10 Things to Consider Before Buying a Fixer Upper

1.       Something will go wrong.

It might be while you’re moving in, painting your new house, or just at the worst possible moment. Our dryer broke while we were washing our bath towels, which meant we had no towels to take a shower... gross.

2.       You will become an expert at everything.

 

Do you know what a gopher hole looks like? Neither did I. You will study and learn about the most random of things. You will feel like you are equipped to fix anything with your newfound knowledge and at the same time feel like you have so much left to learn.

3.       Small jobs will take hours or days.

 

 

 

This wallpaper was taken down in June and will probably be cleaned and painted by September. My advice: do not start another project until you have finished the one you started.

 

4.       You will take multiple trips to your local home improvement store.

There is always one more thing you need that you forgot about. Late night trips, early morning trips, and multiple trips in one day.

5.       You will get frustrated and want to give up.

 

These two spots are on the same wall. The one on the top didn't adhere because we didn't wait long enough for the plaster to dry.

Don’t rush, do it right the first time and you will not be disappointed.

 

6.       Things will constantly be dusty.

 

Did I just wash these floors yesterday? Yep!

My advice: cover the floors and electronics with plastic wraps, and stow away valuables .

7.       There are a lot of startup costs.

 

 

Maybe this isn’t your first rodeo, but for us it is. Wheelbarrows, ladders, paint supplies, mulch, and on and on and on. Borrow from friends or neighbors if you can, especially if you only need the tool for a short amount of time. If you need to invest in something that you will use over and over again spend the money. We tried to save money on some products that we needed by buying cheap quality but they were returned the next day. Ask your friends about the brands they trust.

8.       Some things need to be left to an expert.

 

This is an electric baseboard heater: the most inefficient way to heat your home. We started to take them off the walls and put new drywall up.

 

When we figured out that taking of the heaters included electric work, drywall, and plaster work we decided two stop after taking two out. When we get our new heating system installed, the company will take the heaters out for us.

 

9.       Not all projects are created equal.

 

 

 Putting new trim in: Easy project. (As long as you buy the right size. Notice the quarter inch difference?) Taking down the wall that separates the kitchen from the living room: Not so easy. I asked my husband to look over my list and he suggested that new homeowners decide what they're willing to take on. Be realistic when it comes to the type of work you will need to complete to make your home livable.
 

10.   Some of the fun things have to come later.

 

My husband and I were so happy to buy a brand new bedroom set for our master bedroom after we got rid of our hand me down set. Then we realized we have some other priorities like paying for air conditioning. We settled on a $200 bedroom set in good condition that I'm going to paint (check back for updates!). The point is, new furniture is on hold until the necessities are taken care of.  No area rugs, light fixtures, or new bedroom set until we have air conditioning, painted walls , and a couch first.


Going through the second month of "fixing up" our fixer upper I can say it does get better. Take a look at all of the good work you have done and smile. Next week I'm featuring my pet project: the fireplace makeover!