Buy your first Home
Have you bought a second-hand home and want to update the spaces and give them your personal touch? If you are going to proceed with your home renovations and want to avoid delays and cost overruns, start with good planning.
Integral or piecemeal reform?
The first thing you have to decide is whether you are going to make a comprehensive reform or in parts. In general, it is recommended to undertake a single reform to achieve an integrated vision and that the result is the most harmonious.
However, if the house is very large, or your budget is limited, you can make a partial reform and go space by space.
Advantages of home renovations by parts
When you decide to renovate your house in phases, you will enjoy a few advantages:
- You will be able to pay for these small actions little by little and save to tackle the next phase when you are ready.
- You will have time to perfect the project and adjust it to the needs that you detect in the house.
- Each reform, being less ambitious, will be less burdensome and you will probably be able to continue living in the house without having to move to another place for months.
Where to start renovating a home in phases?
If you’ve finally decided to do your home renovation in phases, these are the spaces you should put at the top of your list:
Installations or reinforcements
The most important thing, especially if the house already has some age, is to update the sanitation and electrical installations, check the insulation, solve humidity, and take the necessary measures to reinforce the structure if necessary.
These types of actions are the least visible. However, it is better to do them in time and ensure that the foundations of the house are secure before continuing with the renovation.
The bathroom
Since they are independent rooms, many people tend to start renovating their homes in the bathroom. It is an element of basic and daily use, so it is necessary that it works properly.
The kitchen
It also tends to be, along with the bathrooms, at the top of the list of priorities of any reform. It usually starts with the coatings, flooring, and, finally, furniture and appliances.
In the event that the kitchen is integrated with the living room (or so you want to do), it is important to note that the works will also affect this space of the house. So, perhaps, it is interesting to face the reform as a whole.
The floor
It is not uncommon that, when buying a second-hand house, we find cold, outdated, or in poor-condition floors. Therefore, the next on the list may be the replacement of the current floor with a more modern one.
It is important to make this type of reform on all the floors of the home (except the kitchen and bathrooms), since if we go by parts it will not look good and it is very possible that in the future it will be difficult to find the same model of pavement.
The doors
It is surprising the capacity that the doors of the house have, a relatively simple element, to change the aspect of the house. It is important that the floor is in place before installing them and, again, that you install them all at the same time. If you go piecemeal, you may have difficulty in the future finding the same handle, etc.
Windows
Renovating the windows of a house can affect, in a very positive way, the thermal and acoustic insulation of the house. Therefore, it is a work of vital importance to ensure comfort inside your home.
Painting
After all the work, your house will need a coat of paint. It is better to leave it for the end since it is likely that the walls have suffered blows and present small flaws.
Other tips for renovating your second hand house in parts!
Make a list of priorities in which you indicate which actions cannot wait.
Carry out the renovation in phases, but don’t leave things half-done. For example: if you change the windows, change them all.
Don’t be frightened by the contrasts between what is renovated and what is not. Be patient and visualize the final result
If you want to buy your first home, work with a professional real estate agent.
A professional real estate agent will help you find the perfect property. At CENTURY 21 GIBRALTAR they are local professionals who are experts in the home buying process and your local market.
A real estate professional can help you in several ways:
- Show you properties in the area that fit your needs and price range.
- Attend presentations with you to learn more about your priorities as a homeowner.
- Help you decide how much to bring for a property
- Send an offer letter on your behalf
- Help negotiate with the seller or seller’s agent after submitting an offer
- Accompany you to the closing to make sure everything is in order with the sale
Living in Casemates, Gibraltar
With its cafes, restaurants, bright sunshine, and picturesque views of the Rock, Casemates is one of the best places to relax in Gibraltar. The larger of Gibraltar’s two main squares, it is used for special events throughout the year. During the hottest months of the year, it becomes the setting for the annual Summer Nights program.
CENTURY 21 GIBRALTAR is pleased to offer a charming bright and airy duplex apartment located in the heart of town. This 2 Bed (originally a 3) 1 Bath property maintains its original features. The first level comprises of a fully fitted kitchen, and a spacious living room leading to a 7sqm balcony overlooking the popular casemates square. The second level comprises of 2 large double bedrooms and a bathroom furthermore a loft area which provides plenty of storage.
• 2 Bed, originally a 3 Bed
• 1 Bathroom
• Duplex
• Balcony
• Kitchen and separate living room
• Internal 80sqm
• External 7sqm
• Views of Casemates square
For more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact our sales specialist, Vishal Mulchandani, he can assist you in English and Spanish.
Tel: (+350) 56285000 – Email: Sales@century21gibraltar.com – Click HERE for more information
