Varna - cost of renovation. Looking for info/ideas around costs

Yuri1976 Active member

41POSTS

3 years ago

Hello there,

I have just hooked up a house near Varna. The house has 'most' renovation done, but there are still a few 'must' and some others that I would be interested in (over some time).

First off, The cost to render all the external walls (brick walls).
Then, it will need the second bedroom plastered/painted, maybe also electrics.
Some wire cabling outside the property.

Other things that would be nice to check (but maybe do later) would be:

Some work in the bathroom (they closed half of the original size frame and put in a smaller one...put it back to what it was before, and remove the cabin wall to make space for a bathtub)
The cost to make the attic liveable (even if just as a storage room).
The cost to renovate a 40sqm external building that must have been used for chickens. Ideally, make a wooden structure preserving some of the original walls for a summer house or something else (gym, sauna, garden bedroom)
The cost of a fence around the property. Right now, there is just a metal mesh around the property...it would be nice to have a fence UK style (wooden) or a proper wall for privacy)
Finally, the cost to prep the ground (level it up) as it has a bit of a slow slope...Would like to level part of the garden to put swimming pool (either external or do it properly)

The real estate agent gave me a couple of prices, but they seemed quite low...but I think he did it just because he wanted to sell the house. It would be great to have an opinion from a builder or someone around Varna who has done renovation work already.

Any information will be highly appreciated.

I have a budget for renovations, so how much I do will depend on how much I can fit in.

Cheers,

Yuri

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Yuri1976 Active member

41POSTS

3 years ago

Ask people in the village...Wow, just wow!

SimCityAT Expert

14421POSTS

3 years ago

Ask people in the village...Wow, just wow!
-@Yuri1976

Well, they might be able to tell you where the best places to buy stuff and possibly they know a local builder.

gwynj Bulgaria Expert

2625POSTS

3 years ago

@Anastasija_gust

It's a good option. They know who are good workers, and they won't (usually) be going for the most expensive folks either.

I watched out for who was working near me. I saw the old roofer (who lives in the village) do several jobs locally, so I'm confident he's a good bet. I also saw a gang of "gypsy" workers take on big jobs in 2 houses in my street. So I had a chat with them, and they ended up working all summer for me. And pretty good too.

Unfortunately, this might not be so useful for @Yuri1976 because he's got a house in the big city, and the social dynamics are rather different there.

1 member reacted to this post

Anastasija_gust Contributor

111POSTS

3 years ago

@gwynj gypsy guy fixed my barn. He was working for my neighbour before. Very good and cheap.

Yuri1976 Active member

41POSTS

3 years ago

Hi, All

@Anastasija_gust @gwynj

The reason I was a bit dismissive was that the house is approx 20km from Varna but is one of those little Hamlet with 4 houses right under a hill.

Everyone around (I reckon there are maybe 2/300 people in total) is quite on the older side, and obviously, no English. My Bulgarian is as good as my Swahili!!!

Besides that, I wouldn't ask locals. I want to feel how someone works (hence why I asked for first-hand experiences).

I am still quite new to the country, so I wouldn't know who to trust for a quote unless I don't get 4 or 5 different ones to have an idea of what an average is.

I have checked for materials online on the website @gwynj suggested, but also others in the region, so I do have now some idea of what materials cost for basic works.

Moreover, I have seen elsewhere on this board that someone is close to Varna and suggested someone. So, if you are around and have used someone before, please get in touch in private.

If push comes to shove, I can still do all the extra bits by myself. It is a matter of Cost/Value...if a worker works well and you need to add 1 or 2 thousand euros to the materials cost, but you get everything important done while you can focus on other stuff...then it's a good deal for me.