HOME IMPROVEMENT Rosie Stanton, @no44.house on Instagram, installed electrics and plumbing throughout her period home then focused her attention on the lacklustre living room. She had it replastered, painted the walls dramatic blue-black, opened up the bay window with shutters to make the most of the natural light and installed a new fireplace
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A flat-roofed kitchen extension formed a major part of this semi-detached house renovation, carried out by Plus Rooms. The owners chose Art Deco-style steel French doors rather than sliding doors to create a cosy feel in the new room while providing a clear view of the garden
Source Jacobs & Dalton
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HOW TO BUY A FIXER- UPPER Research, redesign and renovate a dated property to unlock its hidden potential, space and value reate a home that’s tailor-made for you and your family by buying a property that’s in need of some attention and renovating it. A ‘fixer-upper’ typically costs less than an ‘already fixed-up’ equivalent, which means you could afford a home in a more desirable neighbourhood or substantially boost the property’s value as an investment. Before you start your property search, consider the scale of the work required, your budget and whether you’ll need somewhere else to live while the work is underway. Once you’ve purchased your project, schedule the jobs to make the best use of your time and money.
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OPT FOR AN AUCTION BUY An auction is a good opportunity to find a bargain. A property can go to auction for various reasons: the owners might need a quick sale; the property might have a short lease; there might be sitting tenants, a structural issue or something else that makes it difficult to sell via an estate agent. Read the legal pack to find out what the issue is and seek legal advice on whether it’s resolvable. Once bidding begins, each lot is sold to the highest bidder, as long as the reserve price (which isn’t disclosed) is met. You pay a 10 per cent deposit and exchange contracts, then complete 28 days later. Always view the property and area in advance, and attend an earlier auction so you know what to expect, then set your maximum bid and don’t exceed it.
