The idea of purchasing a fixer upper that has seen better days and transforming it into a much-loved family home has quite a romantic notion to it. Often this dream to breathe new life into something that has been so neglected can quickly turn into a nightmare if you’re inexperienced and haven’t done your research. On the other hand, fixer upper properties are great investment opportunities and can see you designing your perfect home at a fraction of the cost of buying one that has already been renovated. Take a look at the tips below to ensure you get the most out of your new fixer upper.
Be Prepared To Move Walls
Properties that require major renovation are often configured in the most bizarre ways. You’ll be scratching your head wondering how on Earth people could live with a bedroom accessed on the ground floor through the kitchen or with an outside toilet at the end of the garden and no bath or shower. It is your job as the new homeowner to get this house working for you by altering its configuration. This means knocking down walls and putting up new ones which is a fantastic opportunity to pick up a sledgehammer and let go of all of your frustrations. Once reconfigured, you’ll have the skeleton layout of your new home.
Electricity, Gas, and Water
It’s vital that you get all of your services up and running. You may need to contact the utility companies and the water board to reconnect your services, and they may need to pop out to check pipework and ensure gas safety regulations are being followed. If your property is ancient, the chances are that you will need a new gas boiler. By installing a boiler that is energy efficient, you’ll be saving yourself money on your heating bills as well as doing your bit for the environment. When the water is reconnected, check your taps and internal pipes for leaks and remedy these if you spot any.
The Fun Part
When it comes to decorating your house, installing a new kitchen and a new bathroom, you need to make sure that you have a budget and stick to it. When purchasing a fixer upper, one of the benefits was getting it for a rock bottom price. You don’t want to see all of this financial gain slip away because you can’t bear to be without a spectacular granite kitchen work top or that designer three seater leather reclining couch that you spied online the other day. Be sensible and splash out on luxuries while saving money elsewhere on the project. Set up a spreadsheet and keep track of your spending.
Renovating a home definitely has its stresses, but it also gives you a unique opportunity to create the dream home for you and your family. With a sensible budget and astute management of the renovation, you will have created a solid financial investment as your family home.
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