Just had our offer accepted for a renovation project. Now I feel sick with panic...

[FlingonTheValiant]

and a wee bit excited too, but I think we may have lost our minds!

It needs so much work, and there are outbuildings that need demolishing/shoring up as appropriate.

Not one single room is fit for purpose. It needs all new windows, new electrics, new plumbing, new kitchen and bathrooms. Walls need to be stripped and replastered, and the living room needs a new floor. That's just downstairs.

Upstairs is one big room, open to the roof tiles. So roof repair, velux, insulation, plaster board, then electrics, plumbing, room divides and the staircase has to be moved... oh, and the upstairs is floored with ceramic tiles that are too heavy, so they have to come up and new floor down.

DH and Dad are teachers, so we're hoping to spend the entire summer holiday on it to have it habitable by autumn, with the aid of roofer, electrician, plumber and plasterer. Dad is fortunately very good at DIY/renovation.

But the joke is that it's in France (we're meant to be emigrating), but we're going to have to stay in the UK for longer now so that we can pay for it, 5 more years instead of 18 months we think.

So we're essentially doing all that work for a holiday house.



Reassure me that when we finally move in it'll be worth it! Please!

[lalalonglegs]

It'll be fine but don't overestimate how much work you can do yourselves and do get the job done as quickly as possible so that the house doesn't become a millstone. The sooner you can enjoy it for holidays or whatever, the inevitable ups and downs of renovation will matter.

I think it's a good idea to step outside your comfort zone every few years - good luck.

[FlingonTheValiant]

Thanks lala. The aim is to sort it quickly, DH grew up in a house that wasn't finished so is determined not to let that happen. He's also not much of a DIY person (he'll be doing the fetching and carrying for me and Dad), so he has already said that we'll bring people in to do stuff if we can't cope, phew!

Dad was trying to persuade us he could also do the plumbing and electrics, and I'm sure he could but it's just too much, so they're on the list for outsourcing.

Thanks for being positive about it :)

[lalalonglegs]

I think France has some pretty tight rules about using professional (and tax registered) tradespeople for big jobs such as plumbing and wiring - so dampen your dad's enthusiasm by explaining you could end up with a huge fine if you try and DIY too much.

It's short term pain for long term gain - you will end up with a beautiful home and a huge sense of achievement.