Bungalows in need of modernising

It all depends on why you are moving , if it is because one of you is ill, then do you want the extra upheaval of re-doing the whole house? We moved into a bungalow 6 years ago because my husband had had a stroke a few months before, I looked for one that was more or less ready to move into. I knew I would probably have to do a new shower room but didn't want to do much else if I could help it, I am sorry now I didn't put in a new kitchen before we moved in as well, we were lucky that we didn't have to sell our old house before we moved . Friends of ours are going through the same thing now and she is being put off a lot of them because they haven't been updated for years, still have Avocado bathroom suites and swirly carpets, wallpaper that has been painted many times. So I think if you are thinking of selling one I would take up the carpets and paint it neutral colours at least.

It is easy to live somewhere short term while you are doing the work, AirBnB for example. We have turned our'poky' little bungalow with 'boxy rooms' into a light, open and comfortable home, it is all about having imagination and looking beyond the swirly carpets and coloured bathrooms! We now have a home which is economical to heat, easy to maintain with plenty of room for our family to stay, and is hopefully, future proofed. Best of all, it is in a mixed street of detached, semi detached houses, and detached, individual bungalows so is not a 'retirement ghetto', in fact our newest neighbours are a family with two teenagers who have adapted to living on one level very early on!

No I wouldn't.

We have lots of bungalows near us that are overpriced and in a time warp so everything needs replacing.

The family who inherit are mostly only interested in how much money they will get and do very little to make the property more appealing to buyers.

Not now. If you’re not living there while the work is being done (and I certainly wouldn’t want to live with the mess and inconvenience) you’re going to have to rent somewhere or live on site in a mobile home if you can get planning permission to do so, unless you can afford to buy and modernise before you sell - which will cost you double stamp duty though you have a period to get a refund when you sell your current home.

I find that the bungalows I see are just too poky, little boxy rooms. Everything madly out of date, candidates for demolition.

I would. A good Location and a well built house is more important than looks.
You can often get a bargain if you are prepared to see beyond the first impression.

Then you can take your time to make it how you would like it with any saved funds. Win win.

We have done this twice, buy bungalows needing renovation. The most important fact is the neighbourhood; if it suits you, if you have access to what you need, you can improve your house, but not your neighbourhood! Secondly, if the building is sound, has a decent EPC rating (which you can improve), then go for it. Ripping out bathrooms, kitchens, carpets holds no fears for me, and can be easier done if you are not living in among it all and moving your boxes of stuff and furniture from room to room. Work out what you think the work will cost, then double it, those fools on Homes under the Hammer who modernise houses for £10k are not telling the truth, unless you want the cheapest job ever. Oh, and while you are doing it, invest in a lot of insulation, thermostatic valves for radiators etc., to make it an efficient home to keep warm. Happy to answer any questions!