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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to take on a renovation project that will take years to complete?

27 replies

bumbleymummy · 28/12/2013 13:52

It is a huge project and we will have to do it in stages but it is (or will be!) a beautiful property in a lovely location and it ticks lots of our 'dream house' boxes aside from it needing so much work! I've completely fallen in love with it. DH isn't completely against the idea but he's being realistic about the time, effort and money it is going to cost - although he loves the idea of what it will be when it is finished. What do you think? Crazy? Worth it all in the end or better to just buy a finished house?

OP posts:
BoneyBackJefferson · 28/12/2013 14:02

You need to both be 100% behind this.
If you can both accept the inconveniences that this will cause, the delays that are from accidents, bad planning, external issues.
Realise that neither of you are to blame for them.

and that it will take probably more time and money than you realise then you should go ahead and do it.

If either one of you is unsure then do not do it as it could destroy your relationship.

FortyDoorsToNowhere · 28/12/2013 14:02

I would buy it.

You will get a house that you love and it will mean your more likely to stay and not have the stress with buying and selling a property.

You will have plug sockets where you want, the layout and the radiators ect.

Original poster
bumbleymummy · 28/12/2013 14:52

Thanks Boney. We're waiting until the estate agent reopens and we can speak to the banks etc. then we'll have a better idea. I know it will be a big challenge - our loft conversion stressed me out but, in this case, a lot of the main work will be done before we move in which I think will make a difference.

Forty, that's how I feel about it. It will take a long time but we'll have what we want at the end.

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Bourjois · 28/12/2013 16:10

ALARM BELLS!!!!! Make sure that you get a full survey done and inspect the property with a respected builder before you put in an offer. Make sure that you inspect the roof, the floorboards, the foundations and look for evidence of pests (ie rodents) living in the property.

Can you live without heating, hot water, a kitchen, a bathroom?? If you fully budget for a complete renovation, plus have a contingency fund for emergencies, and are prepared to slum it for YEARS........ Then do it!!

There's a beautiful property up the road from us which could be GORG but no one wants to buy it, which means that it's only fit for demolition :(

magimedi · 28/12/2013 16:40

I've done it - years ago.

It was a hell of a lot of hard work - every weekend & many evenings.

Think in terms of the factor of three. It will take you three times as long as you reckon & probably cost you nearly 3 times as much as you have budgeted.

Also, if it is a major renovation, be prepared for all sorts of problems to come to light when you start work. Even if you have had a full survey. I remember having to replace most of the joists on the suspended ground floor (hadn't bargained for that) when we started to take the floor up for re wiring.

I agree with Boney that you must both be totally committed to it - or there is a strong chance of a lot of trouble.

But it is a great sense of satisfaction & you get what you want.

Shame that work related things meant we had to move 400miles away 2 years after we had finished.

magimedi · 28/12/2013 16:42

PS You might also want to post this in the property thread :

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property

There are some very knowledgeable people there!

Sallyingforth · 28/12/2013 16:47

Agree with the comments above. If the property needs a lot of work doing, there are likely to be more problems than immediately come to light. You'll need a full survey by a chartered surveyor, which will cost a lot more than the usual basic check, but is essential. If there is any question of possible subsidence then you may need a structural engineer's survey as well to estimate what foundation work is needed.

This could be a wonderful lifetime's project, or a financial and emotional disaster. Make sure it's the first one!

Lambzig · 28/12/2013 17:01

We are four months into doing this. It has its ups and downs. Getting the architect plans back very exciting, but the reality is going to be hard. It's going to get a lot worse before it starts to get better, we don't really have a bathroom or a kitchen and it takes all our leisure time (we have a baby and a three year old and it's quite hard on them too as we are busy).

I hope in a year or so we will be glad we did it, but it's a bit daunting at the moment.

MarlenaGru · 28/12/2013 17:11

We bought that house two years ago. It has cost many multiples of what we thought and is nowhere near finished but we have now got a gorgeous dream kitchen, a stunning bathroom, most of the bedrooms decorated and a bit of grass in the garden! We still have the loft to finish (was already converted but not maintained), a lot of external work to do, plus the garden. I wouldn't change it for the world though. We bought it for less than £100k more than our two bed terrace and it is so lovely at Christmas time when we end up with a house full of guests and space for everyone.

I am also not sure about surveys. We ended up struggling to get insurance as with most old houses there was some evidence of subsidence so no insurer would insure us. It was on a small side extension so no risk to the house, the drains were all recently done so not a drainage problem and all evidence pointed to the problem being from years ago but we had no history on the house as previous occupier had passed away. We eventually got hold of the current insurers and are essentially stuck with them for life. They weren't worried as had insured the place for a few decades! So remember that surveys can be a double edged sword!

Original poster
bumbleymummy · 28/12/2013 17:44

Thanks for all your opinions and advice. I guess at the moment we will proceed with caution and see what comes back after all our phone calls next week....

It's just so pretty!!!! :)

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ImperialBlether · 28/12/2013 17:50

Just a word of warning. I've known a few people who've done this - add 150% to the figure you think you'll need!

Original poster
bumbleymummy · 29/12/2013 08:41

Thanks Imperial. I'll bear that in mind when we do our sums. We know we won't be able to do everything at the start but as long as we have enough to get it to a nice liveable state - kitchen, bathrooms etc (even if they aren't our dream ones at the beginning) then that will be ok.

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wordfactory · 29/12/2013 08:51

We're currently doing this.

The house we bought is a major project. Major! However, wer are not living in it whilst the work has got underway. Realistically, we may not move in until the Summer.

wordfactory · 29/12/2013 08:54

And yes, get a specialist survey done befor you buy. Don't rely on the survey the lenders do. Youy want to know what exactly is wrong with the house.

We also took our builder with us and he gave us a ball park figure oif the costs of renovation and time scales.

Original poster
bumbleymummy · 29/12/2013 08:58

Thanks word. I'm going to start looking for builders this week so I'll find out if they'd be happy to do that. Yes, this one will take a while before it's in a state to move into - it needs a new roof for a start! :)

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wonkylegs · 29/12/2013 09:01

Your DH is right to think about the practicalities.
We are renovating our house at the moment and I, who supposedly knows what I'm doing as I am an architect, still gets extremely fed up of the tradesmen, dust and unexpected problems. It's a stressful, expensive, dirty and cold experience.
It's wonderful too and as ours takes shape I love it and know it's worth it but I wouldn't recommend anyone takes it on without a healthy dose of reality.
It's not necessarily a cheap way of getting a house but can be the way to getting exactly what you want.
Works best if you like quirky, characterful houses.

wordfactory · 29/12/2013 09:05

Then you need to factor in, how long you can afford to run two homes. Also, can you live near the building site?

Our new home is only a thirty minute drive from where we live, so we can keep a close eye on affairs.

Original poster
bumbleymummy · 29/12/2013 09:13

Thanks wonky. The same things annoyed me when we did our loft conversion but I hope that by doing most of the dirty work before we move in we can minimise that. Yes, it's definitely quirky. It's not too far from where we live now and I've walked past it loads of times and just fell in love with it. :)

Yes, word, it's not too far from us- same village and we're hoping to put aside enough to cover the mortgage for X months while we NAND it liveable and get our own house sold. Hopefully a builder will be able to help us determine X and we'll add on 3-6 months for contingency.

OP posts:
Original poster
bumbleymummy · 29/12/2013 09:14

6 is probably safer!

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mumtosome61 · 29/12/2013 09:17

No and yes. We're four months in with fuck all done and living in a shell of a home with no heating. We're not flush enough to rent as well as pay the mortgage and renovation costs, so we're slumming it. That said, we don't have children which makes it easier.

Weekends are completely filled with DIY, planning and arguments. It's not a peaceful time - I am so glad we have a home, finally, but it's a real test of character and physical ability - I have broken my toe, got a chill in my backbone and my hands look forty years older than they should. :)

mumtosome61 · 29/12/2013 09:17

(But the house was a bargain and has so much potential)

Joysmum · 29/12/2013 09:56

You need to think not so much about how it could be, but how you will live and finance until it is? Could your family stand it without falling apart?

That's it in a nutshell.

Original poster
bumbleymummy · 29/12/2013 10:04

Thanks Joys. We're going to have a walk over that way today and try to get our head around the reality of it all.

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Pending · 29/12/2013 10:26

We're two and a half years into a renovation. I'd just reinforce what everyone else has said. It will take longer and cost more than even your wildest predictions. And don't underestimate the pressure it will put on your relationship. DH is doing practically all the work on our place himself, but also has a full-time day job, which means he works on the house most evenings and almost every weekend. We have a DS who was two when we started (now four!) but the house isn't a safe place to let him roam about and we have no family to look after him nearby, so my job is keeping him entertained and also booking the skips, arranging quotes for specialist jobs, hiring plant/kit, rushing out to buy things from Screwfix and trying to sort out other admin stuff. We have almost NO time together to just relax and enjoy each other's company. At times this has been tough.

However, we just getting to the fun stage: choosing the kitchen and thinking about flooring and colour schemes. So I'm feeling really buoyant about it all right now!

I suppose my point is that it's not going to be like an episode of Grand Designs: all over in an hour and you can watch from the comfort of your sofa. It's a long hard grind, but probably worth it.

Good luck if you go for it!

Earlspearl · 29/12/2013 11:29

A definite yes if you have no kids. A maybe if you have kids depending on how patient you are and age of kids