General questions and costs
Discussion
I'm thinking about putting an offer in on a house, but with a few bits that need doing to it. I'm trying to work out how expensive those jobs will be - I've got no idea. Anyone able to chuck some rough figures out there? The first job might not even need someone else to do anything, I may be able to do it myself.
1. Air vents. It looks like the house once had central air heating - fine internally, but there seem to be a few vents on the external facing walls (although I've not looked outside to see if it goes all the way through) like the one linked here. They seem to let a bit of noise in, and I presume they're upping the heating costs. Can they be blocked off easily?
2. New front door. There's currently a uPVC jobby that'd take about 3 seconds to pop with a screwdriver. Back of napkin estimate for something with a multi-point locking system?
3. Removing an internal wall between kitchen and lounge - about 6-7 feet, no apparent electrical feed running along it and I don't believe it's load bearing. Radiator attached that would need relocating or replacing with something smaller, and I'd be looking to have whoever does it do everything - not just prep it for me to decorate.
4. Installing a stud wall - there's a room which was previously two, the door was left in-situ. I'd rather divide it back in two. Again, looking to get someone else to do any plastering/decorating because I can't be trusted.
5. Replacing a fairly old looking consumer unit with something more modern.
6. Installing a Tado smart thermostat on an easily accessible Valiant combi boiler.
Would anyone mind advising me on a) if I'm drawing the right conclusion about point 1, and b) a rough idea of costs? I don't want to make an offer only to find out on getting builders in that there's a lot more cost involved than I'd anticipated. Right now I am totally clueless about going rates for these things.
1. Air vents. It looks like the house once had central air heating - fine internally, but there seem to be a few vents on the external facing walls (although I've not looked outside to see if it goes all the way through) like the one linked here. They seem to let a bit of noise in, and I presume they're upping the heating costs. Can they be blocked off easily?
2. New front door. There's currently a uPVC jobby that'd take about 3 seconds to pop with a screwdriver. Back of napkin estimate for something with a multi-point locking system?
3. Removing an internal wall between kitchen and lounge - about 6-7 feet, no apparent electrical feed running along it and I don't believe it's load bearing. Radiator attached that would need relocating or replacing with something smaller, and I'd be looking to have whoever does it do everything - not just prep it for me to decorate.
4. Installing a stud wall - there's a room which was previously two, the door was left in-situ. I'd rather divide it back in two. Again, looking to get someone else to do any plastering/decorating because I can't be trusted.
5. Replacing a fairly old looking consumer unit with something more modern.
6. Installing a Tado smart thermostat on an easily accessible Valiant combi boiler.
Would anyone mind advising me on a) if I'm drawing the right conclusion about point 1, and b) a rough idea of costs? I don't want to make an offer only to find out on getting builders in that there's a lot more cost involved than I'd anticipated. Right now I am totally clueless about going rates for these things.
Edited by tenohfive on Tuesday 20th February 03:42
Little Lofty said:
£3-4K should cover that. Get the eletrics checked out, if they are in bad shape it will cost a lot more than just a new consumer unit.
Is that for the whole lot? I'd figured that much just for 3. - knocking through the internal wall.I'm mindful that the consumer unit might just be the start; either way, I don't want to do it half arsed so if I do go ahead then I'll get the electrics checked out.
Okay - back with another question - but one which bears no relation to any of the previous ones (different property):
Property has an old looking standard boiler, with a tank in an airing cupboard adjacent to the bathroom.
I'm quite keen on replacing the boiler for future proofing with a combi-boiler.
The bathroom is small and in need of at the very least a new suite fitting and retiling, and ideally an electric shower adding. It has crossed my mind to get the boiler replaced and add the airing cupboard space to the bathroom.
1. Is that feasible?
2. Is it likely to be significant extra expense over just a new suite and retiling?
3. Who would do it - would I need bathroom fitters and a builder, plus central heating engineer for the combi boiler? Or are there firms that would do the lot to save on time/disruption?
I'm wary of escalating costs - the boiler needs doing (in my view) and the bathroom needs a refit. This would be a bonus job to make it less poky but if it's likely to add a few extra grand it might be something that gets put off until funds allow.
Property has an old looking standard boiler, with a tank in an airing cupboard adjacent to the bathroom.
I'm quite keen on replacing the boiler for future proofing with a combi-boiler.
The bathroom is small and in need of at the very least a new suite fitting and retiling, and ideally an electric shower adding. It has crossed my mind to get the boiler replaced and add the airing cupboard space to the bathroom.
1. Is that feasible?
2. Is it likely to be significant extra expense over just a new suite and retiling?
3. Who would do it - would I need bathroom fitters and a builder, plus central heating engineer for the combi boiler? Or are there firms that would do the lot to save on time/disruption?
I'm wary of escalating costs - the boiler needs doing (in my view) and the bathroom needs a refit. This would be a bonus job to make it less poky but if it's likely to add a few extra grand it might be something that gets put off until funds allow.
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