A Q+A from my Instagram stories on some questions that I think can help you on your property journey.
Did you have savings prior to your property purchases? We’re struggling to save for our first.
I was very fortunate to be living at my parent’s house in my last year of University and after graduation, rent-free so I managed to save towards a deposit for my first purchase. My sister also saved for a deposit and we purchased our first property together. It is very tough with wages and inflation but you can do it. Make your money work harder for you by looking at low-risk investments like stocks and shares ISAs to help grow your savings and beat inflation. Always think of ways you can save but most importantly think of passive incomes where you don’t have to devote all your time. This is why I like stocks and shares as it is a passive way of making money as it does not require much of my time but gives me great returns. (Disclaimer I’m not a financial advisor so please do seek professional advice.)
Who did your kitchen extension? Were they the same company that designed it?
So the building company is WhiteHouse builders (they are my neighbors) They did not design it. This was done by the architect Freedom Homes, myself, and interior designers from the Channel 5 TV show Dream home makeovers Sophie Robinson and Jenny Branson
Did you do the extension before knowing how your kitchen layout would be?
No, we had the architect draw the plans with the kitchen in the space before we submitted the plans to the council and any work began. There was of course a few revisions once the shell of the extension was complete and we were able to get the designers in the space to make sure we were happy with the final layout. However, the kitchen and where it was placed in the first pretty much stayed the same.
How much did the kitchen and the extension cost?
The Kitchen all in was approximately £11,000 including all appliances and gadgets. We paid our builder a single price of £120,000 for labour and first fix material for our annexe, loft conversion, and rear extension. Therefore the rear extension was approximately £50, 000 just for about and materials. It measures 6 x 6 meters.
Who did the underfloor heating?
Our contractors WhiteHouse builders did it. We have white wash wood effect porcelain tiles which are easy to clean and warm tiles and feel great. It costs around £600 for the materials but not sure on installation costs.
Where did you get your kitchen floor from?
We got our kitchen floor from Total Tiles. They are called white wash wood effect porcelain tiles. Love them because they are very forgiving even when they are not cleanest and they leave no streaks.
What will be your advice for staying on-site when the work is being done?
Avoid at all costs if you can! The dust, the noise!!!! We moved into my parent’s house 6 months into the renovation. This is because the builders had finished building the annexe and needed to start removing the roof for the loft conversion. Up until that point we had lived onsite and the noise and disruption was very stressful. Luckily my parents are not far away so it caused little disruption when trying to get the kids to school.
What is your view on self-project management compared to appointing one?
It all depends on the size of the project, timelines, and skill set. I project managed alongside my builder. He managed his team and I managed the costs, quotes for specialists’ work, and materials used. I used his expertise to make sure I was on track with the quality of materials I was buying and I would visit the site every day to make sure things were moving along. If you can afford a project manager as you don’t have the time by all means definitely hire one, as it is time-consuming.
How did you manage any unforeseen costs? We are aware of the 10% rule for contingency.
We always prioritised which part of the renovation meant the most to us. So our annexe is still not done, our garden is not complete and our utility room is still a mess. So we redirected money where it needed to be so yes we had to wait till more money come in. Luckily we had a 30% contingency. 10% is great but always have a lot more if you can. We did not foresee Brexit and the pandemic of 2020, but both had an impact on the supply chain and costs in construction.
Did you go over budget on the renovation?
Yes, yes and yes. Our budget of £150,000 was blown but luckily we have a contingency to get the most important parts to us completed.
What did you use to track the issues and resolutions? Can you recommend any?
Excel sheet was all I used to keep track – nothing fancy. Plus loads of photos and Whatsapp messages to the builders and contractors when anything went wrong. I am sure there are loads of tools out there to help the project, but I did not think I needed one on this occasion.
Which source did you use to find your architect?
We used Mybuilder.com I love it. I always advise going with an architect who is local so they can visit onsite if they need to. However, the most important thing apart from the price in my opinion is if they have a great relationship or are familiar with your local planning department rules and guidelines. Our architects were called Freedom Homes architects.
Would you advise getting a loan to revonate a property? I am buying a place but have little left to decorate.
Congratulations on your purchase. Buying a house is a great long-term investment. You can always decorate later. Priorities like taking care of your bills and rebuilding your savings should be most important. If you really can’t help yourself some companies have great interest-free periods on furniture and kitchens etc. However, only take out loans you can handle and you can always renovate slowly over time.
What’s the best investment you made during your home reno?
The air condition units are on the ground floor kitchen and living room. No more flies as I do not have to open all the windows. It cost £5820 for 2 units including the cost of installation. Also, our Quooker tap has also saved on the number of plastic water bottles we used to purchase.
How do you decide which properties to buy?
I am assuming you mean for investment purposes. If so, it all depends on your goal and strategy. Our strategy was to buy and hold. So our focus was on a fair price and not a bargain as we did not intend to flip. We rented out our homes so location, end terraces, an attic/loft, and plenty of garden space were top of our list. Of course, the numbers had to make sense so were looking for a healthy monthly rental return.
What’s it like maintaining a bigger house? Any tips you can share?
It can be exhausting. However, do a little every day and your house does not have to look like a showroom every day.
What is your favorite room in the house?
The kitchen. It is the hub of the home and where we spend the most time together as a family.
