Just bought my first house and regret it

Janetta

Excellent advice given in the posts above my advice would be to try :
After you've been for walk to calm down-

Write a list of what needs to be done in every room. No matter how big or small the task / job.

Then prioritise what needs to be done - put the work out to tender, get quotes from local treadesman/ handy man, costs, how soon can they start any references, times he will start/ finish etc

If money is no option let them get on with it, if money is tight start on your bedroom first ( make it cosy & welcoming) then just take your time working through the house. You haven't mention anything structurally so cosmetically the house sounds like it needs a good clean and make over ( Homes under the hammer)

Just remember one job at time and you are probably over faced with it all . There is no rush. Worse case scenario put it up for rent.

moneyistooshorttomention

Pixie5740 wrote: »

A lot of FTB have an "Oh my God! What have I done?!" moment when they get the keys and move in.

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A lot of second time buyers also have such moments:cool: - particularly if they have moved to an area where much of the housing stock is worse condition and/or more old-fashioned than they are used to seeing in their own area. Mine went to the "Ohmegawd the place is virtually uninhabitable its that bad". Fast forward over a year later and its something I recognise as a home and visibly should "come good" at some point.

But...yep....get stuck into giving it a darn good springclean to start with - and see if you have any friends you can rope in for a Cleaning Party and air/air/air it until the smell has gone.

Pixie5740

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

A lot of second time buyers also have such moments:cool:

I'm getting the keys for the second place later this week. I probably will have another :eek: moment.

Windsorcastle

I bought a property by myself 10 years ago, after coming out of a sad relationship breakup and various other upheaval, and I clearly remember how very lonely I found the whole process. I didn't have anyone to view places with me and give a second opinion, or to bounce ideas off. The day I completed I went to the EA to collect the keys expecting a congratulatory comment at least, but was just handed the keys by a face in a suit who didn't even smile at me. I had envisioned feeling elated but when I put the key in the door and walked into that empty echoey place all alone, I promptly burst into tears!


The reality of finding yourself a homeowner can be daunting and overwhelming and more so if you are doing it alone.


In my case, I quickly decided that I had to make it work and that I wanted to feel safe and happy in my new home. Getting the place repainted was the first step towards putting my own stamp on it, and once that was done, things slowly but surely started to look up. Once I had settled in, bought bit and pieces of (cheap) furniture etc, it started to feel like my place.


I am sure the same will happen for you. Just take a few deep breaths, draw up a list, prioritise what you want/need to do and start working on it. The jobs you have listed do not need to cost a lot of money. Once you have freshly painted walls and a new carpet, it will transform the place.


Oh and as for seeing other properties pop up that you wish you had waited for - well, we could all do that, but then you might never buy just in case something better comes along. You took the plunge, well done for that, now just try to be positive and enjoy your own space. I hope you settle in soon, and start to enjoy all the positives. Good luck!

BJV

Moving is stressful. I am desperate to move and I honestly think that part of the process holding me back is the upheaval. The showing people around etc. It can in someways almost be an anti climax. You have the keys so what now.

Houses are 10 a penny but homes are different and it can take time to feel like home. So relax and think about what you need to do to make it your home. Changing the colour of the walls, wall paper a good clean it can change the whole feel.


Don't be hard on yourself perfectly normal. In fact I am glued to right move ( searching for a house ). Each one I see is not quiet right. So I think I should take my own advice and look beyond the brown walls and orange carpets and see what type of a home I could make.

S0litaire

You could do what I did.
I basically camped out in the living room for 2 months while I sorted out the rest of my flat. Had the microwave kettle and fridge in the living room and I slept on the couch. (Didn't have a bed at the time).

First, pick a room any room and deal with that first and ignore the rest of the house.
Once that first room is done you'll feel ready to tackle the rest of the house.

Kynthia

Second time buyer here. I moved in to what had looked like a lovely house in move-in condition when viewing. With all the furniture gone the place looked scuff and scruffy and in need of decoration. The previous owner had left it dirty and I'm talking about the kind of dirt and mould that builds over time because of only ever being surface cleaned, it wasn't apparent until you looked closer and I really didn't want to get in the bath. It was freezing cold compared to our well insulated flat, and the garden looked tatty and overgrown. I felt really upset and it certainly didn't feel like home.


So we cleaned and cleaned, which helped but didn't make it feel nice and like home. Then I made a list of every job for every room, which was long. I then grouped the jobs that needed a tradesperson together and made a start. I got an electrician round to do a few minor jobs in a few rooms. Got a handyman to put on a handrail, fix the toilet lock and some other bits. Got a locksmith to change all the locks and a guttering specialist to fix the guttering. My OH filled in holes and decorated the box room to make a nursery. We went shopping and got nice furniture for the lounge and nursery. Repaired the lounge blinds and put curtains in the spare room. Mowed the lawn, dug a new bedding area and planted some flowers.


A year later it still needs lots of odd jobs, such as one window won't shut if opened, I'd like to paint the whole of the downstairs, find lightfittings for the kitchen, get rid of the decking and have a nice patio, etc, etc. However the house became home during the year and there are some lovely things about it. We've had friends round and family parties. Remember this house was in good condition and I still felt like this, and I think I'll always see a list of things that need doing or buying no-matter where I live. So I think it's normal and you will feel better soon. Do some cleaning and diy, get a few odd jobs done and take advantage of the fact you aren't renting and decorate how you like, and don't hold off on having people round as you should enjoy the place as others won't be as critical as you are and will think it's lovely. If you feel the same 6-12 months after buying then perhaps it isn't the place for you, but most people get over this wobble.

agrinnall

If you view a house when it has the owner's furniture and belongings in then when you move into an empty house it will look very bare (and sound very odd too in my experience). It's pretty normal to be a bit underwhelmed at first, but it won't take you long to get the place clean enough and start putting your own things in to turn it from a house to your home.

moneyistooshorttomention

The thing is that I suspect its harder for a single person to move into a new home on their own (be it first or second) - as there's no-one else moving in with you you can instantly bounce thoughts/feelings/etc off, have a comforting hug if you wonder what you've done and then just head down the pub to either celebrate or "drown sorrows" with as appropriate.

That may be part of why you are feeling this way - but it is what it is and keep telling yourself "Well - at least I don't have to consult with anyone else as to what their taste is/priorities are/etc - I will be doing exactly as I please".

tizerbelle

It's Buyer's Remorse.

Give it time, it will likely wear off.

You'd have trouble selling within the first 6 months anyway as most mortgage companies won't lend on a house owned for under 6 months - so you'd be restricting your market to cash buyers only. Not to mention all the money you effectively wasted buying the place and then to sell it again.

So you are where you are for at least 6 months - come back then and I bet your opinion has changed and you'll be very fond of your little hovel.

As for no en-suite and only 1 toilet - well its like owning more than one car - you can only park your bottom on one seat at a time so why (especially as a single person) do you need more than one toilet?

Give the place a good airing and a clean and then pick a room - personally I always go for my bedroom and get that decorated / carpeted / etc as you like and it can be your sanctuary from the rest of the house.

Once that's done, you can start to tackle whatever else is in the house that isn't to your liking. (You may well find that stuff that you hate right now, you don't mind in 2 months and end up living with for years quite happily)

It doesn't all have to be done at once or within a specified time-frame.

Give it some time.