It can be a great idea to buy what’s called a ‘fixer-upper’ when you’re looking for a home. After all, these places are sure to be a lot cheaper than anything else, and it can be an exciting adventure to work out how to turn something that’s rather run down into something beautiful that you’ll love living in (and that can eventually give you a profit, if that’s something you’re interested in doing). However, there is a lot to consider when you do this, and it can be a huge challenge, not to mention an expensive one, so you’ve got to be sure it’s the right thing for you.
Once you’ve made that decision and the keys are yours, the best thing to do is to work through the issues one by one in order of priority to ensure things are safe, secure, and that you can live in the property sooner rather than later. With that in mind, here are some of the jobs you’ll need to tackle first.
Fix The Roof
The roof is one of the most important areas of any home, and it’s vital you get it fixed if it needs doing (and if you’re buying a fixer-upper, it’s likely the roof will have been neglected over the years). The fact is that a damaged roof can lead to massive problems in your home, from water damage to mould growth and even structural problems, which is why it’s wise to start here.
The first job is to thoroughly inspect the roof to assess the current condition, and if you see any missing shingles, sagging areas, or leaks, that’s what you’ll need to fix (or get fixed) right away. It might even be that you need a full roof replacement and that’s not a job you’ll want to put off for too long; find experts who can help you and move forward with this plan as soon as you can to prevent any further damage.
Electrical And Plumbing Systems
Outdated or faulty electrical and plumbing systems are something else you’ll need to get sorted out quickly when you buy a fixer-upper. If you’ve bought an older home, it might even look absolutely fine, but it’s highly likely that the plumbing and electrics are very old – perhaps even original – and that can cause some big problems as time goes on (and it might even be causing problems right now).
Although it’s a big job, and it’s definitely something you’ll need a professional for, rewiring the entire house to bring it up to the right safety standards (especially if you intend to sell it) is crucial for safety – older systems can lead to fires, for example. And as for plumbing, it’s best to upgrade the pipework to copper or PEX piping as that’s going to last for longer and there’s less chance of a nasty leak.
Insulation And Windows
Even if you’ve already done a lot of work, if you miss out on upgrading your windows and adding insulation, you’re not going to have a comfortable house to live in, and it’s going to be an expensive place to live too. That’s because having good windows and insulation means your home is protected against harsh weather, and you’ll spend less on your heating bills too because you won’t lose heat through the gaps (another reason to get the roof done).
Better windows are also an excellent way to keep your new home safe from intruders – old wooden windows are easy to break into, but modern uPVC ones are much more difficult, especially if they’re double or triple-paned.
