Bought a huge mistake of a house: what to do?

diretimes

northwest1965 wrote: »

From what I can make out then, your partner looked around the property for you to invest in, to sell 4 years later and emigrate. Why didn't you do more research.

It wasn't to make money from the place, but to just have a base for us for the next few years. In retrospect, we should have just kept renting and saving, but we felt the pressure of getting onto the property ladder. I know we've made a grave mistake. I just want some advice on the best way forward to minimise damage.

kazwookie

New internal doors don't cost that much.

Look at car boots
FB
Freecycle
Ask at local tip
Ask local builders
Look in local paper

lincroft1710

Can you just list all the house's defects pl?

RAS

The best way forward to minimise damage is to do the cosmetic work needed as cheaply as possible. You have been given loads of advice on how to start that process.

I do hope you are not behaving like with your partner? It could seriously damage your relationship.

You need to get over your initial disappointment and get on with it.

Once you have a couple of rooms looking decent, think about getting a second bedroom looking nice and get a lodger in on the rent a room scheme (even Monday to friday) and make up the difference that way.

You are far too pessimitic.

GwylimT

So apart from the external doors it just needs a bit of decorating, unless you buy a new build and have it decorated to your exact specifications any house you live in is going to need work doing as and when you can afford it.

rosyw

Oh good grief! there's nothing that a bit of time and effort won't put right! some excellent advice already offered, but just take it a room at a time.
My first purchase had no mains electricity, needed re-plastering once that was sorted, a few joists needed replacing, no bathroom, no hot water, an outside loo & the kitchen consisted of a gas cooker point, a Belfast sink with no drainer and a wash copper! Now THAT needed work! :rotfl:

I think you need to put a different perspective on it, it's your first house, put your own stamp on it, it needn't cost vast amounts of money, and learn the difference between "need" and "want".

lkate

Okay I think you are getting yourself in more of a tiz than you actually need to be.
I'm in a very similar situation to yourself however probably worse than yours.
My partner and I, same age as you, spent 150k on a 3 bed house, probably worth less. Difference is, we don't even have a kitchen or a bathroom like yourselves and it is completely uninhabitable right now.

Take a deep breathe.
Take stock. Spend half a day going around the house, what needs doing, what requires professionals to do.
Is it actually structurally unsound? We were told there would be all sorts of problems with damp and asbestos but ours is all good. We have 15 year old electrics and the only thing new is the combi-boiler (believe me, it's awful inside)

What are you able to do yourself?
Taking tiles down and putting new ones up. If you go to websites like Wickes, they have videos showing you how to do things.

If you were planning on only staying there for 4 years I have to say, you should've really bought something in better condition and something you could "get by" in.

Remember you don't need to do everything all at once. You have 4 years to do it. Do the essentials first. Kitchen and bathroom (if they are really that bad) should come first. Windows if need be? You shouldn't pay more than 300 a frame.

GwylimT

rosyw wrote: »

Oh good grief! there's nothing that a bit of time and effort won't put right! some excellent advice already offered, but just take it a room at a time.
My first purchase had no mains electricity, needed re-plastering once that was sorted, a few joists needed replacing, no bathroom, no hot water, an outside loo & the kitchen consisted of a gas cooker point, a Belfast sink with no drainer and a wash copper! Now THAT needed work! :rotfl:

I think you need to put a different perspective on it, it's your first house, put your own stamp on it, it needed cost vast amounts of money, and learn the difference between "need" and "want".

My first house was similar, the previous owner had removed the floor in the living room so instead of floorboards I had soil!

rob404uk

I agree wıth others that you need to look at the place as a home and not worry about the fınacıal sıde too much. It can take over your lıfe worryıng. I am lucky enough to lıve ın an area of rısıng house prıces after buyıng 2 years ago but I always worry about varıous thıngs and what ıfs. In the end of the day ıt ıs just a poıntless worry.

Do one room at a tıme and try to enjoy.

jk0

Woodchip wallpaper is a plus!

It is hard wearing and only needs a lick of paint to bring it up to scratch. Don't take it off unless you can afford replastering.

Your kitchen & bathroom are five years younger than mine. Years ago, houses had the same fittings for decades. I can't see the need for constant updating, particularly if you're short of cash.

edit: My mother's house has the same kitchen & bathroom that she had put in in 1984!

You will make yours look a lot better by liberal application of Limelite.