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Finally settled 2 days ago. Began demo/clean up today – a big old green house, old pavers, carpets, lino, curtains etc. The boards under the covering are in awesome nic. One truckload down ..???? to go.
Crashy – did look at kitchen options you mentioned but still came out more expensive from Ikea
Been busy getting quotes and costing the renos. An idea of the plans so far:
Kitchen – L-shaped kitchen, including benchtops and wall cabinets $1850
Tiler – best quote (not necessarily cheapest) $800 to tile the bathroom – need to work on this one I think but a lot of the tilers are fully booked until well after new year
Painter – ~$5500 to do whole house including sealing the laundry walls that are currently unpainted fibro
Painter suggested the raw laundry floor would look fine painted and I think will go for that – is smooth cement floor.Plumber is still ongoing – first quote was around $2000 when all doing is replacing toilet, moving vanity and dishwasher plumbing – the house is wooden floors and easily accessible – seems ridiculous to me
Also sourced 2nds pavers for the patio area, looked for tiles – need to find a place that has bargain area, selecting paint colours
Gradually getting there
Still waiting for banks to get get going and set up my supposedly preapproved loan. I almost think our first bank wants to make the sale fall thru because we got 2nd mortgage thru diff bank. With less than 2 weeks b4 settlement, the first bank has rung today to say they have to do a driveby valuation b4 will agree other bank being 2nd mortgage. A bit over the top since a quick look on the internet would tell them more and our total borrowing/value will be less than 50%. They also told us they can’t guarantee approval will be given b4 the settlement date.
More like $1250 – first guy has included asbestos removal (diff company) and other guy wants me to do on top of that amt.
Rang to discuss with preferred builder and recommends beneath celing as (a) extra costs incurred to get beams into ceiling – remove some of aluminium roof and (b) doesn’t feel could get adequate support.
Ho, Just thought i’d say hi as I am just startng my first reno in East Ipswich. My hb did agree to me buying the house but did not actually get around to looking at it until 3 weeks into settlement. Thankfully he too was ok with my purchase.
Melanie
Got quotes back from builders for removing and supporting walls between kitchen and living room – $2450 (extra support put within celiling) + get asbestos remoed first and $2300 with beam below ceiling – bulkhead style. Think will go for latter.
Already allocated nearly $15000 of budget and still need to cost bathroom, laundry and outdoor stuff. Trying to start from largest expenses.
Debating whether to have a go at the painting to save a bit, far from pro but my husband has come home from work on occasion to find the colour of a room has changed!
Melanie
Thanks Crashy. I will definitely take a visit to Ikea.
Re: using tiles for a bench top, I have seen that suggested before but doesn’t it then look like tiles on a bench top or do you not notice the joins?
Also spent a fair bit of time trying to organise tradesmen today. Agent says is happy for me to access house as often as need which makes easier.
Melanie
Thanks Grace, REALLY appreciate the advice. Your comments are also very much along the line of what we are planning, so that is heartening.
We are getting quotes on opening up between the kitchen and main bed, which will become the living. The current living will become main bed.
Hadn’t considered making the front room a bedroom – will have another look. Current budget doesn’t allow much reconfiguring but will check to see what endprice might be achieveable with 4 br.
Also hadn’t thought about swapping bathroom and laundry – would people prefer a larger bathroom that is off kitchen or a smaller bathroom near bedrooms? I was thinking if we got rid of the cupboard in the bathroom would give more space, then put some cupboard space into laundry to replace.
Another question – has anybody been using wallpaper at all? Or do people just want painted wall? Was wondering as thought a plain wallpaper would cover the removed/filled cover strips well. We are looking to modernise the interior and maintain a bet of the feel of the style.
Ta, Melanie
Forgot to add – dimensions in bath and bed 3 – hall not accurate ie bathroom is wider than that, but small
Measured up the house as is no existing plan.
Counted the little things (thtat I think will add up quick) – power points, light fittings, light switches, door handles, cupboard handles etc
Had a builder in for a quote to get remove 2 walls. Debating whether really need to remove cupboard in bathroom as it really is small room. Problem is would then lose only built in robe.
Drew up house plan. http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo359/mstoakes/scan0002.jpg
When you walk into house has a really weird feel as virtually walking into main bedroom, so want to make that the lving space and vice versa and open up the walls between kitchen and (then) living. Any opinions would be appreciated.
Read up (on here) re removing the cover strips from walls.
Today: debated paved area vs decked: paving doesn’t need railings and would come up nice and keep open feel in smallish yard?
Planned kitchen design.
Contacted carpenter/builders re removing walls between kitchen/hall/living area.
Contacted asbestos removalists to get idea cost as one wall asbestos. Less than expected.
Showed house to hb to get idea of costings for his bits ie front fence, front steps, rear patio area.Realised most of the windows are frosted type so less light thru. I wonder whether this would be an issue for potential buyers. Personally don’t think I would like it but my budget wouldn’t extend that far.
Already realising that keeping to essentials and to budget will be very challenging.
I bought the house in the first week of school holidays and, having young children, asked for a 6 week settlement to allow 2 weeks holidays, 4 weeks organising. Well hiccup no 1 has been hand and mouth disease – so after an extra week and a half of settlement time at home with the boys sick, I decided they’d just have to come with me.
2 slushies later- no there’s no coke ones, it’s raspberry or nothing – from Maccas, off we went to Bunnings to check out the flatpax kitchens and various bathroom fittings, lights and door furniture. I was surprised at how good the kitchen display models looked.
Money spent: nothing deductble (although the $16 I had to spend on the worlds most expensive feather duster to get my 10 yo son with DS to stay near me should be an allowable deduction in my books).
Will look at some costings tonight. I’m thinking with a polished wooden floor I’ll probably go with a dark laminate top and white cupboards. My bro-in-law who is a cabinet maker is coming to help measure up and design on weekend. Not making it for us as his kitchens are stunning but out of our price range.
Not much, but at least can work out a rough kitchen estimate and see how compares to Ikea’s. (Are the cafeteria meals at Ikea tax deductible?)
Thanks for the ideas guys. People like you are what make this such a great resource.
thankyou. will give it a go.
Main problem is that there is a laundry extension and a 2nd bathroom extension off rear of house from the kitchen, (the kitchen window looks into the bath extension!!!) and both are on diff levels to each other and to the rest of house. We think it is the ‘problem” that makes the house undervalued. There is a gorgeous back yard with no windows looking onto and the only rear exit is down thru the laundry. We were thinking that as there is another bathroom and ensuite off main, would convert rear area to an outdoor living space. Does that sound reasonable or not?
Thanks guys.Bathroom ok size but kitchen big eat in style. Thanks for helping.
It's fibro outer. That would have to be easier than brick i imagine.
Thanks for the advice.
