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The greater the renovation to be undertaken, the greater the risks
of the project costs spiralling upwards,
and of your enthusiasm spiralling downwards.

This said however, there is enormous satisfaction to be had
from bringing an old wreck back to life and beauty.

You must not underestimate the hard work involved, and the costs of your
renovation project, but you are in control of the expenditure.

Many properies to renovate abroad may be structurally sound, but need new bathrooms,
kitchens and some serious decorating.
You do not have to over-restore and use luxury specification fittings.

Don't forget that you can survive on holiday with ( shock! horror! ) only one simple bathroom!

And that with a little imagination, you can make a virtue out of rough walls ,
and the huge open spaces of an old barn.
 

SEARCHING FOR YOUR RENOVATION PROJECT

In many ways the search criteria when looking for a property to renovate abroad
are the same as when looking for a
home in good condition, but a renovation project creates some extra ones.

Before you take the plunge make sure you:

Set a budget  - don't get carried away on ideas you can't afford.
The work to be carried out could cost as much as 4 times the purchase price!

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There are  useful newsgroups on the web contributed to by other people who are renovating houses.
You can ask questions and swap advice with others who are in a similar situation.

Spend a  few hours looking at some of the many web sites available.
You will soon see which ones specialize in the kind of
property to renovate abroad that you are looking for.

You can book appointments with agents before you go,
and this is really useful- but I would always recommend that
you allow some time to prowl around the agents offices once you are in the area-
and to allow time to make appointments to view properties you may see in their windows..

If this is your first viewing trip, this is even more important.
It is surprising how much your ideas can change when you begin to see properties in situ.

You would not be the first renovation project searcher to realise that in reality,
a newly built appartment on the coast was the best buy for them!

BEFORE YOU SIGN....

 

Don't buy on impulse -   make sure you know what you are taking on.

An old barn may seem like a real bargain.
Converting it into a liveable, let alone a luxury space may take it beyond your budget.
Or you may never even be granted planning permission to convert it to residential use.
Find out before you sign!

Don't sign anything on any property before you have fully checked its condition,
and received written quotations for the work needed.

If you are planning to do much of the work yourself do be realistic when
telling yourself how much time you will need to spend on the build.
Can you really commit to the timescales involved?
 

VIEWING PROPERTIES

 

Take photos and make notes to help you remember each property.

Print out our RENOVATION HUNT CHECKLIST.

Take it to record details of each property you view.
This will allow you to recap accurately  the details of any property you have seen.
If possible, try to view early in the year.
As in the UK, this is when most properties come on the market.
You will also be taken more seriously by agents- they know you are not wasting their time
on your holiday whim.
Don't be in too much of a hurry-
never believe the property you are seeing is the last dream home you will ever see.
 
 

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Spend time viewing your preferred style of property, of course.
But it is a good idea to view a few which are in a different category.
This can either broaden your search,
or confirm that your initial choice was definitely the one for you.

As you look around you will  start to build up your knowledge of the local area-
and of just what you can get for your money.
A visit to some renovated properties will give you an idea of what can be achieved-
and how much houses sell for after restoration.

If you see a property which seems right, it is a good idea to visit it again and again and again.
You  should try to make 2, 3 and even 4 visits, preferably at different times of the day.

Imagine it at different times of the year-
when all that baked earth has turned to mud and the riverside garden is under water.

This will be your home in the sun.
At the end of the day, gut feelings matter.
If after several viewings,
weighing up its pros and cons,
if it still feels right,
it probably is right.

FINDING HOW MUCH THE WORK NEEDED WILL COST
 

When contemplating buying a property to renovate abroad,
ask around locally for recommended, registered and insured tradesmen.
Get estimates, as detailed as possible, for the work you are contemplating.

Don't sign anything on any property before you have fully checked its condition,
and received written quotations for the work needed.

At the purchase stage, a clause should be inserted into the initial contract
making any necessary planning consents  a condition of sale,
and to make getting a mortgage a condition of your purchase.

Also consider using an architect to help plan the best options for improvement-
This will certainly be an extra cost-
but the detailed plans and the fact you will be ensuring that no
major  tasks have been overlooked could save money in the long term.

 

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Seriously consider investing in a detailed survey.
You must do this before you sign the initial contract-
you can't change your mind after signing if you
find the house needs more work than you thought.

COMMON REPAIRS NEEDED ON RUN DOWN PROPERTIES
 

It can  be difficult to get an idea of the costs likely to be involved in the repairs,
and even the nature of the repairs most commonly needed.

Before you make an offer on a particular property you will
obviously need to get full written quotes for all the work that will need doing.

But what about when you are just wondering if renovating is for you?
When you are just starting to view properties, and need just a basic idea of the
extent of renovations likely to be needed?

You can't get builders in to view every house with you!

The list below  gives some very rough, but helpful ideas of commonly needed repairs.
and in some cases, an even rougher guide to what these types of jobs could cost.
Where there are 2 figures, the first is for a builder to do the job,
the second the cost of materials for a DIY job.

Installing electricity:  1800 euro to connect mains in near proximity.

Installing mains water: 1800 euro to connect to mains in near proximity

Installing a septic tank : supply and install 3500 euro/ tank cost for DIY installation 2100 euro

Replacing the roof and timbers  £35 m2

Re- tiling the roof

Set of stairs - 1000 euro / 350 euro DIY

Fitting new door - 150euro / 80 euro

Fitting window approx 100cm x 100cm 400euro

Fitting a kitchen 1000 euro plus units

Fitting a bathroom - supply and fit 1700 euro / 500 euro DIY

Ventilation - particularly in roof and loft

Insulation - to keep heat both in and out

Re-wiring (on radial circuits) average house - supply and install 5000euro / 1000 euro DIY

Heating- electric oil filled radiators are popular, and do not require a difficult installation

Hot water heater - 1000 euro supply and fit / 550 euro DIY

New floors: ground level concrete 10cm thick £9 m2

upper level concrete 6cm £8 m2

Floor tiling £7.50 m2

Plastering £5 m2

Plasterboarding - 22 euro /m2 or 8 euro/m2 DIY

Creating a roof terraces on a village house - let us know how much you paid!

Gardening and landscaping

Interior decoration

Converting lofts into living accomodation - let us know how much you paid!

Fitting Velux windows - supply and fit 400euro / DIY 200 euro

Demolition  - £55 hour for JCB

Rubbish removal

If you have experience of property to renovate abroad, help us to fill in the jobs without price estimates above!

PLANNING PERMISSION
 

 

This is needed for almost all work which will affect the external appearance of a property.
Your builder or architect will know the local regulations, and should be able to make the applications.

If you are going to do the work yourself, you will need to ask at the local town hall.
If in doubt - always apply.

For instance, you  need permission for installing Velux windows when converting a loft in France.

And if you do need any planning permission, it may be made a condition that other unrelated tasks are completed.

For example, replacing the septic tank,to bring it up to current standards
may be made a condition of permission for the new windows in your loft!
 

There are some additions for which permission may not be required-

• fencing
• terraces
• re-rendering
• greenhouses
• Small sheds

-but never take anything for granted- ask at the local town hall and
if you don't fully understand, check with your notary or lawyer.

GETTING THE WORK DONE

Don't sign anything on any property before you have fully checked its condition,
and received written quotations for the work needed.

You  have a choice between employing people to carry out all the work,
or attempting the renovation work yourself.

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Keep every receipt for goods and labour you aquire as the work progresses.
These will be counted against any capital gains you have made when you come
to sell the property, and keep down the tax you have to pay.

You will have a choice between local builders, and British builders living and working in the area.
Make sure that whoever you use is registered and insured.
If you ask for the locations of their previous jobs, you can go and check out the quality of their work.

If you are employing builders and are not going to camp out in the property while work proceeds,
you must allow time and money for regular visits to inspect progress.
Work rarely moves on as quickly when you are not around.
 
CHECKLIST FOR VIEWING RUN DOWN HOUSES