Old houses often captivate with their special charm and bring back memories of times gone by. For some, they are therefore a tempting alternative to building a new home when it comes to buying a home.
However, one should not underestimate the sometimes-high renovation costs that an already older home entail. Some people don’t even know where to start because there are so many things to do at once. This article will give you an overview of what you should pay attention to when renovating such a building and the approximate costs you should expect from the individual measures when renovating an old house or you can contact home addition contractors near me to help you.
If you are still wavering between the options of buying and renovating an old building or investing directly in a new building, you should let the following go through your head.
One of the advantages of an old building is that you can move in immediately after the renovation, i.e., the building is ready for occupancy more quickly than a new building where everything still has to be built from scratch. The purchase price is also usually lower, with the renovation costs being added, of course.
A previous inspection is also possible, and the plots of older houses are in many cases larger. However, they often do not meet the standards in terms of energy protection, and the conversion options are possibly limited, so you cannot simply create the house of your dreams. Still, they have to adhere to the specifications of the lines or essential walls.
But what about the costs? When is the renovation of an old building no longer profitable? A rule of thumb is that if refurbishing the old house is more than three-quarters of the cost of a newly built home, it is better to invest in a new build. However, if you still prefer to opt for the old building now, you can read below how to best approach the renovation if you want to renovate an old house.
Before you start renovating the property, you should come up with a well-thought-out plan or contact home addition contractors near me for help. Well-founded planning is essential to bring order to the project and not to forget anything.
You should fix the damage first before you start optimizing. This is important because the works build on one another. For example, a new heating system is of no use if the proper insulation is missing.
So once you have analyzed the house’s condition and written down all the points that need improvement, you should also start looking at financing. But how can you even determine the current condition of the building? Again, it is best to consult an expert, as not all damage can be seen as a layperson with the naked eye. Damage to the water pipes, for example, goes undetected for a long time.
The analysis by a building surveyor costs a little more money, usually a fee of a few hundred euros. In this way, however, you ensure that you discover all damage and do not have to experience any nasty surprises later because fundamental deficits have remained undiscovered. It is best to have the house checked out before you buy it.
Based on the report issued by him, you can plan better and already have a rough structure for the renovation. It is best to arrange the measures in order of priority, from the outside in.
Some of the things that you and your building surveyor should pay particular attention to include mold and property damage. Even if you only discover superficial traces of mold, much more area can be affected. Fortunately, it is often recognizable by its smell before seeing it, but that doesn’t always have to be the case. Substance damage also includes pest infestations or rising dampness in the house.