House renovations 🏡

[BelleAmie]

Hi all,

I bought my house a few years ago and it’s in relatively good condition but everything is quite old and needs updating - the previous owner looked after the house really well but there’s only so long that a bathroom from the 80s will last.

I have absolutely no practical skills and I don’t even know where to start with updating/renovating. Does anyone have any tips or advice on the following:
Companies you’ve had good experiences with/companies to avoid
Budgets - do you get quotes and then save for what you need, or do you set a budget and then try and negotiate/find someone who costs what you can afford?
Do you start with the biggest project (e.g. kitchen) or the room you spend the most time in (e.g. lounge)?
Where do you get inspiration from? Everything on Instagram and Pinterest seems so perfect and unattainable

Essentially everything in the house needs to be done (doors, windows, kitchen, bathroom, flooring etc) and at the moment it all seems so overwhelming that I’m tempted to sack it off and trade in for a new build!

 

[BettyCrockerr]

Hi all,

I bought my house a few years ago and it’s in relatively good condition but everything is quite old and needs updating - the previous owner looked after the house really well but there’s only so long that a bathroom from the 80s will last.

I have absolutely no practical skills and I don’t even know where to start with updating/renovating. Does anyone have any tips or advice on the following:
Companies you’ve had good experiences with/companies to avoid
Budgets - do you get quotes and then save for what you need, or do you set a budget and then try and negotiate/find someone who costs what you can afford?
Do you start with the biggest project (e.g. kitchen) or the room you spend the most time in (e.g. lounge)?
Where do you get inspiration from? Everything on Instagram and Pinterest seems so perfect and unattainable

Essentially everything in the house needs to be done (doors, windows, kitchen, bathroom, flooring etc) and at the moment it all seems so overwhelming that I’m tempted to sack it off and trade in for a new build!

Go room by room making lists of things you want or feel you need to do - the “need” list should only be things that are actually priority (so for example changing windows that are leaking)

then, sit down and put things in order - start by putting it in room order of the room you want to sort first then the tasks for that room.

if you are just talking about cosmetic work then you can obviously do this in stages - you say you have no skills but honestly it’s easy enough to strip wall paper or whatever, you may need to just roll your sleeves up and have a go!!!!

youll need a plumber and joiner to sort your bathroom out, if you purchase a bathroom suite yourself and get someone in to fit it will be cheaper.

you will need to work out your own budget first - estimates from tradesmen will go out of date quickly at the moment as the costs of materials etc is going up every week. (And on that note, now may not be the time to take on too much, if you can live with the bathroom for now I’d keep it as is and do things to freshen it up, change the flooring/tile stickers,change the lighting etc)

Companies to avoid: Wickes! They are useless. I’d contact local smaller companies to come and have a look and then take it from there, but anyone that is any good will likely be booked up with work for a good few months so bear that in mind.

maybe start small - try some DIY painting etc to see how you get on? Loads of DIY accounts on Instagram for helpful tips and inspiration!!!

 

[Kim Mild]

Does it 'need' doing or do you want it done? All the high fashion kitchens and Bathrooms will be looking dated in 20/ 30 years too.

Try rightmove for inspiration.

Do you have to live in the house during the work?.

Do you need rewiring done ? That should be done first, but plan your refit so you know where you need sockets. Windows ans doors can e be done all at once or one at a time.

I would get recommendations for local tradespeople and get them to give you quotes. Likely they have a Howdens account, and Howdens have a design service.

 

[HoGi]

Take recommendations from people you know.

It's no good plucking a company off check a trade or Facebook. Don't be afraid to negotiate and be up front about budgets.

I.e. It's no good going into a bathroom reno with a budget of 6k and expecting supply and fit of a whole new bathroom for that. Despite what you might see on homes under the hammer it isn't the case in real life.

We bought a house that was last renovated in the 80s. It needs new bathroom and kitchen and the windows were ducked.

However everything was livable which was good as we didn't have a huge budget!

So we did the cosmetics first so we could live happily. So decorated and recarpeted/floored bedrooms, hallways and living room including all the woodwork.

We had to get a new boiler our first winter as it completely died so we upgraded to a combi boiler.

Then we started on bigger things that we could do ourselves such as new fences, patio and landscape the garden.

Along the way we painted kitchen cupboards, tiled the kitchen and replaced all the appliances.

They we got all the windows and doors replaced (about 4 years down the line)

The bathroom reno starts next month. We have a local bathroom fitter/plumber doing all of the rip out and install. We have purchased everything from a local builders merchant.

We want to install a media wall and replace the 60s fireplace and that will probably mean redoing the floor in the lounge.

And then it is the kitchen

Then we are all done and will redecorate as the carpets will be 6+ years old

 

[margaretta]

One tip, if you need things like replacement windows, replacing radiators or rewiring
do this first before decorating other rooms as the work is likely to damage the decor around the frame / wall /switches.

 

[AnnRKey]

This is an important question - is this is a need or a want? Two different things! Like folk have said before - don't upgrade just for the sake of it. Sometimes a lick of paint and a change of curtains/cushions can revitalise how you feel about tired rooms without going the whole hog and splurging thousands.


However, when you are ready - I would get local recommendations from friends and family - and check out what folk are saying about companies on your local social media groups. Negotiate. Never take the first price. Don't put yourself in shed loads of debt. Make plans and set budgets and review them regularly like it is your job.

Start with the windows & doors - things that would damage your future renovations. That way you avoid spending double.

Make some Pinterest boards for each room, it's a great source of ideas for upcycling and renovating without spending massive amounts of money. Marketplace/Gumtree are great places to pick up relatively new kitchens/bathrooms from people who are renovating properties. Not brand new but still new to you.

Good luck! It is addictive. Don't even get me started on the garden stuff lol.