Buying to "doing up"

redlady_1

Not wrong Geoff. The only reason I bought a wreck was because it was all I could afford and it was to be my home. But Jesus, in a year it has taken my very soul and literally blood, sweat and lots of tears. I wouldnt advise anyone to do it in a rush and certianly not to make a fast buck. I really did buy the worse house in the best street.

Amara

Thanks again. We're still thinking, my dad is lovely and it takes a long time for him to make decision Perhabs it's not the best way to go. We thought though about steady rental income.

redlady_1

Ah, but what if it is left empty or you have nightmare tenants? Or you have to gut the place after a tenant has trashed it? Or you have to go to court to evict the tenant? All will need money. Yes, there are amazing tenants (I was one once) and my dad has some in his properties but you only have to read on here about the horror stories of tenants.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

amcluesent

Oak laminate flooring from Argos, magnolia paint, chrome towel rail, table and chairs from Ikea, some earth-bonding in the lavvy, bish, bash, bosh, easy money.

Davesnave

amcluesent wrote: »

Oak laminate flooring from Argos, magnolia paint, chrome towel rail, table and chairs from Ikea, some earth-bonding in the lavvy, bish, bash, bosh, easy money.

That sounded quite normal, until I read the bit in red. Perhaps someone had better explain it's about electrical safety, not a strange hippie fertility ritual, conducted on the day of the Vernal Equinox!

Doozergirl

amcluesent wrote: »

Oak laminate flooring from Argos, magnolia paint, chrome towel rail, table and chairs from Ikea, some earth-bonding in the lavvy, bish, bash, bosh, easy money.

Something like that.
This is the cellar and what is now the study and downstairs loo.



laminate floor and some earth bonding later...





The lounge and dining area didn't even exist before we got hold of it. And that isn't laminate!

michaels

DG I wish you were local and could come and PM my extension

anjb

Well I wouldnt recommend it. I bought my house in 2007 as a FTB wanting to do it up. Thought it would take 4-6 months and took me 2 years and i'm actually quite handy when it comes to DIY. I might get back what i've spent compared with the market value now, but it doesnt compensate at all. Especially as this whole thing was contributory to a depression. Reckon ive lost about 3 year of my life to this place. Slowly getting better but living in was incredibly incredibly hard. Unless you've done it you wont know what its like. Worst decision of my life. Not to put you off or anything :P

hcb42

I have also bought, done up and sold four houses at profit.

There has normally been 3-5 year delay before the latter part though, and said profit has gone into new home

PasturesNew

I bought a pig of a house to live in, found it was a pig of a house, did the most necessary things to make the house better (stuff you can't see), lived in a draughty hole for 7 years and sold at a profit because prices were going up, not because of anything clever I did at all. Not at all.