Home Renovation - Things to remember

Buying a profitable Property

Before buying your property a key thing to remember is to make sure you do your research. You need to check how long a property has been on the market for, bearing in mind if the property has been on the market a while, for example six months, then there is a possibility there isn’t a lot of money to be made if it’s a potential investment.

Things to look out for

One Thing to remember is to make sure you’re not buying a property that’s going to swallow your all your available money. Although you have to be prepared for the worst, especially if you are buying an old home, you also need to realise that problems will occur - like when stripping the wall paper part of the wall might be coming off with it, or when replacing the roof tiles you may lose half the roof in the process. But this is why it is vital that you take as many trips as you feel needed with various tradesmen if needed too. This will give you a good idea of how much money you will be spending and what you are letting yourself in for.

How much is there to be done?

Well this depends entirely on the property, and if this is your first home renovation property you don’t want to be taking on too much, as costs can escalate very rapidly. For your first couple of investment properties look at a dated property as theres a higher probably that it will need a lot of work and therefore be cheaper to buy.  It is unbelievable how much a lick of paint alongside a new kitchen and bathroom can modernise a house to sell for profit. Leave the big renovation jobs until you have some experience, confidence and normally better funding to finish the job properly.

Be sure to ask the experts, vision isn’t everything!

Get estimates from specialist tradesmen, such as roofers, electricians, as well as damp and timber specialists - they will probably charge nothing or very little for quotes, and then you have an idea of if the property is really worth it once you’ve paid out for all the work it needs.

Money/funding!

You need to be ready for the worst when taking on a wreck, because we all know that so many people end up saying ‘it was twice as expensive as I thought it would be’. Be sure to ensure you have enough funds to play with should it all go wrong. Set yourself a reasonable budget and build in some emergency funds for the future. 15% of the total cost is the usual and reliable guideline.

If you stick to all these factors, within reason you should be able to manage home renovation, and if it is your first property renovation, play it safe. As we all know it’s better to be safe than sorry!

This article was provided by Ryan Hirst who writes helpful guides and tips for Eurofit Direct on their blog

Three Easy Ways to Improve Your Home

Home improvement is a great investment of time and money. A home is a sanctuary; the safe place that separates you from the abrasive world outside. Making it as nice as you dream is part of the fun. An enjoyable project provides satisfaction, and improves the home.

Fresh Exterior Paint

Changing the color of the home creates dramatic change without breaking the bank. If the home cries for paint because the last paint job is flaking off little by little, this project is your priority. The things you need are:


•Paint scraper.
•Masking tape.
•Paint brushes and rollers.
•Drop Cloth.
•Paint thinner.
•Paint primer.
•Paint.


Scrape loose paint off the walls. Well-adhered paint will stay in place. Prime the areas that are bare; paint will only stick to paint or primer. Buying a good, 15 or 20-year paint is worth the investment. The quality outweighs the extra cost; you get better coverage, so you buy less paint. Use the drop cloth to protect the area directly below you. A medium quality brush for priming may be acceptable, but you should not use a cheap brush to spread high quality paint. A layered camel hair brush delivers the best result. Soak it in paint thinner before hand washing. Use a roller on the smoother surfaces.

Interior Paint

Mask interior surfaces for protection. Remove smaller furnishings and decorations from the project room. Center large items and cover with a drop cloth; they are out of the way, and protected. Interior paint swatches do not match semi-gloss paint. The shiny finish makes cleaning easier, but the glare ruins the mood that could have been. The solution is flat interior paint.

Patio Deck

If you know your way around a set of power tools, consider adding a backyard deck. The deck is an inexpensive way to add living space to your home. Decide what design fits best with your yard and home, and then go to the lumberyard. There are readymade deck plans available. Lumberyards sell deck “kits.” The package-price includes all the hardware, and lumber needed.

Important Things to Consider

There are many ways to improve your home. If you enjoy improvements, but not actually doing the work, consider hiring someone. Most contractors do free estimates. Only accept estimates in writing. A licensed contractor carries liability insurance; this protects you from damages due to negligence. A licensed contractor includes a city permit in his estimate.

Protecting your sanctuary from intruders gives you peace of mind. Consider a home alarm system as you review the home-improvement budget. Modern designs are convenient. Family members memorize a code; the system secures each entry in this manner. The cost of the alarm system is preferable to the cost of losing valuables or sleep.

Your home is likely your biggest investment. Making improvements keeps it nice, and adds to the pleasure of owning it. Are you going to take on a project? Decide what is right for you, make a plan, and dive in.