How can I understand how much renovation costs?

RHemmings

Thanks to everyone posting here. I am thinking of starting to do more DIY jobs and learn how to do things. But, I certainly don't think it's a good idea to throw myself into the very deep end of a fixer upper. 

sew_what

How about taking a course on renovating houses - I have to idea of the cost, content or quality of courses (might be another new thread on here)  but learning to identify what needs doing and estimate the costs would surely save you £££.  
We've just done an extension and writing a full spec of what we wanted and how much the contractors were to do was invaluable. I missed a few daft items like windowsills but costing everything before we started meant there were no nasty surprises. We identified tasks we were prepared to do such as fitting shelves, paneling decorating, tiling and design and fitting a jib door that our builder couldn't get his head around.  If you don't understand enough about house construction & maintenance then a course may bridge the gap.

FreeBear

sew_what said: How about taking a course on renovating houses

My local Adult Education department has been running some short courses on plastering, carpentry, tiling, and brick laying. All for free. I did the plastering course last year, and it gave me the confidence to tackle a couple of walls & ceilings here.

Check with your local A.E. and see what they have to offer. Also worth looking up your local men's shed or she shed.

RHemmings

I haven't got the time to take a course on renovating houses, let alone time to do the actual renovation.

I have been thinking about what sort of things that I could do as a first DIY project. One of my near neighbours has a low octagon shaped thing in their front garden made from bricks, and a tree growing in the middle. That's maybe the kind of thing I could think about doing. Also, I missed out on a house with a pond.  If I built my own one, then I could make sure it's 4ft deep in the deepest bits so that fish can overwinter. And, I could add an iron grill to keep birds and children out. 

Also, I'm thinking of DIY for energy efficiency. I have, with the landlord's permission, installed extra loft insulation in a rented house before. (note that I have a proper face mask, not a cloth or paper one, in case anyone wonders). 

That's the sort of thing I'm thinking about. 

MultiFuelBurner

Well then this has been a useless exercise then if this is your situation, why did you post the question in the first place?

I haven't got the time to take a course on renovating houses, let alone time to do the actual renovation.

sheramber

These are not what would be called renovations.

RHemmings

MultiFuelBurner said:

Well then this has been a useless exercise then if this is your situation, why did you post the question in the first place?

I haven't got the time to take a course on renovating houses, let alone time to do the actual renovation.

The thread has shifted over time. 

My first post (which is still there) is me asking how I can find out how much it costs for professionals to be hired to renovate a fixer-upper property that I bought. I.e. not doing the renovations myself (which I can't), but hiring builders to do so. 

The replies early on showed that this would cost more than I expected. To the point where (as I said above), there's no way that I can buy a fixer-upper. The average cost for builders to renovate a 3 bedroom semi turned out to be about £76,000. I was seeing properties where there was a £40,000 difference between the asking price of the fixer-upper property and what I think it would be worth to me in better condition. Given that I'd seen property developers on YouTube going through pretty bad condition properties and saying that they can fix this up for £10,000-£15,000 by 'getting somebody in', I was thinking that surely for £40,000 I could get quite a bit done. However, it appears this is ... not an accurate depiction. And that even a £40,000 budget is insufficient for a renovation by professional builders. (And above that, it would take a long time for the builders to start, and then finish the renovation.) 

As others have said, fixer-uppers only make financial sense for people who can do the DIY themselves, which reduces the cost considerably. Which means that people who intend to renovate themselves can afford to pay more for a fixer-upper and even resell for a profit. Which means that they can easily outbid me. 

There have been some people mentioning that even if I buy a property in good condition, it's likely that there will be some things that need being done. And, that learning some DIY skills will be of use in the long term. I've agreed with that, but said that there's no way I can attend a renovation course and then do renovations myself, because I don't have the time. But, I agree that developing some DIY skills over time is a reasonable thing to do. And, I've been talking about things that aren't renovations at all. Because, I'm responding to my current (improved knowledge) and the advice of other people later on in the thread. 

sheramber said:

These are not what would be called renovations.

Yes. What I'm talking about later on in the thread are minor things to improve DIY skills, not renovations. This is because I've learned stuff during the thread, came to the conclusion that renovations are not for me and I should avoid the situation, but people are advising me to develop DIY skills in general. The thread has changed over time, and I think in a very reasonable and useful to me way. As people are advising me given my plans now, as opposed to my different plans that I had when I started the thread. 

I started the thread because I didn't know anything about renovations. Now that I've learned a lot more, from both this thread and other things, I now know that it doesn't make sense for me to buy a fixer upper and have professionals renovate it for me. I didn't know this when I started the thread and was thinking it might be a good idea. Hence, at least for me, this thread has been extremely useful. 

MultiFuelBurner

As an aside I just tried rendering for the first time today. Yes I am covered but can see where I can improve and feel confident about tackling a bigger project. 

YouTube helped a lot scratch coat done on my test area.

Without time or money for professionals then completed properties are what you need. Or simple redecoration?

RHemmings

MultiFuelBurner said:

As an aside I just tried rendering for the first time today. Yes I am covered but can see where I can improve and feel confident about tackling a bigger project. 

YouTube helped a lot scratch coat done on my test area.

Without time or money for professionals then completed properties are what you need. Or simple redecoration?

I'm now biased towards properties where I don't even need to redecorate. This has limited me quite a bit with me having a strict budget, but my budget will increase in the medium future. 

Today I viewed a 'second hand new build' property of about 5 years old or possibly less where everything is still in pretty much new condition. But, the rooms are too small and I believe that there will be a bidding war that breaks my budget. However, this thread has changed my selection of properties to view. (And I thank everyone for that.)  

MultiFuelBurner

RHemmings said:

MultiFuelBurner said:

As an aside I just tried rendering for the first time today. Yes I am covered but can see where I can improve and feel confident about tackling a bigger project. 

YouTube helped a lot scratch coat done on my test area.

Without time or money for professionals then completed properties are what you need. Or simple redecoration?

I'm now biased towards properties where I don't even need to redecorate. This has limited me quite a bit with me having a strict budget, but my budget will increase in the medium future. 

Today I viewed a 'second hand new build' property of about 5 years old or possibly less where everything is still in pretty much new condition. But, the rooms are too small and I believe that there will be a bidding war that breaks my budget. However, this thread has changed my selection of properties to view. (And I thank everyone for that.)  

Fair play, 20 years ago I wouldn't of tackled what we have on this house. With age comes a care free attitude to power tools and giving things a go lol