Anyone bought a house in need of extensive work as a FTB?

Pigmy

I did a lot to my first house - grade 2 listed affair. There are some bits you can do yourself and some you'll need help with but it really depends upon your appetite to do it and your ability.

So, say, you could do the bathroom over a period of a month or so (as long as you have an alternative!) yourself without too much hassle but the DPC needs specialist chemical which, although you can buy and do yourself, just aren't worth the effort. You also might find you can get experts in sometime and help labour for them to reduce the costs. I had to rewire the house so had a friend who was a sparky. I ripped up floor boards and pulled cables while he did the complex bits

It is beyond rewarding in every sense except financial! The pride and enjoyment is huge. The "living in a building site" can be a bit of a bind. Financially, take some advice, get a few quotes, build up your estimate, then double the whole lot. You can of course spread this over a number of years but it is highly unlikely that you will actually make a profit on the deal.

Most of all you have to want to do it. 12 months in, whilst you are at each others throats one night because another bit of the project has gone over budget and the house is still a mess, you have to be able to see the pleasure in the project! Now they don't show you that on Grand Designs!

mr_fishbulb

Thanks all - great advice to digest

tomstickland

Yes, I worked on a house for 2 years about 10 years ago.
If I did it again I would not live in the house.
I'd gut it properly all in one go and start from scratch inside.
It's a lot of work and there are loads of other more fun things you could be doing with your time.

Soot2006

I'm finding it hard just to do the cosmetic bits ...
Bought a house where we liked the structure, garden, neighbourhood, etc ... Hate everything inside it! We live in it and everything works ok, but it does feel like a constant building site and we've found it hard to settle fully.
Today I'm working from home as the laminate is being put in upstairs ... Had to sort out the CH first (required floorboards to be pulled up), etc etc etc etc! Never ending journey. not sure I could extensive structural changes or work that made it difficult to live in (damp, etc) ...