Islington: 020 7226 0160Highbury: 020 7288 9696Camden: 020 7482 2894
    Get a Valuation
    Register
    LogoLogo
    • Block Management
    • News
    • Testimonials

    Our Branches

    Islington

    Islington Team
    Estate Agents
    Letting Agents
    Area Guide
    Live Market Data
    Properties For Sale in Islington
    Properties To Rent in Islington

    Highbury

    Highbury Team
    Estate Agents
    Letting Agents
    Area Guide
    Live Market Data
    Properties For Sale in Highbury
    Properties To Rent in Highbury

    Camden

    Camden Team
    Estate Agents
    Letting Agents
    Area Guide
    Live Market Data
    Properties for Sale in Camden
    Properties to Rent in Camden

    See the surrounding areas that we cover

    View all Area Guides

    Home/News/Are you following the fixer upper fashion?

    Are you following the fixer upper fashion?

    5 months ago
    Sales
    Are you following the fixer upper fashion?

    Skips. Cement mixers. Brick dust. People with hard hats and high-viz jackets milling about. How do these make you feel? Just like Marmite, homeowners have a love/hate relationship with renovations. What camp do you fall in?

    If you struggle with the thought of your home being ripped apart and rebuilt, look away now. There is an active band of home buyers who prioritise purchasing a ‘fixer upper’. In fact, there have been three recent developments that show purchasing a home in need of some TLC is very much in fashion.

    The first indication came from Zoopla. It has added a new ‘property features’ section to its search filter. Buyers can tick the fixer upper box and only see properties that are less than perfect. The search results will mainly be filled with homes that need modernisation – think new bathrooms and kitchens – but there is a quicker route to finding the best fixer uppers.

    Register directly with us, letting us know the type of renovations you’re prepared to undertake, and we’ll give you first refusal of properties that match your criteria before they are listed online. 

    Something else that caught our eye were the results of a survey carried out by Rightmove. The portal asked 34,000 home-movers their thoughts on affordability and ideal purchases. Of those questioned, 73% of renters see fixer uppers as a more affordable route to property ownership, while 73% of existing homeowners wanted to buy a property that needed work in order to create their dream home. Energy efficiency also played its part, with 57% of all respondents saying a fixer upper would allow them to create a sustainable home for the future.

    Rightmove also crunched the numbers to establish how much of a discount buyers of fixer uppers might benefit from. It found the current national average asking price for all types of homes for sale was £371,858. When looking just at fixer uppers, the average asking price was £327,224 - lower to the tune of 12% (or £44,634 less).

    The third confirmation that renovating a property is in vogue was suggested by The Times. According to the author, Frankie Graddon, living on a building site is a status symbol, with Millennials far more obsessed with doing up wrecks than they are buying designer handbags. It appears making endless cups of tea and living in a draughty, dusty home is a point of envy.

    If you’re a homebuyer happy to take on the hard work that comes with a fixer upper, here are six points to consider:

    1. Do your maths homework: a mortgage will cover the cost of the property purchase but you’ll need extra funds to pay for materials and labour.

    2. Get estimates before you commit: it’s essential you know how much projects will cost before you make an offer and start the conveyancing process.

    3. Find out the full condition: if the property you’re interested in needs more than a lick of paint, consider a RICS Level 3 survey – the most detailed and thorough that’s available. 

    4. Mortgage restrictions: some lenders will not loan against a dilapidated property, so check if a lack of central heating, kitchen or hot water will prevent a mortgage being approved.

    5. Live in or live out?: not everyone has the stomach for living in a half finished home. You may have to budget for a short-term rental or move in with relatives while the work takes place.

    6. Permissions: if your dream is to extend or remodel, it’s work checking with the local planning department to establish what projects may need planning permission.

    We’d be delighted to help you find your next home – and value your current property if you have somewhere to sell. Contact us today and we can start planning your next move. 

     

    Share this article

    More Articles

    Adding value: the small improvements that make a big difference

    Adding value: the small improvements that make a big difference

    Published 25 days ago

    The unassailable attractiveness of property as a money-making asset persists. While passive appreciation still exists – that’s when homes gradually increase in value with nothing more than time – homeowners are looking at adding values in other ways.

     

    Read More
    Deeds or a Will: which matters most when owning a property?

    Deeds or a Will: which matters most when owning a property?

    Published about 2 months ago

    Despite how morbid it feels, deciding what happens to a property you own when you die is something you need to decide early in the buying process. In fact, you’ll need to tell your solicitor your preferred course of action before you finalise a purchase.

    Read More
    Commonhold Q&A: everything a flat buyer should know

    Commonhold Q&A: everything a flat buyer should know

    Published 2 months ago

    Commonhold is a property term that’s been in the press recently. If the current Government gets its way, this method of owning a flat or apartment is something we could see a lot more off. Ahead of a more widespread adoption, we have answered the most popular commonhold questions. 

    Read More

    Sign up for our newsletter

    Subscribe to receive the latest property market information to your inbox, full of market knowledge and tips for your home.

    You may unsubscribe at any time. See our Privacy Policy.

    Back to Home

    Properties for Sale 

    Properties for Sale in Islington
    Properties for Sale in Highbury
    Properties for Sale in Camden
    Flats for Sale in Islington
    Flats for Sale in Highbury
    Flats for Sale in Camden
    Houses for Sale in Islington
    Houses for Sale in Highbury
    Houses for Sale in Camden

    Properties to Rent 

    Properties to Rent in Islington
    Properties to Rent in Highbury
    Properties to Rent in Camden
    Flats to Rent in Islington
    Flats to Rent in Highbury
    Flats to Rent in Camden
    Houses to Rent in Islington
    Houses to Rent in Highbury
    Houses to Rent in Camden

    NAEA
    OnTheMarket
    RightMove
    SafeAgent
    TDS
    Zoopla
    Logo
    Logo
    Logo
    © 2025 Hotblack Desiato
    Privacy Policy|Terms & Conditions|Cookie Policy|Landlord Charges|Tenant Charges|Complaints Procedure|Consumer Protection Regulations|AML Policy|Client Money Protection|Client Money Protection (Highbury)|PropertyMark Membership Rules and Conduct|Property Jargon Glossary|Sitemap
    Powered by