If you’ve bought a neglected home that’s not in great shape, you’re probably wondering where you need to start in terms of renovating it. These kinds of projects are great because they allow you to take a home that’s seen better days, usually buying it at a low price, and turning it into something glorious.

However, that’s not to say the process is easy because it’s certainly not. There are lots of things that can go wrong and many costly challenges to overcome. But it’s all part of the fun of the process. Read on now to find out what you need to get right.

The Most Important Ways of Renovating a Neglected Home

​Address Any Damp Issues

The first thing that needs to be done is searching through the property for any signs of urgent problems that need to be put right, such as damp. Damp can be highly damaging to the structure of your home and it’s not something you’ll want to take any chances with. If you do find a damp problem, you’ll need to find it’s source and make sure it’s dealt with properly by a team of professionals. It’s important that these kinds of problems are dealt with correctly otherwise they’ll simply return again in the future.
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Have the Structure Assessed and Worked On

It’s also a good idea to have the home’s overall structure assessed for problems. Ideally this will be done before the home is bought. But an even more in-depth and detailed assessment should also take place upon moving in. That way, any issues no matter how small can be dealt with. That’s important because you don’t want those problems that seem small today to start causing you problems later on.

Check for Infestations

As you check over the home and look for issues such as damp or structural problems as we’ve discussed above, you might also want to check for signs of an infestation. It’s not uncommon for old and disused homes to be invaded by insects and pests. Birds might find a gap in the roof and make the attic their new home. Or there might be rodent issues. If these problems are present, you’ll want to get them resolved at the earliest opportunity.
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Replace Old, Energy Inefficient Windows

If you have windows in your home that are very old and inefficient, they’ll be allowing heat to escape and cold air to enter the home. That’s why it’s so important to get old and outdated windows repaired when you’re renovating a neglected property. You should take a look at home window replacement cost and decide whether you feel it’s something that’ll pay off for your property renovation plans going forward.

Modernise the Wiring

If the wiring in the home is very old and past its best, it’s a good idea to modernise it so that it’ll be fit for the future. Wiring systems that are old can be hard to manage and also present an increased danger in some instances too. That’s why it’s so important to update a system that’s way too old. And this is work that should, of course, be done by a fully qualified and professional electrician. It’s certainly not a process that you want to try to take on and complete alone because it’s highly complex and very dangerous.
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Install an Up to Date Heating System

Another thing you’ll probably want to update is the heating system. An old heating system won’t offer you what you’re looking for in terms of efficient heating and warmth throughout the home. Many people are updating their energy systems and getting new thermostats today anyway. So the chances are if yours hasn’t been updates in decades, now is as good a time as any to make that happen. With a modern system, not only will it be much more efficient, but you’ll also have more control over the temperature in your home.

Restore Original Features

If there are any original features in the home, you should think about whether these could or should be restored. If you want to make sure the home stays true to its history in some way, it’s probably a good idea for these original features to be bought back and restored in some way. Many people find that one of the best ways of restoring the original features of a home is to expose the original floorboards and restore them to their original glory.
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Focus on Eco-Friendly Renovations

When making changes and upgrades throughout the home, you should try to focus on ones that are eco-friendly and sustainable. When you do that, you can make sure the renovations that take place are fit for the future and won’t later be viewed as just yet another burden. That’s obviously not what you want. There are so many green upgrades and changes that you can make to a home such as this, so be sure to do your research and find the eco-friendly upgrades that you feel will be most effective in your home.

Get the Right Help

When carrying out all of these repairs, you’ll want to make sure that you get the right help. There’s plenty of professional assistance out there for you to make use of. So you certainly shouldn’t feel as if you need to go through this alone. Of course, when it comes to hiring tradespeople, you should take extra care to make sure that you find professionals you can trust and who have the right skills and background. Read reviews online and choose carefully.

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Each of the renovation steps we’ve discussed here is vitally important when it comes to getting your new home in the condition you need it to be. Only then will it feel like a home that you want to live in with your family, or even sell on and turn a profit on it. ​

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