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Buying to Renovate: Our Top Tips

Posted on: Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Build your dream home and jump a few steps up the property ladder, without breaking the bank on a spot in your ideal location. Here are our top tips on buying to renovate:

Think about your budget

The first step in buying a property to renovate is working out exactly what you can afford. It’s important to note that borrowing money from a lender isn’t guaranteed for all properties, so make sure you research your options thoroughly before setting your sights on a property. Buying a property that needs renovating will likely enable you to save on stamp duty, which gets higher as the cost of the property increases. However, you should weigh up how the cost of renovating will compare to buying a house that doesn’t need any substantial changes making.

DIY vs. professional

Home renovation is not for the faint-hearted and you shouldn’t rush into any decisions without the help of trusted tradespeople. Whether you have worked with them before or they have been recommended to you, make sure you do your own research and never settle with the cheapest option to cut corners on expenses as this could result in large spending further down the line to amend poor workmanship. If you plan on doing the work yourself, consider the longevity of the products you will use and whether your skills meet the scope of your plans.

Make sure you’re adding real value 

It’s important to realise the potential and limitations of how much value renovation will add to your property. Demand for a property is often reflected by the popularity of its location rather than the interior, so make sure your changes are adding real value rather than wasting money on bold and flashy additions. Fail-safe investments include fixing structural issues, loft conversions, updating your kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms.

Planning and building regulations

Planning permission in the UK is required for home renovations and is granted by the local authority. The cost of planning permission depends on the scale of your project, so it’s wise to ensure your budget has some leeway before mapping out your project. Furthermore, the renovation must comply with building regulations, regardless of planning permission. These are the minimum requirements for design and if the standards aren’t met, you could be served with a notice to take the extension down. Once your offer has been accepted, it’s advisable to organise a full building survey from a qualified building surveyor.

Set a little extra money aside

Expect the unexpected and plan ahead for any future curveballs. You never know what surprises you’ll encounter once work starts. Unexpected issues arising such as woodworm, damp, missing roof tiles, plumbing and rotten window frames, will need to be factored into your overall budget - just in case.

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I would highly recommend Hardings Estate Agents. They have excellent knowledge of Windsor and the surrounding areas, and are extremely professional, responsive and courteous. I would not hesitate to using them again the future. I recently dealt with Milica who was instrumental in securing us our new home in Windsor as well as the sale of our existing property. She was a fab negotiator and a real pleasure to work with from beginning to end. Thank you!

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Hardings of Windsor managed our purchase with complete professionalism and went over and above in my opinion to manage the transaction and chain, resulting in a really smooth purchase. Milica at Hardings constantly provided timely updates and managed respective solicitors and the chain effectively, always responding quickly to queries. The whole transaction would not have happened without Milicas' focus on making all parties comfortable and satisfying all queries, not only professional but a delightful and welcoming personal approach that was a constant throughout. Thanks Hardings! Thanks Milica!

Stuart Blatch

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I would recommend using Hardings estate agents when buying or selling your property. Dominic (Scully) was always available, helpful and genuinely interested in my purchase and always calm and compassionate. If I ever move again my first choice will be Hardings.

Cath Powell

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Dom and the team at Hardings were so helpful and efficient when I purchased my flat - friendly and professional service and kept us up-to-date the whole way through the process. It was my first time buying and so was very nervous but they helped me feel at ease.

Freppell

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I used Hardings when I bought my property as well as when I sold it and the service has been fantastic both times. I very much recommend Hardings!

Therese Jouini

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We recently purchased our new home with Hardings Estate Agents. The whole team there were very helpful and flexible with us, arranging viewings quickly on the same day. They were always quick to respond and if ever our point of contact was not there, the service did not change as they work well together as a team. We received a personalised service, which allowed the sale to proceed quickly. Thank you all and we recommend Hardings Estate Agents without hesitation.

Mike B

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What a pleasure it was to deal with Milica from Hardings. She sourced the perfect property for me and my family (while we were still abroad) and worked endlessly to put the deal together. I would give more than 5 stars if at all possible!

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How Much is Your Property Worth?

How Much is Your Property Worth?

A senior member of our sales team will visit your property to discuss current market trends and how your home; based on size, condition and location should be pitched to achieve the best possible price and buyer. Coupled with an excellent understanding of the local market we do a detailed analysis of what else has sold and what is coming onto the market so we can give you the best chance to capitalise on your biggest asset.

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