Hello,
we are planning to purchase a single-family house.
Here are some details:
Year built: 1957
Living area: 130 m² (1400 sq ft) / basement
Plot size: 830 m² (0.2 acres)
Price: €85,000
Gas heating from 2005
Garage
Windows from 1980
Double-layer exterior walls
3-core wiring without RCD
Clay roof tiles / no insulation
That should be enough for now.
We really like the room layout.
- Upstairs, only a non-load-bearing wall needs to be removed to create a large bathroom.
- Downstairs, there is a guest toilet that also needs to be renovated.
- Inside, everything must be completely stripped out, meaning carpets and wallpaper.
- The subfloor consists of wooden floorboards that we want to sand and restore, at least in the living room.
- In the upper rooms, we plan to just repaint the floorboards for now.
- The windows need to be replaced.
- New kitchen (relocating connections)
- Blown-in insulation or ETICS (external thermal insulation composite system)
The electrical distribution panel dates from around 1980 and has 3-core wiring but no RCD. The question is whether to completely renew the electrical system while the walls are already open.
The pipes are galvanized and according to the realtor do not need to be replaced.
We have an inspection by a building surveyor scheduled for tomorrow, who will thoroughly check the entire house.
So far we have optimistically estimated renovation costs at around €70,000.
Basically, we have a shell and plan to rebuild everything internally.
What are your experiences with such renovations? What additional issues could arise that we might not have considered? Where can problems occur?
We have already agreed with the realtor that he will "hold" the house for us. We are happy to pay the costs for the surveyor because if everything is okay we get a good feeling. If the surveyor advises us against it, he will have saved us from a bad purchase. He should also give us an approximate idea of what costs to expect.
Do you have general experience with houses from the 1950s regarding structural condition or durability?
Best regards
we are planning to purchase a single-family house.
Here are some details:
Year built: 1957
Living area: 130 m² (1400 sq ft) / basement
Plot size: 830 m² (0.2 acres)
Price: €85,000
Gas heating from 2005
Garage
Windows from 1980
Double-layer exterior walls
3-core wiring without RCD
Clay roof tiles / no insulation
That should be enough for now.
We really like the room layout.
- Upstairs, only a non-load-bearing wall needs to be removed to create a large bathroom.
- Downstairs, there is a guest toilet that also needs to be renovated.
- Inside, everything must be completely stripped out, meaning carpets and wallpaper.
- The subfloor consists of wooden floorboards that we want to sand and restore, at least in the living room.
- In the upper rooms, we plan to just repaint the floorboards for now.
- The windows need to be replaced.
- New kitchen (relocating connections)
- Blown-in insulation or ETICS (external thermal insulation composite system)
The electrical distribution panel dates from around 1980 and has 3-core wiring but no RCD. The question is whether to completely renew the electrical system while the walls are already open.
The pipes are galvanized and according to the realtor do not need to be replaced.
We have an inspection by a building surveyor scheduled for tomorrow, who will thoroughly check the entire house.
So far we have optimistically estimated renovation costs at around €70,000.
Basically, we have a shell and plan to rebuild everything internally.
What are your experiences with such renovations? What additional issues could arise that we might not have considered? Where can problems occur?
We have already agreed with the realtor that he will "hold" the house for us. We are happy to pay the costs for the surveyor because if everything is okay we get a good feeling. If the surveyor advises us against it, he will have saved us from a bad purchase. He should also give us an approximate idea of what costs to expect.
Do you have general experience with houses from the 1950s regarding structural condition or durability?
Best regards
ypg schrieb:
Definitely take before-and-after photos for yourselves. What I’m noticing right now: the camera phone next to the toolbox is one of the most important tools
RegardsI can only confirm that. I just created a before-and-after album over the weekend. It’s invaluable, and only then do many realize the real amount of effort involved.
A long, long time ago, but since we are now in the final stretch, here are a few updates. I think this is also interesting for those who, like us, have never had any experience with construction work.
A lot has happened in the last 2.5 months:
(I just had to check again, it’s more than just one update)
I’ll start somehow from the bottom up:
- Complete replacement of water and wastewater pipes (PVC)
- Complete new electrical system including meter and network
- New windows and exterior doors (interior doors ordered) from the basement to the attic
- New tiles in the hallway, cloakroom, and kitchen
- Laminate flooring in all other living areas (except bathrooms)
- Bathrooms and guest bathroom with new screed and underfloor heating. Tiled halfway up the walls
- All old walls filled, plastered, and sanded
- New radiators on the ground floor and upper floor
- Roof half insulated, half converted including heating system
Current problems:
At the moment, the heating is not working. However, according to the heating technician, this is a known issue with the model (Viessmann Vitodens WB3A, gas combination controller or an electrode)
Also, during today’s storm, we noticed quite a draft through the holes for the fittings in the bathroom. ........ I built that wall myself. A few Styrofoam panels would have helped. Be that as it may, it just needs to be sealed later when the tap is installed.
Third concern is my network distribution. I wanted to place the cabinet next to the electrical panel, but it turned out the wall is extremely thin and not load-bearing.
Well, there is still some time left.
We have had some ups and downs with the trades, but as of today, I am very satisfied and confident that moving in can take place without any problems.
A lot has happened in the last 2.5 months:
(I just had to check again, it’s more than just one update)
I’ll start somehow from the bottom up:
- Complete replacement of water and wastewater pipes (PVC)
- Complete new electrical system including meter and network
- New windows and exterior doors (interior doors ordered) from the basement to the attic
- New tiles in the hallway, cloakroom, and kitchen
- Laminate flooring in all other living areas (except bathrooms)
- Bathrooms and guest bathroom with new screed and underfloor heating. Tiled halfway up the walls
- All old walls filled, plastered, and sanded
- New radiators on the ground floor and upper floor
- Roof half insulated, half converted including heating system
Current problems:
At the moment, the heating is not working. However, according to the heating technician, this is a known issue with the model (Viessmann Vitodens WB3A, gas combination controller or an electrode)
Also, during today’s storm, we noticed quite a draft through the holes for the fittings in the bathroom. ........ I built that wall myself. A few Styrofoam panels would have helped. Be that as it may, it just needs to be sealed later when the tap is installed.
Third concern is my network distribution. I wanted to place the cabinet next to the electrical panel, but it turned out the wall is extremely thin and not load-bearing.
Well, there is still some time left.
We have had some ups and downs with the trades, but as of today, I am very satisfied and confident that moving in can take place without any problems.
K
Knallkörper5 Jan 2017 12:33That all sounds pretty good. Congratulations!
Are you already living in the property, or when do you plan to move in? Will the 80,000 euros be enough for you?
Are you already living in the property, or when do you plan to move in? Will the 80,000 euros be enough for you?
No, the move is on January 28th, with the large items arriving on January 21st, and we have to be in by the 28th because the new tenants are moving into our place then.
It will be tight, but it has to be doable somehow.
The money will cover it. However, we also paid for many "small things" out of our own pocket. That was almost another 3,000 euros (laminate flooring, construction foam, wood, screws, silicone, acrylic, etc., etc.).
It will be tight, but it has to be doable somehow.
The money will cover it. However, we also paid for many "small things" out of our own pocket. That was almost another 3,000 euros (laminate flooring, construction foam, wood, screws, silicone, acrylic, etc., etc.).
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