AIBU to say no to dh dream house?

[BakerBear]

We are first time buyers. We currently rent and have viewed a house today.

Its £300,00 and needs around £60,000 spending on it.

Its a lot of money even though we could afford it. Dh really wants it as its been his dream to renovate his own home rather than buy a home thats already been renovated to someone elses tastes.

I feel that as first time buyers buying a house needing £60,000 on it is out of our depth.

I dont want to live in a bomb site whilst things are getting done and also once you start renovating you can find all sorts of hidden problems.

Dh wants to do some of the work himself but i feel hes too busy with work and then it wont get done but he assures me he will find time.

We will have to get trades people to do some of the work.

There is nothing in the area that needs work doing that is such a big house.

The area if great with very good local schools etc

AIBU?

I have to say there's no way I'd spend money and precious time lovingly doing up...

... a soulless 80s box on an estate!

OP I thought you were talking a period property at least. Something that you can argue that spending time on doing it yourself will at least add value - that's not so clear cut with a new build. Basically, with a period property you've got something solid and well built with quality fixtures which mean that lavishing time and money is generally worth it.

With a newer property, you just don't have that level of intrinsic value. Cheaper build quality, cheaper fittings. Black bricks wouldn't worry me in a period house but I'd steer clear in a new build.

I know 80s isn't exactly brand new and I get the worst house on the best street thing but still - that was the last thing I expected to see on that link!

There isn't much to be done urgently. You could take your time doing it up if you get it for a good price.

The house is on the back burner im afraid!

Im very surprised at some of you saying that it doesnt need anything doing to it. The pictures are much much better than in real life.

The guy was offered 300k and he refused.

A house done up to a great standard of that size in that area goes for around 375k

Blimey, if you think that house needs £60k spending on it to suit you then you have ideas way above most people's expectations.

I spent 60k doing up a London Victorian terrace- roof, windows, boiler, kitchen, bathroom, redecoration and garden. And that was with London builder's rates!
Have since moved to much bigger 1930s house- loving doing it again, not as much to do and doing it slowly. Never moving again though.

Your heart isn't in it, OP.

Don't do it if your heart isn't in it, op. It really needs both of you to be in agreement about this. I wouldn't do it if I was in your shoes.
That other house looks like Craggy Island manse from Father Ted.

I know this is really harsh but anyone who 'dreams of renovating a property' then picks a 1980's totally livable house is being a bit of a pretentious wanker.

Do you have children or planning to in the next 1-2 years. If so, say no. I'm trying to do my house with an 18month old.... never again ever!

It's your house too. So you should be invested in it too, if not, there will be other houses. X

The first flat I bought with my husband was a project. We borrowed enough money to stay in our rented place for a couple of months while we did the big stuff, rewiring, plumbing, walls, floors etc. We moved in when the kitchen and bathroom were finished and it was brilliant. Really bloody hard work and I learnt that I'm quite good at basic plumbing and tiling but absolutely terrible at plastering (it's much much harder than it looks).
We didn't have kids then and I wouldn't fancy doing it now we do.
If you do it, make sure that you have a few extra thousand for unexpected bits. I would definitely do it again but be prepared, it's not easy. Good luck

I hope this doesn't come across as rude but the way you were pitching it was nothing like what's seen in the ad.

Talk about first world problems.

If you are going to be rude, washingmatilda, prefacing it with a "I hope this doesn't come across as rude" is pointless.

MN is full of "first world problems"!

As ost people on MN are living in the first world, and as most people on MN post about their own personal experiences, it is not unreasonable to expect most of the problems poste abut to 'first world problems'; perhaps a ittle foolish to expect anything else?

I'm in the process of renovating my house, it's a 6 bedroom detached 1920s house, big and gorgeous but was very dated and had t been touched for about 20 years.

So far

New kitchen with porch ripped out and replaced with french doors, kitchen window was rotten so that needed to be replaced, stone tiled floor, appliances, plastering and paintwork, it's cost me about 30k.

Downstairs bathroom, new toilet,shower sink and unit, porcelain floor, mirror,lighting, approx 7k

Entrance hall, upstairs landing and liunge floor needed laminate ripping out and original floors sanding and revarnishing, that cost me about 3

Pictures can be massively deceptive. When we first saw our current house on rightmove it looked tired but completely liveable.

But when we went to view we saw the reality. 40 year old kitchen worktop had been covered over to disguise peeling and visible chipboard.

Every single door was covered in so much white paint that none of them were closeable.

Sitting room carpet hadn't been fitted. Just cut and placed on the floor so it moved when walked over.

Kitchen cupboards rigged to prevent doors falling off.

Back door rotten and stuck in frame. Again covered in coat after coat of paint.

Ripped lino in kitchen and bathroom.

Original wallpaper (60 years old) painted and papered over again and again. Nightmare to remove.

Plus a slug infestation.

None of this was detectable in the pictures. So I synpathise OP!

Have you considered getting a complete fixer-upper? This house is OK even if a bit tired. If you fancy something a lot more luxurious, will that be available in this price bracket? I thought the kitchen and bathrooms in this property looked adequate.

I viewed a property once which looked great in the photos and thought nothing would need doing. In reality everything was a bodged DIY job and needed everything re doing.

If they turned down £300K then lets say their lowest accepted price is £315K and then you did £60K work, it would bring it up to £375k which is what a lovely done up place costs there anyway. So loads of stress and hassle for nothing. I would look elsewhere. Either buy a proper doer upper and add value or buy one already done and enjoy not living on a building site.