Renovating period Houses is no joke, ask any contractors and they would tell you that it is often a nightmare. One of the reasons why contractors often hate renovating period Houses is that they are prone to make more mistakes and, they are expensive. Here is a list of some of the common mistakes that people make when renovating period Houses and you may want to check out some of them, before trying to renovate your House.
Realistic Budget:
You need to keep your budget in mind and try to be within it at the time of renovation. There are many people who often re-sell their period House post renovation because they could no longer afford it. So, you need to make sure that you can afford to renovate the period House. A better idea would be to renovate one area of the House at a time and eventually, you should have the House stored to its original glory.
Winging It:
Winging it is never good especially on a project that can even cost you millions of dollars which is why you always must have a detailed blueprint and then assess each area to decide what you need to be done before using the sledgehammer. Renovating period Houses includes a lot of grunt work and you will need to plan well ahead and must have a plan of action. So, winging it, which is something that a few Houseowners inevitably indulge in, is not a good idea. And you will need to decide why you want to restore this period House, as it can help you plan better.
Antiques:
If you are planning to restore a period House, then you would need to get a few antiques as it can help to create the ambiance. While it is great to go for real antiques, not all can afford the same. One of the reasons that most couples had to sell their period Houses was because of the extra cost involved in purchasing antiques. It would be a good idea to go for a cheap one, as that looks as good as the original and that should do the trick.
Blind purchase:
Couples often fall in love with a period House and sign the purchase agreement without bothering to survey the property in detail. As a result, they often discover damp, rot and even structural damage when renovating the property and end up paying an inflated renovation bill. This is why it is important that you review the building survey report, as well as do a thorough check of the period House in question.
Regulations:
Ignoring the local rules and regulations are not recommended, and it can put you in a lot of troubles. So double check the local laws and regulations and find out if you are required to apply for permission to renovate a period House. Find out if you need building regulations approval and if you are required to file your building plans to get the required approval. Ideally, you are required to check these points well before you sign a contract.
These are some of the mistakes that most people make when renovating period Houses. This is why it is important that you take extra measures to ensure that you do not end up making the same mistakes as that can turn out to be quite cost-prohibitive. With these tips, you should be able to do just that and get the due diligence done before you start renovating your new House.
