11 years of reno and nearly done—need motivation to get through the last bits!

[verdibird]

We bought a Victorian fixer upper 11 years ago. We knew it needed work, and so far we have:
*replaced all windows with bespoke oak double glazed (15 of them), done by mate of husband with a joinery firm
*Replaced all flooring (except loos and porch) with hardwood oak parquet downstairs and ash plank upstairs (husband laid floor and I refinished it)
*knocked out a wall for my office which was painted/wallpapered
*painted entire interior of house and replaced most of the skirting boards
*built bookshelves for a box room that became a small library.
*fixed horrible vegetable garden with new raised beds/watering system/maintained and tidied up another 1/2 acre of garden.
*put in a new kitchen w all new appliances
*renovated the laundry room (former coal shed..which involved dealing with old lime mortar..not fun).
*put in all new light fittings that are LED.
*renovated the pantry
*refinished the staircase
*rebuilt most of the garden walls
*put in solar panels/battery storage system that pays for the electrics. Husband had mate put them on the roof and he designed the electrics as that is part of his expertise.

In a couple of days, the loos will be renovated/finished (one of the few things we did not do ourselves).

We have the roof fascia boards to replace in the autumn, and are realistically looking at repainting the downstairs and refinishing a couple of the oak floors this summer. I would like to get a built in wardrobe for the bedroom. And, in the next couple years, our boiler should be replaced with a heat pump, and my husband’s shed window will be replaced with a garage door. DH wants to build me a new greenhouse.

The house is paid off, and we did not go into debt for the DIY but saved, did a project, saved, moved to the next. But to be fair, most of any spare money went towards house stuff. The house is pretty nice, but I am tired of the rather constant projects. DH says we are almost finished, and he is right, but how do I keep motivated to face another summer of weekends painting/refinishing, and discipline to keep saving for the rest of these projects. It is just neverending.

11 tears is s long time, but you've done so much and with no debt! Amazing

All.the best getting over these last jobs

Thanks for your kind wishes. I am just v. Tired and probably a bit burnt out with it. I’m lucky though we were able to accomplish this.

Can you escape? Go away or just take a pause from anything house related (even saving) for a short break. Take the pressure off and you might find more motivation.

But honestly, will it really ever really be finished? A house will always need upkeep

Total sympathy.
Next month we will have reached 4 years of the same (albeit a very different type of property). We have not had a holiday for 5 years, no Chrystal ball, so Covid, inflation, cost of living crisis and trades/doubled material prices were not even a ‘glint in a bat’s eye’ when we started the procedure of buying it. (It took a whole year to buy it.)
I second Savemykitchen - try to get away & recharge your batteries, It would definitely help us to fully appreciate what we have achieved to date and reset our sense of humour!

my husband says the same thing @Savemykitchen House upkeep is never done, but 6 months without something going on would be nice. never mind. I’ve just had to speak to the builders about some wonky tile which they are sorting out, and I’ve been taking sponge baths because no shower for a couple weeks, so probably that isn’t helping my mood!
They are though nearly done, so maybe today, maybe tomorrow. We have to paint the rooms/skirting board, but then we can have functional loos again.

It is a v. good suggestion to get away. We would love to get away, but are on call all the time for husband’s mum, and have had several holidays cut short with something or another. She’s got no short term memory anymore, well into her 90s, and rings a lot for reassurance, visits, fixing her house, etc., and we pay her bills now with POA. DH is an only child, and anytime we have tried to get away, we usually end up cutting it short for something or another she needs; DH and I do most of the maintenance and the gardening for her house, and it is huge and listed, so it is time consuming, and there are a lot of medical appointments to sort out. She has carers to check on her, housekeeping, shopping done for her, but it still takes time and coordination on our part. I’m not resentful about it, just tired, as we have been trying to help her for about 30 years now.

@Fifiesta yes, important to have a sense of humour about it all, and I hope your house gets done ( or at least done as it is going to be) very soon for you! We have noticed how expensive everything is now too. Good luck with finishing and hope a holiday is in your near future.

Now to go see if that tile is sorted out….

Thank you verdibird, I hope it all goes well for you too.

workmen done, so just painted skirting boards in upstairs loo. (have a day of annual leave). Next downstairs. Then back upstairs for the mist coat on the plaster, and DH will help this evening. I am so hoping to have this all done by Friday. It was bliss having a shower today with proper water pressure due to a pump in the attic. Feel heaps better.