Sometimes, like people, properties need drastic makeovers.
This is where remodelling comes in.
But before you remodel your house, you should carefully consider your options – including whether it’s even worth doing.
After all, they can be expensive, time-consuming and sometimes have uncertain outcomes.
What is remodelling a house?
When you remodel a house, you change its layout or appearance significantly.
The goal is usually to make it more enjoyable to live in and/or increase how much it’s worth.
But sometimes, it’s a necessity. For example, if a house is damaged by flood or fire or has become derelict.
Private homeowners often carry this out as one-off projects. And private companies (or individuals) specialising in house flipping carry out multiple remodellings yearly.
Remodelling vs renovation
Remodelling and renovation are similar but not the same. They are often mixed up and used interchangeably, too.
Remodelling indicates a drastic change to a property’s structure or function, whereas renovation is a more surface-level change to its appearance.
Scale and time
You can remodel an entire house if you want to. This is a major project that tends to take several months.
Sometimes, it’s cheaper and simpler to knock down the house and rebuild it.
Issues can unexpectedly appear during remodelling, increasing the cost and time involved.
More commonly, people will remodel a single room. The bathroom or kitchen are the most popular choices.
That’s because these rooms have the biggest impact on overall value. They’re also more likely to be outdated since there are more appliances.
You should do the best job possible when remodelling your house.
Location
Local contractor prices move based on your location in the UK.
Just as average house prices across the UK vary, so do prices related to services for them.
The highest prices are found in London and the south-east of England.
Meanwhile, in rural Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, prices could be up to half what they are in the English capital.
Consider how far your remodelling expert is travelling to reach you. It’s often a good idea to choose someone based nearby. Otherwise, they may charge more for the extra travel.
Not all properties can be remodelled
Not all properties can be remodelled – or be remodelled how their owners would like them to be.
There are several potential reasons for this, including:
- A restrictive covenant on the property
- The property is listed (which means it is limited in changes that can be made)
- The property is not listed but is a historic property, and local planning policies and regulations (as well as community pressure) are set up to preserve it as it is.
How much does remodelling a house cost?
The average cost of remodelling a house in the UK is around £90,000.
However, this number varies significantly based on:
- Your property’s size
- The extent of remodelling planned
- The materials used
- The contractors you choose.
In less expensive parts of the UK, costs will be lower. This is because contractors charge less.
For example, around £75,000 is typical for a whole house remodel in the north-west or north-east of England.
Meanwhile, projects like this often go into the six figures in London and the south-east of England.
Around £110,000 would probably be ‘standard’ in Central London.
Type of remodelling
You should get a clear idea of the scale of your remodelling.
In other words, what percentage of each room is being ‘gutted’ and totally replaced?
The cost of the materials involved are essential.
It’ll cost much more if you want the high-quality appliances installed.
And hardwood or marble flooring in your kitchen is another expensive option.
Professional you use
Before jumping into the project, you should get a price quote from several contractors.
Ask for evidence of their past remodelling projects. And get a clear sense of their:
- Location
- Billing method
- Materials involved
- Experience.
And more.
Ways to keep down the price when remodelling a house
1. Prioritise which rooms need attention
You shouldn’t remodel the entire house unless it’s necessary. You may want to focus on the rooms that need the most work.
For example, remodelling your kitchen or bathroom creates the best return on investment.
2. Set a budget in advance
You should set a budget and then stick to it. Don’t allow yourself to go off-road.
This ensures that you only spend what you can afford. And you won’t be sidetracked by ‘shiny’ extras.
3. Do the simple parts yourself
If you’ve got experience with DIY, then make use of this for the simplest tasks. You don’t want to cut corners and do a bad job.
But if it’s within your skillset, it’s a good idea. You could also ask a friend or family member to do you a favour.
4. Don’t overspend on materials
Take care when choosing the materials you want. This can impact your cost by thousands of pounds.
Expensive isn’t always best. Do your research and find a nice middle ground.
5. Get quotations from several different contractors
Don’t say yes to the first contractor you speak to. You should get an opinion from several different professionals.
And if you’ve got friends or family working in this area, ask if they’ll give you a discount. This allows you to get a sense of the entire market.
6. Negotiate on price
There’s rarely any harm in trying to negotiate. The worst they can say is no!
And plenty of contractors are open to this. If the market is quiet, they may be willing to compromise to get your work.
7. Choose a local contractor
Contractors based far away may charge more for travel costs.
This is an unnecessary extra, if there’s someone closer who offers the same service.
Alternatives to remodelling
If your house needs remodelling but you can’t afford it, the alternative is to sell it at a reduced price.
This can be difficult because most buyers don’t want to take on the cost and work involved in remodelling.
So, many people in this situation use auction houses or cash buyers (like We Buy Any Home) to complete a sale.
Both of these options will offer a reduced price. However, the main difference is the time and level of certainty involved.
Auction houses can generally complete sales faster than the open market.
However, a marketing process is still involved, and a completed sale is not guaranteed.
Cash buyers, by contrast, don’t rely on mortgages or marketing, so sales are usually guaranteed, in an even shorter timeframe than auctions, once a selling price is agreed.
