Property Tips
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Here are all my property tips in one
place. Click on the links to see the specific blog each tip comes
from. |
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I'm always happy to hear your feedback
- so let me know if you've found any of these useful when buying,
selling or renovating your place. |
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TIP: Go to a bathroom shop off-peak - like a monday morning - that way you can take 1 hour plus of the salesmans time to (hopefully) get good and in-depth advice. |
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TIP: Plan, plan then plan again. Right up to the last minute when plans have to be frozen, keep considering the alternatives. |
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TIP: The electrician isn't only there to do the wiring - talk to him/her about your ideas for lighting, wall sockets, dimmers etc. They might have some ideas you haven't had yet. |
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TIP: Lighting is very very important so have a good think about where you need lights, what type they should be and how much they'll cost. |
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TIP: Don't stop thinking about the pros and cons of your renovation decisions. Even the decisions you think are made and done - if there's still time have another think just in case you see a better way (ref: Edward de Bono - Po: Beyond Yes and No - Challenge for Change). |
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TIP: Enjoy the project management process - after all how many times do you get to do this kind of thing? Of course there is stress, but try to unplug your head and come up for air. |
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TIP: Talk talk. I've found that by constantly talking over ideas (eg for bathroom layout) new ideas come up all the time. Don't sit and stew on your ideas - talk. |
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TIP: Keep all plans anf official documents in a box. When you sell it's all really usefu stuff to have to show to buyers so they can see what you've done (and that you did it legally). |
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TIP: Stay flexible. Have a plan, but don't be afraid to deviate if your gut tells you there's a better way. |
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TIP: Before you pick up the keys when buying, make a list if all the keys you're expecting to get. It's MUCH harder once the deal is done to get agencies to fish arond for missing keys. |
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TIP: As I mentioned before, no one else drives your property projects, so you have to call, call, email, email, push, push all the time. |
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TIP: Reality-check builders quotes with an architect. |
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TIP: When you’re buying property no one really cares about the process apart from you. Be cool, and call everyone every day to move things along. It’s your project and whether you like it or not you’re the Project Manager. If you don’t manage it, no one else will. |
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TIP: Don’t panic. Work out which decisions you need to make now, and which decisions you can defer. Ask the builder what decisions he needs you to make – after all this might be your first renovation but it won’t (or at least shouldn’t) be your builders first renovation. |
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TIP: As your builder to reality check your decisions. Don’t just say “I want that there” – he may know better than you what works and what doesn’t. |
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TIP: Spend the money where it counts. Unless you really need to fly to Sicily for a week to check out a new kind of bathroom wall tile which you’ve seen in a magazine and have fallen in love with despite the fact it costs £40 per tile, don’t. You need good taps and good appliances that will last. |
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TIP: Always look for a mortgage that is a trade off between monthly payments and flexibility. |
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TIP: Get in writing the Agreement in Principal from the bank before you start looking for a property. Also, make sure that the expiry date of the agreement is clear, and that if you have to apply again that they can re-use all the documentation rather than having to start from scratch. |
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TIP: Stay cool. Difficult eh?! |
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TIP: Use a spreadsheet to keep track of all your expenditure and if you’re so inclined break it down by room or at least by labour, materials and fees. Not being able to track the costs means you’re not in control and can’t make informed decisions. |
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TIP: Once your offer has been accepted get planning, make decisions and make it happen. |
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TIP: Make all the really important changes up front, like which walls to knock down. You can work out which paint to buy later on. |
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TIP: Always be nice to councillors especially when applying for planning permission. Always follow up with a very nice phone call a couple of days later check they have your letter, and to let them know what a nice person you are. Be nice. |
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TIP: Before you start renovating run a spreadsheet listing all the work you want to be done and get your builder to give an estimate. Reality-check that with someone else and don’t forget all the fees you’ll be paying along the way. |
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TIP: Before you even start to plan your renovation, if you’re not doing it yourself secure the services of a good builder who’s available for when you want the work to happen. Once you have that time your tiles, baths etc to arrive a couple of days ahead of that to give you time to check everything’s ready and present for the builder. |
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TIP: Before buying a house that needs renovating take an architect and builder along and be ambitious. |
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TIP: If you’re looking for a house to totally renovate you have to consider radical changes including knocking down walls and relocating water tanks and even bathrooms. |
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TIP: Fortune favours the brave (when renovating). |
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TIP: Always add 20% contingency time to a renovation especially if you live in an apartment and you’re not allowed to renovate at the weekend. |
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TIP: When you’re calculating the number of tiles you need at about 15% to allow for wastage and add about another 5% if you’re doing up-turns. |
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TIP: A custom cut mirror always looks great especially in an ensuite or small bathroom. |
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TIP: If at all possible keep everyone especially young children well out of the house while renovations are going on. My three year old will happily pick up a saw or sharp nail and ask “What’s this Daddy?” |
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TIP: Always go for lighter tiles than you think you need. When you see a wall of tiles it’s always a little bit darker then when you look at an individual tile. |
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TIP: As I’ve mentioned before, use your own dust sheets to cover your TV and computer etc. |
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TIP: As I’ve mentioned before, use your own dust sheets to cover your TV and computer etc. |
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Click here to see the blog this tip refers to |
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TIP: If you like a house and you’re seeing it again, arrange to meet a builder or architect there to get some ideas. |
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TIP: It makes a bathroom renovation easier if you get everything from the same supplier – makes it easier to match everything. |
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TIP: If the supplier drags their feet or can’t help with such questions as “Will this work with that?” then go to another supplier. |
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TIP: Agree on delivery up front before you order so they don’t hit you with an extra £50 for delivery. |
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TIP: Bathroom furniture prices vary a lot from supplier to supplier. It’s worth buying the stuff and arranging the installation separately if you can. The big shops that do packages really add a big margin to the price. |
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TIP: Be nosey. Don’t feel embarrassed about opening bathroom cupboards or draws in the bedroom. How people live reflects how well they look after this house you’re buying. |
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TIP: You have to search objectively, but don’t forget that you’re buying a house to make it a home. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t buy it. |
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TIP: Be as objective as you can when looking for a property. Before you start looking write down what’s the most important to you (price, location, mow much work it needs, scope for expansion etc). |
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Click here to see the blog this tip refers to |
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TIP: Be as objective as you can when looking for a property. Before you start looking write down what’s the most important to you (price, location, mow much work it needs, scope for expansion etc). |
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Click here to see the blog this tip refers to |
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TIP: Use the free websites to check prices on the street you’re interested in. Normally you’ll be able to see how much the current owners paid for it – very useful. |
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TIP: You always have to think long term with property unless it’s a very strong market as it was leading up to 2008. |
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TIP: Granite tiles look great, but unless you really, really want them stick to ceramic or porcelain especially if you’re cutting and laying them yourself. |
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TIP: A dark floor in a kitchen can work well if you already have enough light – it helps hide everyday splashes (but that doesn’t mean you should keep anything less than a very clean kitchen!!) |
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TIP: A few centimetres here and there doesn’t sound like much but it does make a big difference to how spacious the kitchen feels. |
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TIP: Don’t assume the workmen will do anything beyond their immediate remit. If you’re not sure ask them. If they say it’s not covered they talk about it in a rational way. |
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TIP: Get a professional to plan your kitchen and always allow for a few millimetres here and there for tolerance. |
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TIP: It’s your money and it’s your kitchen. You HAVE to be on top of every aspect about the renovation. |
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TIP: Each night make a list of things you want to discuss with the builders the next morning before they start work. |
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TIP: Renovating a kitchen means loads of dust and mayhem everywhere. If you have small children or a sensitive partner try to get them out of the house, at least for the start of the work which is generally the most noisy and dusty. |
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TIP: When you’re having a room renovated don’t forget to have your own dust sheets to cover over things like your TV, computer and beds etc. You don’t want to come home to a TV that smells when you turn it on, and you don’t want to go to bed with a dusty pillow. |
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TIP: Plan everything as far in advance as you can, but always try to build in some flexibility. |
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TIP: For below the worktop, draws always work better than cupboards. They give you more flexibility and better use of space. |
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TIP: Get a quote from the most expensive place right from the start, it’ll help put a real value on other quotes in terms of cost and quality. |
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TIP: If a neighbour has had a renovation don’t be shy in asking to have a look. They’ll be full of tips. |
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TIP: When moving it’s easier to pack stuff into smaller transparent plastic boxes that stack. They’re easy to pack, they go into a van easily and you can see what’s inside without having to open a box up. |
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TIP: Always do a sanity check when you’re ordering stuff – “That’s the oval fitting 20cm wide yes?” would have saved me a panic. |
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TIP: Stay real when you’re renovating. We almost bought solid wood flooring and under floor heating, but for an apartment it doesn’t make sense – especially as we’ll probably only live here for a few years. |
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TIP: Don’t get depressed when you see apartment after apartment that is no good. Each viewing helps you to recognise the right apartment when you see it (it’s a bit like dating I guess). |
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TIP: Buy a big map of the area you want to move into and use post-its to label where you’ve seen, how much the property was and what your score out of ten was. It’s helps you to be objective. This applies for whether your buying or renting. |
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TIP: When relocating it’s ok (infact a good idea) to overlap timings just in case you need to go back! |
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TIP: Before handing over your bond, get a contract which specifies exactly why the landlord may take money out of it. Australia has a great system as we’ll see later. |
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