A house refurbishment is always a big deal, especially when you’re completely redoing the property. Many homeowners do a complete refurbishment when purchasing a new property, especially if they’ve gone for a fixer-upper.
Buying a house that needs work is a daunting prospect, but it can be incredibly rewarding. You typically get a much cheaper deal out of it, meaning that you could end up with a stunning property that you couldn’t have afforded otherwise. Also, there’s something to be said for ripping out the old and starting from a blank slate.
When completely refurbishing a property and starting from scratch, you have the opportunity to design a home that’s perfect for you and your family. If you have unique needs, then you can cater to them or any other preferences. It just takes a little imagination and a lot of work and flat refurbishment London can definitely help. Here’s a quick guide to help you figure out what jobs should take precedence.
Home Repairs
Before tackling any jobs, you need to make sure that the property is in good condition. Ideally, you should have had the place surveyed before purchasing it, so that you don’t have any nasty and expensive surprises to deal with now. However, if you haven’t, then you should definitely have the house looked over before trying any work.
In the best-case scenario, the renovations will only be cosmetic or functional, and the property with be structurally fine without any needed repairs. However, it’s always worth double-checking, or contractors may inadvertently exacerbate an existing problem. Even worse, someone could get hurt while working on an unsafe or structurally unsound site.
As well as a general survey, consider getting local roofing services to inspect the roof. As well as protecting your property and the contractors, getting all of this work done now will save you a job later. Generally, large house repairs such as roof work make your house uninhabitable for a time and leave a lot of clean-up afterward. You might as well get it done now, rather than after your property has been refurbished and looks beautiful.
You should also look into the foundations of your property, as well as the walls. Check for damp issues so that you can get a damp proofing course done now if it’s necessary. Look in any attic or basement spaces and check the insulation of your home. Make sure that the plumbing and electrical systems are up to scratch. Once all these major checks and repairs have been completed, you can move on to transforming the property into a beautiful home for your family.
The Kitchen
The kitchen has often been described as the heart of the house, or at least the stomach. While every room has its purpose, the kitchen is rightly celebrated. In its most simple form, the kitchen plays the important role of keeping your family fed, providing a place to store and prepare food. However, every family knows that the kitchen is even more than that.
As one of the most important rooms in your property, it makes sense that kitchen refurbishment is often one of the biggest refurbishment jobs that your household will tackle. You may want to simply update your old kitchen, but after ten years or so (depending on the kitchen), it’s generally time to rip it out and start again.
Once you’ve ripped out the original kitchen, you should first consider the layout of your kitchen. If you liked how it was before, then fantastic. You can simply plan around the original layout. However, if you want to make changes, then you need to consider the electrical and plumbing outlets in your kitchen. They may need to be moved or adjusted to suit your new layout.
As well as considering the outlets in your kitchen when planning out your layout, you should always think about the functionality of your kitchen. Yes, everyone wants a beautiful kitchen, but a kitchen is a functional room first and foremost. Imagine yourself using the kitchen. Make sure that there’s enough counter space to work with, and that everything is in a logical place. You don’t want to build your kitchen and only then realize that you have to traipse across the room whenever you’re cooking.
Once you know how to lay out your kitchen, then you can move on to the fun part. The design of your kitchen is a primarily personal affair. Yes, it’s a good idea to research trends and to find out what’s fashionable. However, you’re the one who has to live with your kitchen. Trends are fleeting and, unless you intend to replace your kitchen every few years, your kitchen won’t stay at the height of fashion forever. However, it should stay something that you can live with.
When you’re happy with the design of your kitchen and you’ve been able to make it suit your budget, then all that there’s left to do is to get it built. If you’re handy, then you may be able to do a lot of the work yourself, but getting trusted contractors is always a good idea.
The Bathroom
As well as your kitchen, your bathroom is necessary to make your property liveable. It’s not the most glamorous room in the house, but you’ll soon notice if your home doesn’t have a working bathroom. If the property has a bathroom already, then it could be the last thing that you tackle. However, if you are starting from a shell, then you should deal with the bathroom first and foremost.
As with the kitchen, the layout of your bathroom will be partially determined by the plumbing outlets. If you plan to dramatically change where things are, then you will need to do more work to deal with these outlets. Always be careful when working with plumbing, nobody wants a leak, and a bathroom leak is particularly bad.
Ideally, your home should have more than one bathroom. Simple rooms containing only toilets and sinks are great for quick visits. Depending on the size of your home, you may be able to fit ensuites attached to the bedrooms for convenience, but you should have at least one family bathroom containing a toilet, sink, and a way to wash. A bathroom is fairly self-explanatory.
When it comes to designing your bathroom, then the same principles apply to every room in your home. Yes, look at trends and what’s fashionable, but go with your personal style first and foremost. You are the one who has to look at and use your rooms all the time, and trends die fast. Stick to something you like and you’ll be happy.
Bedrooms, Offices, and Reception Rooms
While you may spend a lot of time in these rooms, the habitability of your home depends more on the kitchen and bathrooms. Technically, you can sleep on a mattress on the floor, if you have to. However, nobody wants to do this.
Your reception rooms are public family rooms and where you’ll entertain guests, so it’s understandable that you will want these rooms to be nice and welcoming. Provide plenty of seating and don’t forget tasteful, yet personal ornaments.
These rooms are also simpler to refurbish unless you plan on drastically changing the layout of your property. You don’t have to mess around with appliances, you can simply spruce things up, do some repairs, and move your furniture in.
The bedrooms are more personal to the occupants, which means that they should suit whoever sleeps there. If you have children, it’s a good idea to let them have some input on how to decorate and furnish their bedrooms, depending on their age. This doesn’t just provide them with a sanctuary, but it also presents a level of responsibility that they have to take on.
If you work from home or use an office for paperwork, then using a spare bedroom or even a large cubby hole is always a good idea. An office should be relatively personalized, but it’s a place of productivity first and foremost. Make sure that there are plenty of electrical outlets in any room or area that you plan on using as an office.
The Exterior
No home refurbishment should stop at the interior. The outside of your home is what people see first and foremost, and it can provide a great space for you and your family to spend time together.
Whether you prefer a simple lawn or something more varied and involved, your backyard is a vital part of your property that shouldn’t be neglected. It can also provide some extra space for storage or even another room.
You could use your exterior to attach an extension to your home, or simply transform a shed into a usable structure. During summer, your backyard is a great place to entertain guests or just relax as a family, so spend some time and effort into making it a welcoming part of your property.
