Buying the worst house on the street can have its advantages. The only way is up, right? It may look an eyesore now, but that just means there is more scope to mold it into a beautiful home. And the silver lining to its ugliness is that its lack of appeal might be reflected in a super-low price.
A property that has stood empty for months or even years could be open to offers that fit right into your budget – and leave plenty left over for the very necessary updates and . Whatever your reasons for buying a fixer-upper, whether it is the only house available in a sought-after location, affordability, or you're looking for a home-improvement project to build up your skills in creating a bespoke house for you and your family, you need to be prepared for the challenge. Read our expert advice on what to look for in a handyman special to make sure that you don’t get out of your depth and your fixer-upper home becomes a real downer.
Once you’ve found a potential project, conduct a thorough inspection before purchase to get an idea of just how deep its issues run. ‘I always ask "What's the skeleton?",' says Justin White, a contractor and garage remodel/installation expert. 'In other words, what's the baseline level of work simply needed to make the house functional – fixing foundations, rewiring electricity, updating plumbing, etc.
These basics can often be surprisingly costly, so it's important to get informed estimates from early on. ‘I'd also advise doing as much invest.
