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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Are we mad to do up a house that needs LOADS of work?

43 replies

Pinkjenny · 29/06/2011 10:11

I started this thread a while ago, as we had an offer accepted on our house, and we put in an offer on a house that needed lots of work, offer was then withdrawn.

Anyway, we've now had a cash offer, and the house that we liked is still available. It needs:

2 x new bathrooms
New kitchen
Chimney breast knocking out
New flooring
Replastering
All windows need to be replaced

I have an 18mo and a 4yo, and am reluctant to rent somewhere while the work is carried out, bearing in mind the amount we have had to reduce our property.

So, my question is, are we mad? My mum is banging on and on about how it's too much work, it's too stressful etc etc, and she is really putting me off, which is infuriating dh.

I am a massive stresshead, so would definitely find it difficult, dh is the opposite.

OP posts:

sixtiesqueen · 01/07/2011 11:48

Ah the ventilation issue - it's also a south facing room and it's HOT in the summer - the builder has some sort of solution involving side lights on the patio door round the corner.

Ponders · 01/07/2011 12:35

Oh I didn't realise it was a metal door - all becomes clear now!

You'll have blinds on the Veluxes presumably? I know there are heat-blocking ones, but I think the heat-blocking is a side-effect of them being blackout as well, which you might not want - though fwiw I have E-facing french windows & always have to keep the curtains drawn until the sun's gone round a bit in the morning, otherwise it's too dazzling.

Ponders · 01/07/2011 12:38

and, if you have the Velux windows open a tiny bit, or don't close the blinds completely, you still get a surprising amount of brightness in.

feckwit · 01/07/2011 12:48

Hi pinkjenny, yes we have children - 4 in fact ages 13, 11, 9 and 7. They've enjoyed watching it come together and are at an age they can go out to play to escape the dust. The last house we took on when they were much younger but again they coped fine.

Original poster

Pinkjenny · 01/07/2011 13:14

Well we have one to view tomorrow and four to view on Sunday, so we'll take a decision after the weekend, and hopefully by midweek the survey will have been done on our current house.

Because we have already had a buyer withdraw, we are approaching with extreme caution this time

OP posts:

Charleymouse · 01/07/2011 13:19

Jen, go for it. Your Mum is a wittler, don't let her influence you.

Brill news it is still available and you can get the work done in one go. Try getting workmen/contractors lined up now so they can get cracking as soon as you have completed.

I would suggest you get the main messy work (ie bathrooms and plastering) done and stop in a hotel or some such until it is done but the flooring etc you can be in for (IME). Pack your stuff up and pop it into storage for a couple of weeks and get the bulk of the work done then move back in piecemeal. A great time to declutter as well. (Methinks it is just me that has too much shite all over though). Your house is obviously a palace.

Woohoo, excited for you. It will be a mess and it will stress you out but it WILL BE WORTH IT.

Charleymouse · 01/07/2011 13:26

PJ can I be really rude and nosey at the house you are buying? Is it online anywhere?

Pleas feel free to tell m to p* off I am just nosey by nature. Obviously do not have to do it via MN.

Now our blody conversion is almost finished (I know it seems to have been dragging on forever) I am looking at something else. DH thinks we need a bedroom each for the kids and as we weren't having anymore after the boys we only made this into a three bed, DOH. Obviously can not afford what I am looking at but just love the look of it and want it. Stamps feet.

Good luck.

Original poster

Pinkjenny · 01/07/2011 13:27

Of course, my love. Will PM you the links.

OP posts:

fivegomadindorset · 01/07/2011 13:31

I worked with a ladiy who in the seventies bought a derelict house with her husband, it had a roof and four walls and that was a bout it, only way they could buy something, moved in no running water, no electricty did it mostly themselves with 6 month old twins. So definitely doable.

Original poster

Pinkjenny · 01/07/2011 13:31

Message sent, Charley. The inbox envelope next to the Log In box should turn red...

OP posts:

Charleymouse · 01/07/2011 13:41

Am noseying as we speak.

Charleymouse · 01/07/2011 14:48

Have messaged you PJ.

kbaby · 01/07/2011 19:10

Do it. Were going to be starting a huge renovation in ours soon, my dc are a bit older mind at 4 and 7. We are knocking all bedrooms walls out, putting them back up in different positions, moving the staircase, knocking our downstairs bathroom out and taking down a kitchen wall. It will prob be a nightmare but all worth it.

HansieMom · 04/07/2011 00:38

I would not. It's not your infuriated husband that would be dealing with the builders, mess, dust, grime, fumes, noise, lack of water, missing kitchen, two children running around, mud being tracked everywhere.

noddyholder · 04/07/2011 08:09

It is cheaper to move out. The builders get a lot more done in a shorter time. I am on renovation 12 just finished and the last 3 we have rented and the finish timescales etc have been a lot better in every way. They start packing away at 4 ish in order t leave the house in some semblance of order for you for the evening that is time wasted that you are paying for. Also you d tend tomget fed up with the dust and mess and this can make you cut corners in the renovations ie not do something that would be fab because you can,t face more disruption. Maybe get a short let in the middle say 3 months while the really messy stuff is done. Good luck. I am about to buy another wreck but this is a keeper and we are going to live in it but ds is 17 and we are probably hardened to it. It is difficult with little ones

uggmum · 04/07/2011 08:26

I would go for it. When my dc were 1 and 4 I had a massive extension.

I had the corrner off the house propped up and an extension on the back and the side of the house. I had no kitchen. It was removed and the wall knocked out on day 1. We lived in 2 rooms downstairs, cooked in a microwave and only had 1 working tap in the bathroom.

We lived like this for 3 months. It was a nightmare but it was worth it. Just don't unpack much and live with the basics.

PigletJohn · 04/07/2011 12:00

"Pinkjenny Wed 29-Jun-11 12:07:37
Hullygully - dh did actually mention that. His exact words were, 'I mean, how much would a Travelodge cost for a fortnight?' "

A fortnight? hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Have the work done before you move in. Think of the noise, dirt, dust, disruption, living without water and electricity, having floorboards up all over the place so you and your kids fall down them, or the cat hides under there, the arguments that you and DH will have...

daimbardiva · 04/07/2011 16:03

We're in the middle of a major renovation which has included a huge extension (doubling the size of the house). My husband has done a huge chunk of the work himself, and has done an amazing job, but it's really compromised our family life. We started way before I was even pregnant, and we now have a 2 year old and I'm 6 mo pregnant again! There's light at the end of the tunnel now, but it's also at the most chaotic phase - we're living half between the old part and new part of the house, both of which are being worked on and the dust etc is unbelievable.

Your list sounds manageable but I guess it just depends what your expectations are - it will be an upheaval but if it's a house you love and you'll have your dream family home at the end of it it will be worth it (this is the case for us).

It also depends if you can afford to pay people to do it for you or not...

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