When you are looking at buying a new property it is important to
consider any work which needs done on it before you will be able to
consider it a comfortable family home. Very few of us would think of
moving into a new property without making at least some minor changes to
the decoration, but I would like to concentrate on those cases where
you are looking at purchasing a house which needs some major work done
on it.

Some of the factors which you need to consider include:

-
Time to get the work done. I am sure that living in a building site is
not part of your plans. However, underestimating the length of time that
renovations will take is a common error, and many people find
themselves restricted to one room, living in an onsite caravan or
staying with relatives for months on end.

– Which jobs to start
with? This is where it is vital that you consider your priorities in the
redevelopment of the property. Sure, it would be nice to have a
fantastic garden and a fully equipped bathroom, but are those the main
things you need to make it a liveable home as quickly as possible?
Consider which rooms you consider essential to make you and your family
comfortable in the place; usually the kitchen, the bathroom and at least
one bedroom.

– How much will it cost? This is the crucial
question, and the key to how much work is done and how quickly. You
should look to get a builder’s quote as soon as possible, preferably
before you even commit to buying the place. Even if you plan to do most
of the work yourself you should still get experienced, recommended
tradesmen to give their opinion, as they might see something you have
overlooked or give you some great advice.

-
How much DIY? As a general rule, I would always look to call in the
builders for the big, heavy jobs or where a quality finish is needed. If
you have the time and the inclination then there will be plenty of jobs
which can be done on a DIY basis; painting, sanding, putting up
curtains, sorting out plants, arranging furniture, cleaning windows. All
of these jobs may seem insignificant but they can take up more time
than you think and burdening yourself with other jobs on top of these
may prove too stressful or time consuming.

Once you decide to
take the plunge and buy a property which needs a lot of work then you
really want to establish a good working relationship with a reliable
local builder and other good tradesmen. Thanks to the internet you can
now log on, post details of the jobs needing done and wait for quotes to
appear in your email. Don’t forget to check out the worker’s profiles,
to make sure you choose a highly rated builder.