Firstly, major renovations are not for the faint-hearted, especially if you are thinking of doing them yourself. Be honest: Can you live with the mess for what might be a year or more, depending on the work required? Are your skills up to the challenge? And if not, can you afford the professionals required to turn your tumble-down into the dream home you envisage?

Paul Stevens, CEO of Just Property, advises buyers looking into such opportunities, to be unemotional as they consider each property: “Don’t get carried away by the dream of what that cute Victorian will look like when you are finished sprucing her up. The very first step is do a thorough inspection and be prepared to walk away if the work required is too great.”

John Graham has a handy list on his HouseCheck.co.za website of the 10 most obvious issues you should be looking out for. These are:

Poor drainage (storm water flows, guttering and downpipes, damp); faulty electrical, plumbing and gas installations (“Older homes often need electrical and plumbing upgrades, including new wiring, DB boards, hot water geysers and plumbing pipes and sanitary ware,” warns Graham); a leaking roof; defective insulation; poor maintenance; structural damage; water damage; evidence of wood-destroying insects or fungi; poor ventilation; and hazardous materials (including mould). A good estate agent will point these things out to you, but they may not even be aware of them, so consider getting HouseCheck to do an inspection.

Bear in mind that you will need to get authorisation for any alterations, even minor building work, from your local authority (and each municipality seems to have slightly different rules). Everything you build on the property except “minor building work” requires plans. “For this reason, it is essential that you also remember to ask the seller whether they have approved plans for any building work they’ve done,” Stevens adds.

Once you have your plans and approvals in place, it’s time to choose your contractors. Discuss the work together and get an estimate of the cost. Stevens recommends that you use the same detailed written instructions to secure quotations from at least three reputable professionals. It is important to brief each them on site, so they can take the context and requirements into account, he adds. When choosing a contractor, it’s a good idea to start with the membership lists of the Master Builders in your region, Stevens suggests.

When deciding which contractor’s quote to go with, remember that there’s a big difference between a cost estimate and a detailed, written offer to carry out the work. “Don’t sign anything until you are sure that your builder’s offer is firm and clear and covers all your requirements,” Master Builders SA advise. “Ensure that the question of VAT is clear on the quotation. If the work is extensive, make sure that all quotations are based on model contract conditions. When you’ve chosen your building contractor, make sure you confirm your acceptance of the quotation in writing.”

“There are genuine opportunities out there for people who are prepared to put in the hard work of realising the value offered from improving a home that is outdated or has not been well looked after,” Stevens concludes. “If you are up for the challenge, remember to think like an investor when you’re looking at properties for sale. Ensure that the work you plan to do will not exceed your budget, or overcapitalise the property. It comes down to doing your homework, good advice from a professional, experienced agent, and then selecting the right people and materials to get the job done.”

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