Approx cost of some home improvements

zacepi

Hi,
I know this is a bit of a how long is a piece of string question, but any guidance from people in the trade much appreciated.

Thinking about buying a property - 3 bed semi in the South of England, about 90m2 total. There are some jobs we would like to do immediately, and trying to budget before seeing the house, to ensure it's not a wasted trip.

The house needs a new bathroom and I'm allowing £5k for that.

Downstairs needs a total redecoration including removal of dado rail and small fireplace, so possibly a replaster, capping gas supply, stripping wallpaper, and painting.

Also I want to convert a single door and window in the living room into sliding or bifold full glass doors. Here's a pic.



Oh and a new kitchen which I'm allowing £10k for.

thanks!

Alias_Omega

Get a plumber to move that rad, in-fact replace it as its proper old. Get on eBay, Facebook looking for used rads, maybe Type 21 or 22 in the same size.


Your probably looking around £1600 to have french doors installed there, with a nice new plastered door surround. Bi-Fold doors could be slightly more. Measure up, and get onto the trade websites to see what they can buy it for...


Fire - Get a plumber to remove the gas fire..and cap it off. Get a hammer and do most of the removal yourself. Then get a plaster to come make it good.. Pretty much its going to be filled on the walls, and likely inside just boarded out. Have you thought about how you will cap off the chimney at the top?


Decor - Just go one room at a time...

phill99

I fit kitchens and bathrooms for a living. For both your kitchen and bathroom you are at the 'entry level' price. The average bathroom we are doing now is around £8k (supply and fit of everything) and kitchen is typically £14- £18k (again full supply and fit).


However, if the property is in need of modernisation, the cosmetic stuff is the least of your worries. It may well need rewiring and be in need of a new boiler. these will need to be done prior to kitchens or bathrooms.

trailingspouse

Although a bit dated, the place looks perfectly liveable-with - so don't feel you need to do everything at one go!
We've been in this house 5 years - it took us three years to sort out the inside (re-wire, kitchen, bathrooms, decorating and carpet throughout), and two years to sort out the outside (new garage door, new drive, all external paintwork, replacing overgrown hedge with railings). We've done a bit, saved a bit, and done a bit more.

Live with the house for a little while - then you will be sure about what needs doing. Then work from the inside out - doing the 'hidden' jobs first (re-wiring for example) and then finishing with painting and decorating and finally carpets and curtains.

FreeBear

Alias_Omega wrote: »

Get a plumber to move that rad, in-fact replace it as its proper old. Get on eBay, Facebook looking for used rads, maybe Type 21 or 22 in the same size.

With the price of new radiators at the moment, I wouldn't bother fitting a used one. Get a new one from Screwfix or Toolstation. A type 22 is quite a thick radiator and will protrude considerably from the wall. A type 21 is a good compromise between slim and heat output.

You will get quite a bit of heat loss through a double door regardless of it being bifold or sliding. If you do get one fitted, hang a full length curtain with a thermal lining for the winter.

zacepi

Alias_Omega wrote: »

Fire - Get a plumber to remove the gas fire..and cap it off. Get a hammer and do most of the removal yourself. Then get a plaster to come make it good.. Pretty much its going to be filled on the walls, and likely inside just boarded out. Have you thought about how you will cap off the chimney at the top?


Decor - Just go one room at a time...

Thanks to all, especially Phil for the prices. We can live with most of the house but some will need to be addressed quickly for the sake of our sanity, like the bathroom.

RE the above - I noticed the house doesn't have a chimney, and there's no chimney breast in the upstairs so it must have some ducting and outlet elsewhere. I hope this makes it easier/cheaper to cap off and remove? It definitely looks like a gas fire in the pics but can't be 100% sure until I see it. Had to rewire my current house so I know roughly what's involved if this needs it.

I know nothing much about radiators - they all look the same as this so are they all likely to be ancient and sludged up and need replacing? Bedroom 3 has a rad the size of a postage stamp which looks to my untrained eye way too small (actually about 80cm square in a room 6m2)

[Deleted User]

I'm another advocate for not spending on these changes quickly, wait until you've been in a place for a few months before shelling out on them.


It's an odd and strange feeling living in an unfamiliar place where these new things shout "different" at you with every blink of an eye, and how they're soooo far removed from what you're used to, but - it's worth living with it/them for a while because in the first few months all sorts of things/situations could arise and you'll be glad you did.


From central heating or boiler problems, to car problems, and everything inbetween, 'stuff happens' and you may find that the money you'd just spent on one of those 'different' things saves you from having to take out a loan/credit/whatever.


Also, from experience, you might well change your mind regarding those 'different' things !!!
I did !
I had firm ideas of my requirements for a new bathroom …… I've now changed my mind twice and am quite thankful I didn't go ahead with the first plan
Still haven't fully decided but glad I didn't pay out the few thousand to get it done as soon as I moved in here