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BUYING HOUSES FOR RENOVATION

Many people are seduced by how cheaply run down houses can be bought.
Too many have rushed to buy a house for renovation - and lived to regret their money pit.
On the other hand it's a good way to end up with your dream home for a fraction of the price.
Plus, if you're starting from scratch, you get to chosse your own bathroom, kitchen and fittings

Be realistic and check whether these renovation projects are for you.

Remember that renovation takes time as well as money.
A sense of humour will be essential when renovating
and you must always expect the unexpected! 

Not all run down houses for sale
need huge amounts of work- it may be mainly cosmetic.
Projects range from a complete demolition and rebuild,
to a new bathroom and a lot of decorating.

You will be bringing wonderful original features back to life.

A large project is not for the fainthearted - your holidays will be spent working
and many evenings will be spent phoning tradesmen and worrying.

Be careful to find out just what you are taking on
Research is particularly important when you buy a house for renovation.

Picture all the problems building work at home an cause
and then imagine them all happening in a foreign language.

TOP TIP
some houses for renovation are very isolated-
check how much it will cost to have services installed-
how far the nearest shops and restaurants are .

POINTS TO CONSIDER

• the work often costs more than expected -
  as one job progresses, more problems can be discovered
• the house for renovation may be uninhabitable so you will have to stay elsewhere
• there are lots of building regulations to follow - and in a foreign language

Your builder may go off to other jobs- so yours will take much longer.
 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

• don't expect to make a massive profit
• the value of the finished project will usually only be around what you
  have paid for the houseand the amount you have spent on building work.
• remember it can be harder to sell a beautiful but expensive home later
• and you will have to pay tax on any increase in value.

Many of these considerations sound negative.
With good reason.
If a project like this is right for you,
it will  be one of the most exhilarating achievements of your life,
and the pleasure you will get from using your home will be immense.

If you choose unwisely, or take on more than you can handle-
it can be an expensive nightmare.
 

If you want to know more about the actual work involved on
turning run down houses for renovation into dream homes,
and a (very) rough guide to what you can expect the work to cost
you can find out more HERE

For a checklist to help you  search for your ideal wreck, click HERE

For over 40 pages of information to help you buy in France,
visit our sister site FRENCH PROPERTY FOR LESS