Not that she's spoilt at all, she isn't!

It's quite a long story and for me it is important she can feel proud to be there.
Part of me looks forward to the challenge though, I will be here looking for tips and sharing some bargains I'm sure!

Islandmaid

DWhite bless ya, she will be chuffed just to be with you x

I can understand you wanting to make it 'perfect' for her, but leave a little for her to choose, not just for her own room, but ask her advice on a few 'important' things in the lounge, bathroom, kitchen etc - you will make a great home together.

Stuff is stuff, a house is brick and mortar, a home is those that live in it x

VfM4meplse

DWhite wrote: »

I forgot - they also need new double glazing! 2 of the houses have old wooden double glazing that isn't in a great way. Not an easy, cheap fix with that. Is that just a matter of having to go with a company and paying for it as there's no alternative?

Just had a thought - if it's shared ownership, is there a management company that sorts this kind of thing out? If there is, theoretically they should cough up whatever percentage of the cost....but be warned, these companies may as well have a license to print money at your expense.

Don't be put off though, once you've decorated your new home to your own taste you'll be in less of a hurry to get desirables (rather than necessities) done.

tori.k

I really wouldn't worry about the non essential jobs to begin with if its serviceable leave it be, as you will find all sorts of niggles that have to be dealt with crop up, and its the smaller jobs that eat up your budget.
The most important thing to have in place is an emergency fund, with shared ownership your have the mortgage, rent and all maintenance costs to deal with so you will want to avoid adding more debt to that monthly outgoings if possible.
We are kinda in the same boat having moved three months ago and trying to do the house up without using any credit. been an eye opener just how much the little jobs soon add up.

DWhite

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Just had a thought - if it's shared ownership, is there a management company that sorts this kind of thing out? If there is, theoretically they should cough up whatever percentage of the cost....but be warned, these companies may as well have a license to print money at your expense.

Don't be put off though, once you've decorated your new home to your own taste you'll be in less of a hurry to get desirables (rather than necessities) done.

Working out how to quote!
I doubt the management company do help even though there's rent and service charge, I think if they did help they'd have been done already to be honest. They're liveable, just not sure how well they'll insulate in winter and are a bit worse for wear around the edges (like their potential new owner )
It'll be something I save up for I think.