Properties Needing Renovation
The right property to renovate
For those seeking to buy a property with the intention of transforming it into their dream Cape villa, here are a few tips on what to look for when searching for a property to renovate:
- The motto of ‘location, location, location’ still applies, be sure to look for your future holiday home in a good area and close to amenities.
- If you are buying an apartment, the location in the building is also important, smaller units are often tucked away at the back of the building with little natural light and no views. This would not suit someone that has been eyeing the large Ocean view houses Camps Bay has in abundance.
- Check on the buildings’ specific regulations regarding renovations and changes.
- The structure of the Cape villas needs to be sound, if there are any large cracks, bring in an engineer to check them out.
- In South Africa we are blessed with a warm climate, but this doesn’t stop damp. If any exists in the property you are considering, be sure to find out what the cause is and make sure it’s treatable.
- Parking spaces add a lot of value to Cape villas.
- Many Capetown villas may be rundown when you buy them, look out for the potential that a property may offer.
- Consult your budget before buying, taking into account labour costs and all the minute details that will add up.
- Employ one contractor for the entire renovation, rather than several contractors, it will always turn out to be more expensive and the contractors may not always communicate with each other as extensively as is needed.
- Don’t start renovating your Cape villa at the end of the year, as builder’s holidays begin in December and the project will have to be suspended until they return.
About the Author
French Property for Sale in Burgundy, France. D09519