Buying a complete wreck...am I mad?

[Tarrarra]

We've finally found the house that could be the house of our dreams. However, it needs complete remodernisation. I'm talking roof, windows, heating, electrics, decoration, some fairly major building work etc. It's a definite project. We can just about afford it, and we're fairly clued up on these things and not at all blinkered about the scope of works!

Has anyone ever taken on a project like this and lived in the property? Is it worth it in the end or will I feel like I'm squatting for a few years? I'd love to hear some success stories, and, advice from those who have been there, done it, made some mistakes and know the pitfalls too.

Thanks!

Make sure you don't overpay for the house... everyone overpays for renovation property.

We’ve done a couple. My advice would be to get yourselves a room that’s your sanctuary and try to get either a bathroom in quickly or a clean cheap shower and toilet setup that’s warm and “nice” to use.

In our last place we sorted one living room, had a desk with 2 ring hobs and a micro oven + open shelves in an upstairs room for a kitchen and a sofa bed for bedroom. First little one was only a couple of months old and we managed fine for almost a year like this. The other thing I did was wire/plumb dishwasher and washing machine/dryer. These had to move to different places during the build/renovation including the utility for a few months which had no external doors or windows on but had a roof. It would take an hour or two after builders left for the day for me to move the plumbing and electric when things needed to move for he builders. This meant we never cleaned dishes in the bath but did use the local launderette twice.

It is hard at times but you do get used to a lot pretty quickly. And the pains quickly forgotten when it’s all done.

Re surveyors their surveys are “non destructive” so they generally won’t pull back a carpet much less dig a hole. We had some that wouldn’t move furniture . If you have some experience and know what to look for 2-3 viewings and a phone for photos can often give you a good idea. If you have a friend or relative who is a builder or has experience renovating properties I find they are often more helpful than any kind of survey. Some builders might (for a fee?) come with you to a viewing...this might be best after you’ve been to the property yourself as you may have specific things you want advice on.

Good luck! For all the hard times it can be fun and very rewarding!

My first house was a wreck, I had it on the market as the final coat of paint was drying. I hated it by the end. I hated the fact I'd not been able to do anything, go anywhere, spend anything on anything other than diy. Our next house was completed when we moved in, I vowed I wouldn't do it again.

My exH is an incredibly talented man & able to turn his hand to pretty much anything. He is also the DIY neighbour from hell. We bought our first project together when I was pregnant with DD1. Before that we finished both our houses which we sold to enable us to do the project. Anything you can think of, it needed doing pretty much, except subsidence. We moved in when DD was about 3 months old. I still have pictures of me carrying a tiny DD in the house filled with dust, bare walls & electric wires hanging from the ceiling. Don't underestimate how shit this will be. ExH would get up early, do a couple of hours, go to work, come back & then carry on until 11pm or later. Weekends started at the crack of dawn & went on late. It is honestly no fun.

If its one project & there is an end date in sight with no intention of repeating the process then go for it. Trouble is, it tends to become an obsession & once one thing is done its onto the next. I had 10 years trapped in a building site with this idiot. No family life whatsoever. It was a very lonely time. No chance of leaving because the house was a wreck. Eventually I gave him an ultimatum, we move somewhere not needing loads of work & start again, or split when the current project was done. We did that but 18 months later the marriage was over. He'd found another woman happy to have him build her a conservatory. He is currently living with his wife & kids in a house that is not legally inhabitable while he constantly wastes money on whatever new project he finds, without finishing the rest. I feel so sorry for his family. If you value your marriage & family life then think very carefully about how this is going to turn out for you!