We were much disciplined about getting rid of whatever wasn’t house-appropriate and bringing in things that were. It’s a delicate balance that requires a sense of discovery, a discerning eye, and an eternal spirit in the face of unexpected developments. Here are four things you should consider when renovating an old home. 1. Lay the groundwork. Before even considering doing house renovation aesthetically, have an inspector check the current systems and structures. It’s more comfortable to improve electrical work and plumbing—as they did when they refreshed their homes old pipes—as well as roofing and windows before you’ve added wallpaper and paint.
2. Dig deeper. The living room was clad in an ornate–style busier, but the pair discovered a drawing of the room from the early 20th century and learned about the grid-pattern millwork that had initially been there. So they cut a hole into the paneling and found the preserved oak beneath it. The home renovation element now figures prominently in the space. 3. Embrace patina. “One of the best moments was when we walked through the finished house and asked if we’d done anything. “That was the highest compliment.” A significant contributor to that effect was using plaster with metal lath for walls instead of Sheetrock. 4. Decorate with new old things. The couple replaced damaged floorboards with reclaimed 200year-old oak to retain “that old creaky feeling. A midcentury table sits beneath a pair of pendant lamps in the dining room. “What’s interesting to us is the mix. “We wanted the house to seem as if it had been furnished over time.” Home renovation is one of the best ways to get the home you want. It can also make you a good amount of money when you come to sell, too, if done right. And therein lays the crucial word: Done right. Renovating a house can be costly when mistakes are made and hugely stressful, too.
The answer? Proper preparation and planning – and that’s where our step-by-step guide to home renovation comes in. Buying the right property Buying the right property to home renovation in Dubai is crucial but not always easy. You’ll need a property that will work for you once your renovation has been completed, but also one that will hopefully see you make a profit when you do eventually come to sell it. But that doesn’t always mean value for money – mainly if the property is on the road with a ceiling price.
When looking for a property to villa renovation, you should always:
Look at any work neighboring properties have had done, like extensions. Consider the outdoor space to the rear and sides if you’re planning an extension – is there enough room? Research the most recent sale prices on the road and check out any work that has been done at those properties to establish if the road has a ceiling price Have a survey done on the property you’re looking at – a surveyor will check for major, potentially costly problems like subsidence, dampness, or drainage issues. Obtain a building report, which will tell you which construction methods were used throughout the house so you can plan how you’ll renovate the property Get a measured survey, which will provide detailed drawings of the property’s layout – you’ll need this for any planning application.