Advice about buying and living in a doer upper

[PurpleLeopard]

We have seen a house which we love, but it's fairly close to the top of our budget and will need quite a lot of work. But it could be our forever house so we're very torn about what to do. It's in an ideal location and it has a beautiful big garden too.

So I suppose I'm looking for words of wisdom from people who've been there. What's it like to live in a doer upper before you can afford to actually do it up? Is it awful or do you get used to it? How much of a money pit is a Victorian semi likely to be?

You can re-wire and let them know the extension plans so it’s all there and ready, same with the plumbing.

The only downside was the cold when things were midway - particularly trades who have yet to master closing doors!

We renovated - back to a shell. Took 4 months to do reword / re plaster new boiler / resight rads / decorate etc

We didn't live there at the time ! Paid for all the work to be done cost about £25k all in. Not yet done the kitchen though ! Can't face it !

If you can try not living in it whilst doing the work. We moved in with family x

Ours wasn't a big renovation but still needed some! We just have learnt to shut some doors to rooms as they are still a mess and deal with some crappy spaces like the bathroom. Once one room was done we used that as a base to live in and eventually spread out around the house!

I've taken on a house I adored from the first moment. It's my forever home finally, after raising a big family and so many moves.
But it's a money pit. We're getting there and much of it is stunning but theres still stuff to do a year later.
Always hidden costs with an old wreck too.
I have spent every penny I have and I'm lucky I have a strong marriage as we've almost come to blows during this process (We're living here).
I still have no regrets. It's my dream home.
But fuck me it's been really, really hard. You have to be able to see the bigger picture when you're in the midst of what feels like never ending chaos and you're thinking "What the hell have I done!!".
And the DUST!!

Thank you all for all of your advice and insights.

I think we're going to go for it and see what happens. We should have about £30k in the short term and I think we may we'll end up using that to do a full rewire and new heating system etc, as PPs have suggested.

I asked Mumsnet to delete the link because one of my friends recognised me and I felt rather exposed but I do really appreciate all of your help.

You’re better doing the rewire etc ASAP rather than doing everything else then needing to mash walls to bits to do a rewire.

So I agree with you! Just in case it came across otherwise.

Do it! Get the big stuff sorted first to the best of your budget i.e. make sure the house is warm, dry and get rid of the worst of the damp. Assess the damp once you've lived there for a while, ventilating and heating it properly.

Also make sure at least one room is pleasant and comfortable (bedroom, then maybe a living room). You can live with an ugly kitchen and bathroom but IME it is horrendous trying to get ready for work etc. when your bedroom is in chaos and you haven't been able to unpack properly.

Decorate bit by bit, if you're buying a doer upper you resign yourself to the fact that you will not have a 'beautiful' home for some time.

Draft a reasonable budget, then add 50%.

The work you and your OH will be doing yourself - do not spend every evening and weekend on it. It will exhaust you both and ruin the 'fun'.

We had a doer upper before we had kids and it absolutely consumed us.

We then had 4 kids and our own business and lived in newbuilds and we actually got to live our lives; maintenance was negligible, occasional redecorating was fun.

For us our house is just a backdrop; it's bright, functional and to our taste. We'd rather put or headspace, time and money into having fun.

We took on a project house in May. Rewire and new boiler , resited, while we finished our tenancy contract. Now we are slowly doing it up, almost entirely ourselves. Very tough going at times and have had a hiatus for about a month due to work pressures.
We have bare (untreated) floorboards in all rooms and are making do with rag rugs until we have decorated throughout and can do flooring.
I do regret taking it on at times however we saw nothing on the market to our tastes and had lost out on 8 properties before we secured this one as it is an expensive and competitive area - and our budget was very stretched to buy here.
However we love the location and it's on a very quiet street, neighbours are lovely, we have freehold, large garden etc.
It is likely to be 5 years - or even 10 - before we have it to a good state throughout

I think it will be similar for us Tiddle. We made an offer today so 🤞

I think it will be similar for us Tiddle. We made an offer today so

How exciting! Come back and let us know if it was accepted, Purple. Good luck!