How to Renovate Your Buckinghamshire Home
It is an exciting, rewarding and challenging task to renovate a home and this guide will help aid in your project to ensure it goes smoothly. Renovating a home is a better option than buying new land or building your own house. The main benefit of renovating your house is its ability to reveal all kinds of original charm. This can be closely followed by the possibility of a significant increase in the value of a home if the renovation is done to an excellent standard.
There are downsides, however. One, it is not easy to find renovation opportunities. Another thing: buyers are often eager to buy them and will pay an exorbitant price for a blank canvas. You also run the risk that you buy a money pit, which can drain your finances and cause undue stress. However, this is easily avoided if there are things to be aware of. This guide will help you to make your house the home of your dreams. We have broken down each stage of renovation into simple steps. This includes how to eliminate any risks from the purchase, how to handle any costly surprises, and how to do it.
How Do you Find a Property That Needs modernizing?
Finding and purchasing a house for renovation is one of the most difficult parts. Modern properties are in great demand. As a result it is not unusual for homeowners to pay more to buy a property than the house actually is worth. This can increase your house renovation cost before you get even started. The success rate of cash-buyers is higher than that of those who rely on regular mortgages or renovation mortgages. Obtaining a mortgage for a house will require an independent appraisal to verify the value of the property. Even though properties are selling quickly, you should not rush to buy any property. You will have to do checks to find out if there are issues that might eat into your budget.
You do not need to purchase blindly. Even before you buy into a renovation project; it is possible get an idea of its condition. Many properties in dire need of renovations are sold via auction or sealed bid. To ensure you have the greatest chance of getting a property that needs renovation at an affordable price, it is important to understand how they work.
Hire a Building Surveyor to Identify Critical Issues In order To Sell Your Property
A good building surveyor can help to identify potential structural problems early on before they get worse. It is possible for a property buyer who is interested in a property to have a building survey done before they submit an offer. However, this usually happens after the offer is accepted. The building survey will highlight areas that are in need of attention and provide you with an estimate of the cost of repairs and costs. The report will help you decide whether or not to go ahead with the sale.
If they find any evidence of Subsidence or suspect that there are rat or bug Infestations, a chartered surveyor may recommend additional investigations. Both Subsidence and heave can affect the foundations of a building. Heave refers to the movement upward of the foundations. Subsidence can be described as the downward movement. Each can lead to internal and external problems. A property may sink or shift due to the impact of the earth below. The structural integrity of a property can be affected by dampness and decay. Building materials are most likely to biodegrade due to having contact with water. To ensure that buildings are as waterproof as possible, it is essential to maintain and preserve them. Water ingress is the common causes of any defect that allows moisture to enter the materials of a building and must be treated or corrected. Then, any further water entry must be stopped and the affected area dried out. A competent specialist should inspect the entire building to find potential water-ingress problems and areas at risk for fungal decay. Pay attention to External Inspection The following lists are intended as a guideline and should not be considered exhaustive. It is crucial to seek the assistance of qualified specialists who are trained in conducting all diagnostic tests and can confirm that there has been water intrusion. The building report will reveal any construction techniques used. Sometimes, these may differ if the house was extended in recent years. These details can be used to help you choose the right materials and techniques for your house renovation.
Most structural problems can be solved. These may mean that you have to raise your budget. However, it will help you plan more effectively. It is also important to remember that structural issues such as subsidence could impact your insurance options and ultimately its resale price.
How to get the most value from your existing property
For many homeowners in Buckinghamshire if your live in a property with an out of date electrical system or old an bathroom or kitchen some homeowners might be tempted to move to a newer property however it is much better value to make improvements to your existing property. There is a range of affordable home improvements which you can carry out on your Buckinghamshire property which can increase the value of your home as well as maximize your use of your living area. We support them all. We have listed a few affordable renovation options that can help you realize your dream home, whether it is to renovate the bathroom or add a skylight in the bedroom.
- The Front Door: Make a lasting impression with your front door. An old door can be transformed with a fresh coat of paint. It can revive the exterior of the home and give it a fresh look. If your front door is looking tired, you can invest in a brand new one. Our locksmith services page will provide more information about how a locksmith could improve value of your home. Paint your front door for as low as £20 and a brand new one will cost you anywhere from £300 to £1000. Skylight installation
- Install Skylights: Off-the-peg skylights can be a great architectural option for dark spaces such as attic bathrooms or loft spaces. A few skylights can instantly transform a dark room. Velux skylights are fixed and non-opening, starting at around £500. An experienced builder can install them for around £250 - £350.
- Remodel Your Bathroom: If you have low water pressure and do not own a combi boiler your shower may not be as effective. It will make your shower experience much more pleasant by installing a pump that increases the water pressure, and also a thermostatic valve for the temperature. A new pump will cost approximately £250 and then it will be fitted to the shower for around £150-£250.
- Review your electrical system: A faulty wiring issue is one of the leading causes of home fires. If a property has not been wired in 25 years or more, this should be considered a priority.
Make Sure Your Renovations Meet UK Safety Standards
NICEIC recommends that you hire an electrician to conduct an electrical installation condition (EICR) on your electrical system. This is similar to an MOT. It is important that the system be inspected to make sure it can withstand additional loading. Additional considerations should be considered when undertaking major renovations. NICEIC recommends that loft conversions into sleeping accommodations be done to current building standards. This will also impact existing fire alarm systems.
Whatever your construction project is, all will need to comply with Building Regulations to some extent. What are Building Regulations exactly? Building Regulations, in simple terms, are standards which ensure that a building is safe and comfortable. They also reduce carbon emissions by making it more energy-efficient and less polluting. Building Regulations do not have a set of rules. The Approved documents that comprise Building Regs change as housing policy changes. There are significant updates starting on 15 June 2022. In addition to the changes made in Part L and Section F, there are two additional Approved documents: Part O (and Part S).
Do My Renovation Projects Need Building Regulations Approval?
If you plan to do any structural or other alterations to your house, it will need to be approved by the Building Regulations. Also, approval is required for work in these areas. However, there are some cases where competent people can self-certify that their works comply with the requirements.
- Drainage
- Heating appliances
- Insulation for Cavity walls
- Electrics are changing