Has anyone else recently bought a house in need of renovation to LIVE in as a family home?? We have and its completely daunting!

[stilltryingtosell]

Dp and I moved three days ago from our tiny but very servicable little two bed to a much bigger house, which is in need of 'total renovation'.

We woulod not have been able to afford to make this move if the house had not been in need of a lot of work, but now we are in i am really really overwhelmed and daunted! PLEASE COME AND HOLD MY HAND LOL LOL!!!

We're in this position now and most of the time we go around in a bubble, just occasionally our little bubble burst and we feel overwhelmed... feeling overwhelmed at the moment! Moved in 2007, had chimney breasts built, living and dining rooms skimmed and decorated, flooring laid, woodwork treated. For the past year we have had no carpets upstairs, no wallpaper on our bedroom wall, and we've still not unpacked (there's no point!). The boiler is ancient, electrics old, another chimney breast may need attention, floors need sanding, etc etc. We will get there, but with minimal savings it's going to take time. But... we are so happy to have a home that's big enough for us, and whichever house we'd moved to, we would have had to do work to it; this house was the right one, it still is.

One day she will sit in full glory again. Until then, time and small pots of money.

Hello All!!

Thanks SO MUCH for all the replies- we are currently without internet connection so am posting from work (officially on holiday today but am taking refuge lol!!)

Well, the house is currently being re-wired, a hideous job and i had no idea it ewas going to be so bad. Myself and DS have moved out, after only three night of living in our new house as it would be impossible to stay there with all the wires, dust etc. We cannot install ther CH system at the same time as we have been told we need Listed building permission (ridiculous IMO, as the Listed lady said' well we never refuse an application for heating as EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE WARM!') but they will still take 4 to 8 weeks to put that in writing. GRRRRR!!!

This is our list of things that need doing

Re-wire (being done now)

Removal of asbestos pipes in extension

Gas central heating and boiler

complete removal of all plaster on first floor as it has now started falling off in massive chunks due to wallpaper having been stripped! take down ceilings which have been patched so many times they are falling down.

Render (twice) and replaster whole of first floor.

Put in new bathroom and shower (currently a 30 year old bathroom, with no working plumbing to bath and no shower!)

Buy white goods for horrible but functional kitchen (will be years before we can install a new one)

Restore all of the windows and front door or replace ones too rotten.

Paint and decorate whole house.

Move staircase to atic room (long term project - but current one is really scary and dangerous!)

Re-instate a fireplace in keeping with the pewriod of the house to both lounge and living room

Carpet whole house

Remove horrible concrete breezeblock type things in the garden and put down turf so that DS can play out there and not get injured everytime he falls over

Very long term- replace horrible 1950's extension which is damp with a nice new extension/ conservatory. maybe when I am 50 or so lol

Am now very very scared as thats the first time i have actually done a list

Keep holding my hand!!!