REFURBISHMENT
What is home Refurbishment?
House Refurbishment refers to the process of improving, restoring or updating your existing property, to enhance it’s appearance functionality and overall condition, without making significant structural changes.
It helps you to feel more ‘comfortable’ in your own home.You could potentially be upgrading the previous owners decoration or just simply making changes to make your home feel more updated and relaxing for daily life.
Refurbishment is often associated or can be confused with Renovation, however they are different, mostly due to the depth of the work being undertaken. Refurbishment focuses mainly on restoring and refreshing what is currently in place e.g painting and carpeting, helping to modernise your current home.
MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF REFURBISHMENT
Main Characteristics of Refurbishment:
To focus primarily on cosmetic and functional updates.
To undertake surface level changes that do not alter the building’s fundamental structure or original layout.
To restore a property and complete it to a good state of repair, improve energy efficiency and modernise it’s style.
Permissions: Most refurbishment work is simply classed as general maintenance and rarely requires formal planning permission. Bear in mind that some upgrades like electrical or heating changes may still need to comply with local Building Regulations.
Examples of Refurbishment:
Cosmetic updates: Replacing flooring and carpeting. Repainting walls. Changing hardware and updating light fixtures and fittings.
Individual room upgrades: Installing a new bathroom or kitchen within the original footprint of the home. Basic plumbing could be upgraded. Adding extra storage where possible is an excellent upgrade, especially in smaller spaces. Changing a rooms use i.e from a hallway or bedroom into a home office, especially with more people now working from home.
System upgrade: Heating systems can be updated. Ventilation can be applied. General re wiring of your property can be undertaken to meet modern standards.
Functional upgrades: Re plastering of walls/ceilings. Basic plumbing leaks repaired. Replacing windows and doors.
WHY IS THERE A NEED TO REFURBISH HOMES?
Why is there a need to Refurbish your home?
General upgrading and modernisation: Upgrading outdated electrical wiring, plumbing or heating systems to meet current safety and efficiency standards.
Aesthetic upgrades: Repainting, re plastering and replacing flooring. Refreshing your home helps to maintain the property and make it look and feel new again.
Enhanced Functionality: Updating kitchens and bathrooms and replacing worn out fixtures and fittings. These are the most important rooms to upgrade if you are thinking of potentially selling in the near future.
Property flipping: Investors buy dated homes in need of Refurbishment in order to update the interiors, exteriors and landscaping. This helps to sell houses for a profit.
