If you want to renovate a dilapidated house, here are some tips that you may want to keep in mind.

Replace the locks at the beginning of the project

Before you start the renovation process, you should get in touch with one of the residential locksmiths in your local area and ask them to replace the locks on the property's exterior doors. The reason for this is as follows; if the house has been neglected and unoccupied for many years, the locks on its doors will probably be in very poor condition. They may have deteriorated as a result of corrosion, exposure to the elements or the passing of time.

Locks which are in bad condition are extremely easy to pick or snap (a fact which most thieves are well aware of). As such, if you don't replace the property's locks before you start your renovation work and you then leave your construction tools and materials inside the house, there is a chance that a thief may break in and steal all of these expensive and hard-to-replace items.

If vandals break in, they could also break any newly installed fixtures or fittings, or they might graffiti the newly painted walls. This type of setback could drastically increase the length and the cost of your renovation project, as you would have to repurchase any items that were stolen and redecorate any areas that were vandalised.

As such, you should pay a locksmith to replace the property's locks before you move forward with the renovation project.

Get a pest inspection

Rats, mice and other pests tend to take up residence in properties that are quiet. As such, a dilapidated house which has been vacant for several years could potentially be home to some rodents or termites. Given this, you should have a pest inspection carried out on the property before you start the renovation process and ensure that any infestations are dealt with before you begin your work.

If you don't do this, there could be serious repercussions for your construction crew, as working in a property that has, for example, a rats nest, could potentially be very dangerous. The urine and droppings left behind by these rodents on the floors, countertops and other surfaces could potentially be contaminated with viruses and bacteria that could make your construction team very ill if they inadvertently inhale or ingest them whilst performing their work.

As such, it is vital to ensure that the property is pest free before you allow your crew to start doing things like tearing down wallpaper or pulling up old carpeting.