What You Need To Know Before You Renovate
Renovating a house can sometimes be complex, with unforeseen issues an expenses, being well prepared is key. Below, you will find some of the key things you need to know before you renovate your home:
You Need To Have A Building Survey
Before you complete any renovation work, especially bathrooms, extensions, conversions, or removing any internal walls, you need to make sure you have a building survey completed.
This will be able to highlight any particular specifications you need to meet such as how to support a wall or if you need to address damp issues in your home.
You should also bear in mind that a survey may not show you any hidden problems that arise when the building work is progressing, so always take that into your costs too.
Take A Look At Everything Before You Start Work
You should always take a step back and pause before you start any renovation work. It can be very easy and tempting to dive right in especially you are living in the property you are renovating.
Let’s face it, the sooner you can get the work completed and back to a livable standard the better. But, it pays off to stand back and assess first. It will enable you to prepare properly for each task, and allow you to get to know the house.
For example, living in your project while you plan can enable you to see where the natural light enters your home, or to identify the areas that may need less attention than first thought.
Always Include Budget For New Electrics
When it comes to renovating an old building, you will find that more often than not, the electrics need to be replaced, along with the plug sockets and cases.
Rewiring can be fairly costly, so it’s best to get quotes before you start your project so you know the costs. Even more so if you are planning on adding additional light fittings and sockets, especially if you are planning on building an extension or converting a garage or loft space.
Tackle The Central Heating
If you are buying your renovation project, then it’s a good idea to assess the situation regarding the central heating. If the property doesn’t have central heating, this is something that you should ideally consider having installed.
The same applies if you are completing a large renovation on a house you are living in, and you currently have radiators run from electric. Central heating or sufficient heating is something you want to make sure you tackle.
Beware Of Damp
There are many causes of damp, some are more costly than others to fix. And, although damp is usually an obvious problem, it can sometimes appear when you start to renovate. Whether it’s hidden under the bathroom tiles, or in your attic that you plan on converting, you need to be aware that it can crop up when you least expect it.
Whether it’s because you are renovating an old building that has struggled to breathe or you have experienced problems with a blocked drain or gutter, you can guarantee that it could wrack up a nice bill if not dealt with sooner rather then later. When drawing up your plan, ensure you cater for any damp, if you don’t need to spend it, it can always be used for some extra finishing touches at the end of your project.
Build A Schedule
Before any work behind, you need to build a schedule of works. Without this, the whole process can become chaotic. Remember that some tradespeople can overlap, thus saving you time in the long run, but at the same time, some tasks have to be done on their own or need to be completed before other tradespeople can complete their work.
Make sure you create a schedule that works for both you and your tradespeople and also use the least amount of time. Think about the order that the tasks need to be completed as well as the tasks that can be worked on on the same day or week.
Is The Property Habitable?
If you are thinking about getting a mortgage to buy a property, you need to think about whether you can live in it or not. Some lender may refuse to lend you the mortgage you need on uninhabitable properties.
You may also find that others will lend based on the current value of the house and not lend any other funds, which can put a spanner in the works when it comes to the find for renovation. Although you may find that they lend more to you once the renovation is complete, and the value of your home is higher.
Plan Where You Will Be Living
If the house you will be working on will be uninhabitable, you are going to need to find somewhere that is suitable to live while you are working on it. If it’s a new home you are buying it may be possible to remain in your old home until you have completed a large chunk of the renovation work.
Of course, if you can wait until the renovation work is completed you will be moving into a house that doesn’t need to have any work completed for a while.
Make Sure You Cater For Unknown Costs
With any renovation project, you need to make sure you are leaving some of your budget open and available for unknown costs. Things such as broken beams, damp, and pests are all problems that can be uncovered during a renovation project, especially if you are renovating the whole building and updating the electrics, heating, air conditioning and more. It is always wise to find a professional in your area and get some quotes to see the work is something you can consider.
These are a few of the top tips to help you before you start a renovation project of your own. Are you starting a project soon? What have you thought about completing first?