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Property/DIY

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Original poster

'Done' vs 'undone' houses

16 replies

tentative3 · 31/08/2017 21:12

House we offered on needs renovation, we knew that from viewings. However, survey has revealed all sorts of horrors that are looking as if they might scupper the deal. While we investigate further we've been looking at what else is on the market. There's a house that has been completely done by the current owners. A couple of bits are not completely to our taste but absolutely fine and to be honest, house is at the top of our budget so wouldn't be doing them any time soon even if we wanted.

The question is, how do you go from buying houses that need renovation (which we've always done) to buying something done? Can you?! Would we be bored within 2 months of moving in?

OP posts:

fucksakefay · 31/08/2017 21:21

This reply has been deleted

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yomellamoHelly · 01/09/2017 08:26

Personally I'd be worried that things hadn't been done properly and bodges had been hidden. (Speaking from experience.) That said, a friend did it and the house has been exactly what it appeared to be. Our house is renovation-city, but we have a much bigger house than our friends - albeit that it will take another 5-10 years to make it genuinely nice to live in.

JT05 · 01/09/2017 09:39

We've alway gone down the renovation route, except with this recently bought house. It's a period house, tastefully done up. But we have had to replace some of the bodged bits, are extending with a porch, decided the CH isn't adequate for us and the bathroom really isn't our taste!
So money has to be spent.
If you have the energy, time, finance I'd go with the renovation. It's easier to start from scratch, than rectify other people's mistakes.

Toddlerdramas · 01/09/2017 10:09

I'm not sure. We've just bought a done house, what we found was that it was a bit overpriced. Not quite done to our taste, and will be ending up spending money anyway. Albeit the work we will be doing are the nice bits.

The house I fell in love with the most was one that needed loads of work, but one lady had lived there since it was built. It was immaculate but very dated. It had hardly been touched but everything was spotless, like an old car that had never been driven out of the garage.

I think you've got to be realistic about the costs involved and whether you've got the time to commit then decide.

MiaowTheCat · 01/09/2017 19:36

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CredulousThickos · 01/09/2017 19:39

Our last house was a fixer upper and we hadn't even finished it when we moved out five years later. It was a never ending job and we didn't have the patience, time or money for it really.

So we bought a new build and it's honestly our perfect house. There's not a bit of it I'd change and the only thing we've done is decorate.

I'll never buy a project again. I probably won't but a second hand house again tbh.

But I am very lazy...

mctat · 01/09/2017 20:12

I've found that any building work type renovations are really expensive at the moment so you might actually be better off with done.

We bought a done house at top of budget having nearly bought a doer upper and having always wanted one, but to be honest I don't think we'd have saved much if any money in the end. Thankfully the house we got was was done fantastically - yes there are a few bits that I wouldn't have chosen, but all still lovely and we'll change them gradually as we go. Plus this was just before dd was born so wouldn't have been the best time for major renovations.

The one bit we are getting done is going to be hugely expensive - I'm a bit horrified by prices compared to a few years ago! So anything we can do ourselves, we will.

mctat · 01/09/2017 20:14

Oh and we've still found loads to do make it ours/change it up a bit - painting / shelving / exposing brick etc.

NotMeNoNo · 01/09/2017 22:56

We've moved into a 'done' house after many renovations on previous ones. We are in a tricky time with family stuff and we don't have it in us for mess and DIY again.

After viewing a lot of grey/beige/glossy "showhomes" this one is colourful and practical and light just like we'd have done it (if we'd had such good ideas) so we offered on the spot. There are some tweaks to make it more family friendly but it's a relief not to have major work to do.

GreenTulips · 01/09/2017 23:41

We also brought a nearly done house - need to change decor, bathroom was old and so are the kitchen tiles/floor - hall floor is a bit sad!!

We just moved in and go on, there's more to life than doing up a house and I can't see the money in it these days as there used to be

longestlurkerever · 01/09/2017 23:48

I've done up a house and you have to make lots of compromises to suit your budget anyway and can spend ages living in a building site which is no one's dream home. I think the odd compromise in a done house is fine

BarchesterFlowers · 02/09/2017 18:26

We have always bought old wrecks of houses and had the work done ourselves ..... not this time, we have had an offer accepted on something that has been done up really well, excellent standard of work and all really tastefully done.

We are downsizing (five beds to three after a long battle getting DH to agree - am thrilled), but will probably add a loft conversion next year to give DD a massive loft bedroom.

We might add a garden room as well at some point but neither need doing at all and there are only three of us so we will just move in for now and enjoy the benefits of someone else's work.

sall74 · 02/09/2017 19:28

The trouble with the current market is most doer uppers come with the asking price of a done up house.

mctat · 02/09/2017 19:55

'I can't see the money in it these days as there used to be'

Yes - I agree with this.

Original poster

tentative3 · 02/09/2017 20:41

Went to see the done one today, it's very nice and appears to have been done well although if course you never can tell. Compared to another done one we've seen it's a miles better finish though, but you're all quite right that you don't know what lurks beneath.

On the flip side the PP who mentioned costs of renovation now has a good point. What cost us 40k 4 years ago to do on the house we're selling would be a fair whack more now, there must be a tipping point. I just don't know!

OP posts:

BarchesterFlowers · 02/09/2017 20:47

We have looked at a lot of houses in the last month, those that aren't done have been on the market for net cost plus renovation cost and a bit more.

So invest and have all the mess and grief and only get back the same as the done up jobs.

We sold a house a couple of years ago and didn't get back everything we had spent on it.

Done all the way for me plus a full survey and a visit by a well respected builder I use at work. I don't want to spend the time or have the bother of it any more.

Not like when I bought my first house 25 years ago when you were guaranteed to make money if you did something up.

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