House falling down around our ears!

[Nearlyhaveahouse]

OK so subject title is a bit dramatic. House isn't falling down! Bought house, it's old and knew about damp etc but it feels like every turn there's a new problem. Dry rot, wet rot, bad electrics, woodworm. The list is endless. By the end, the house will be better for it but can someone tell me it does get better. At the moment I feel like we should've offered a much lower price! Is this just the downside of a period property? Needing tea and sympathy!

I’m two years in to a full renovation project on an Edwardian house. I’ve been there! Still am there from time to time... it is absolutely the downside to a period property. I love my house though.

We’ve got damp, there’s been wet and dry rot in the past that’s now dormant, but we’ve had to replace a lot of old, rotten wood.

Boiler broke a few months in, most of the plaster was blown and has needed re-doing. Had a small extension done as the kitchen was in a damp, slug-ridden outhouse. Full re-wire, complete bathroom suite replacement... We’ve been on bare floorboards for two years because carpets will have to be the last thing. It feels like it will never end. And when it does we’ll have to move on to the gardens! It has been hell at times, but I’m sure it’ll be worth it.

Be prepared for some very, very low days and for it to cost way more than you think. But you’ll be bringing an old house back to life and making yourself a lovely home.

Where in the country are you? We worried that we’d overpaid initially, but actually prices are going up around here and ours will be the nicest house on the street when we’ve finished. We’ll have spent less than the increased value.