Bought a Fixer Upper? Here’s How to Renovate Your New Home
There are plenty of good reasons to buy a fixer upper. You can get a lot more house for your money if you’re willing to put in the work, because the property will have more potential. Even better, you essentially have a blank slate to work from so you can put your own stamp on your new home.
Of course, there is one big downside, and that is the fact that your property will need major renovations to be the house you want. In some cases, it might not even be habitable until you’ve worked on it. This will take time, money, and effort, as well as good planning. Here are some tips to help you on your journey.
Plan Your Project
The first thing you need to do, and ideally before you actually purchase the property, is to plan how you will renovate it. This involves doing a property survey to work out what needs doing to make the property safe and habitable first of all. If you find any major problems with the house that are too expensive or extensive to fix, you might need to choose another option.
Speaking of expenses, you should have a budget in mind. Yes, you will save money when buying a fixer upper compared to a property with no issues at all, but the cost to renovate the property can still be very expensive. In some cases, it adds up to almost as much as buying the property brand new, especially if you need to make major structural changes.
So, include the estimated cost of repairs into your budget and work out what you can afford and what you can’t.
Finally, you want to plan the process of the project. As a general rule, it’s a good idea to make sure the house is safe and habitable first, then you can move onto other tasks. Many people like to do renovations a room at a time, and you can even space them out to make them more affordable this way. This also means that parts of the house are nice and finished so you can see the vision rather than only living in a building site.
Children and pets can get stressed when there’s a lot of work on, so find ways to get the project done that keeps them safe and out of the way. For particularly loud or dangerous jobs, consider having the kids and pets out of the house during the workday.
Changing the Layout
Once you have the plans ready, you can start work. In most cases, this might involve starting on the rooms right away. But if you plan to make more significant changes, like adding an extension or changing the layout in the house, you should do this first.
You might also need to do a complete rip-out of the property. This means that all of the fixtures, appliances, and any furniture left behind are removed and either repurposed or discarded. The obvious downside is that you can’t live in the property while this is happening, so it’s a good idea to either stay in your previous home for a while or get a short-term rental agreement while your home is essentially a bare building site.
Depending on your family situation, you might even be able to stay in a caravan during this phase of the renovation or for even longer. It’s uncomfortable and cramped, but it’s safer than trying to live in an empty shell.
The Bathroom Renovation
One of the first things you should sort out is the bathroom. If you’ve ever tried to live in a property without a working bathroom for a while, you know just how difficult and awkward it is. You can’t wash yourself or even use the toilet when you need to.
If you have more than one bathroom, you are in a better position because you can work on one bathroom at a time. The most important thing is to make sure the bathroom is functional. You can also take this opportunity to add an extra bathroom to your property, as this will increase it’s value and it means you aren’t stuck without a bathroom during the renovations.
Ideally, a bath renovation should take around a week or so, and this includes tiling, painting, and even fitting bathroom fixtures. While it is inconvenient at the time, it’s definitely worth the time and effort to get it done and end up with your dream bathroom.
If you have the space, consider getting a bath installed as well as a shower. Showers are very handy and can get you nice and clean, but a bath can be relaxing and rejuvenating.
Your New Kitchen
As well as the bathroom, the other essential room to renovate has to be the kitchen. Once you have these rooms out of the way, you can move onto the bedrooms and living room, which are more comfortable and less practical.
The kitchen renovation can range from a massive, expensive job to something that you might even be able to do yourself. If you just want to update it without making any big changes, you can swap out the cupboard doors and handles and your kitchen will look a lot different.
However, if you want to change appliances, get a completely new kitchen, or change the layout of the kitchen, you’re going to need to invest more time, skill, and money into it. This might also involve hiring a plumber or electrician, especially if you’re changing where the outlets are in your kitchen.
Living Rooms, Bedrooms, and the Study
From here, you can move onto the rooms you actually live in. While it might seem like you should tackle these first, often they require less specialized work and are quicker jobs. If you change the flooring, things might take a bit longer, but other than major changes or repairs, a lot of this comes down to moving furniture around and decorating the rooms.
As long as your kid’s rooms are functional, they can take charge in arranging and decorating their rooms, especially if they’re a bit older and more mature. Moving to a new house can be a great opportunity for your children (and the adults) to refresh their style choices.
As long as the bedrooms are comfortable and functional, you should focus on the rooms you spend the most time in so you can relax at home. This often includes the living room, but if someone works from home, they will need a proper office to be more productive.
The House Exterior
As well as the inside of your home, you should look at improving your home’s exterior. The first thing you should focus on is whether the property is structurally sound and leak-proof. If you need to replace the roof or doors and windows, prioritize this more than anything else.
This is because the foundations of your property are key. If these are not structurally sound, then all other work that you complete is going to be a waste. This includes the foundations of the building, in addition to the roof. Check the roof is in working order with no issues. If not, you should consider speaking with a metal roofing company, who can install a roof that is built to last.
Otherwise, you can delay sorting out the backyard and driveway until more pressing jobs have been completed. This doesn’t mean they aren’t important, because they are vital for the functionality and attractiveness of your home, but it’s better to have the bathroom ready before you have a beautiful garden.
You should also consider the external walls and whether they need to be spruced up a bit. You can use paint to give your home some more personality and make your stamp on it, or you can add other features to turn your house into your family home.
