Bought house and regretting it

Wes121708

No wonder moving in the winter when it's cold and bleak! Focus on one room to get done and make it feel like home. Some extra layers, soft furnishings and some warm lights. 
We've been in ours 5 months but when the weather changed it was freezing so we cranked the heating up for a bit to warm it through. 
I drive past the house we didn't go for nearly daily and think how easy it would have been and we'd have probably of finished everything that needed doing to it but my husband always says at least we get to put our stamp on the one we choose! 

SusieT

As the others have said, give it time. Get one room done so that it is warm and has decor that you want, a comfortable sofa or armchair and tv. That way you have your relaxing place. Then get the bedroombathroom/kitchen done in the order that is most important to you so that the rooms where you spend a lot of time are welcoming. Have friends round for a decorating party, provide snacks and drinks (not too much alcohol) and make an organised party of it. If heat is heading out of the loft, then rolls of insulation are not expensive and are easy to roll out - tip, do not remove the outer packaging until it is in the loft    
Its one room at a time, I am still renovating my house and at one point had a living room which I literally lived in, with a used kitchen cupboard,  camping stove and microwave, along with a tv, big armchair and the sofa was my bed, the bathroom was renewed so I used the second toilet, and showered at friends houses for a couple of months!! The living room had been my first room to be done and still is my favorite room as it has a fantastic view. 

lookstraightahead

I've gone from a beautiful Victorian house apartment (which was rental while I broke the chain so no responsibility for maintenance) to a 200 year old barn type cottage. We couldn't afford what we 'wanted' so this has some negatives (like damp, old things, squeaky floorboards, uneven walls, not enough radiators etc etc). It gets cold sometimes so I put a blanket around me which everyone thinks is weird ... but I love love love it. Because it needs work doing I'm getting to know it really well and it's becoming mine.

the thing is, don't panic. You will either grow to love it, or you won't, it really is just a house and especially because of the nature of this forum we use words such as 'dream house' and 'forever home' as if it's the most important thing in life, which of course it isn't.

just wait and see how you feel in a few months, do a bit to it, maybe introduce yourself to some of the neighbours etc. You can move again if you want to.

you may have panicked with the bidding, but also it might be exactly right for you snd was meant to be. Who knows til you have given it a bit of time.

lookstraightahead

PS what heating do you have?

Greymug

andy444 said:

How anybody bought a house and very quickly regretted purchasing it? 

No, buying the house was the 2nd best decision I've ever made (1st one being getting a dog).

The house had some pretty tacky decor, but we could see the potential. In fact, the carpet is gone and so are the awful wallpaper and tacky drapes. Now with nice laminate flooring, neutral venetian blinds and white walls, the house has transformed.

I say just ripping out the old decor increased the value of the house by a good bit.

Soot2006

I think it's often a bit of a shock when the reality of what needs updating sinks in, but at the same time, you'll soon stop seeing the cracks just like the old owners probably couldn't see them.

We're in year 3 in this house ow, and have only just managed to get the roof to stop leaking. WE THINK. As I type the sliding patio door that was stuck closed and let water in is being replaced with new French doors ... I have been feeling the draft from that door for two winters, but after today, no more! These little changes take time (and savings) but they do make the property fully yours.

I always say that the plus-side is I probably couldn't have afforded the house if it was at least partially falling apart ...

csgohan4

Took us 5 years to do everything fully. Only now are we 100% happy with the house. 

We moved in, the en suite leaked water into the kitchen in the first week the other bathroom was old dates and also had large hole behind the sink. Wall paper was also not to our taste and had mould on it, the list goes on

We knew this as we bought a fixer upper in a way. If you wanted everything 'perfect' you would need a new build per say. 

andy444

lookstraightahead said:

PS what heating do you have?

I have slightly aged metal wall-mounted radiators. I have large windows here but unfortunately a lot of the radiators are beneath the windows so heat escapes. It is warmer on the ground floor than the first floor so I think I'll have to improve the loft insulation.

comeandgo

andy444 said:

lookstraightahead said:

PS what heating do you have?

I have slightly aged metal wall-mounted radiators. I have large windows here but unfortunately a lot of the radiators are beneath the windows so heat escapes. It is warmer on the ground floor than the first floor so I think I'll have to improve the loft insulation.

Radiators are under windows to allow furniture to be placed against other walls.  Why is heat escaping?  If your windows are drafty buy heavy short curtains, you may pick some up from charity shops.

eidand

Every house requires work, updating and thousands of pounds to bring it where you want it.
My rule is simple, move in, live in it a while and then see what the biggest issues are, solve them one at a time when funds allow.