I know after reading my list of things I want to do to this house, a lot of you had some very good questions. I’ve been hearing these questions over the last year as I’ve been complaining chipping away at some projects and decided to explain WHY we bought this house.
First, I do like a few things about this house — as is. I love the exterior. I love how it looks like a tiny, little, humble abode from the front but when you get inside it surprises you. I love our secluded lot. I like that we have instant hot water. I like that there is plenty of space to make it what I want it to be. But there is SOOOO much that I need to do to make it what I want it to be…so WHY did we buy it?
Why not build?
I’d love to build our dream house. Or at least build a house that we can afford that looks and functions exactly like I want it to. The problem is we never stay anywhere long enough to warrant building a dream house. Or building a house at all, really. We’ve lived in two areas for 18 months. By the time we searched for the “just right spot” to build a home and then went back and forth with an architect … who am I kidding, it would be back and forth and back and forth and back and … we might already be starting the process of moving again. It’s best for us to find a home that we think we can add value to (with my skill, time and effort and as little $$ as possible.) That is also why trying to stick to one room/project at a time is important. It’s not as difficult to throw ONE project through the finish line so you can move as it is to try to toss a whole house of projects through!
Not that I’m planning on moving any time soon. This is just how we live.
So for now, building is out of the question. I want a house we can live in while I make it awesome. Living in that apartment for 3 months last summer while we searched for a house was miserable. I’d rather be overwhelmed by a list of things I’m planning to do than spend my days looking at all the things I’d love to change but can’t because — it’s just a rental.
Why this house?
We had a really hard time finding a house to buy this time around. We’ve purchased 5 homes in all our moves. I’ve always found a house to purchase in our “one week house-hunting trip”. This time, it took 3 months. I looked at probably 150 homes. I looked at a dozen of those 2 or 3 times. I looked at this one about 5 times. It came down to this one and one that was about 20 years old, needed a complete remodel and new roof and new water heater, A/C units, heat pump…and had an unfinished basement. And, it was even more expensive per sq/ft than this one. So, we bought this one. It needs a complete remodel inside but all the other things are new and so we shouldn’t have to spend any money on those invisible necessities. (I hate spending money on those things!)
It boils down to: This is the one we thought could best become one we could love at a price we could afford and we didn’t want to keep waiting for something else to come on the market to see if it was a better fit. We’ll be happy with it eventually. Sometimes you just have to make a decision and then move forward.
No matter what house we ever buy, you know I’ll be putting my touch on it. This time around, there are more things I find very irritating about the function of the house and stupid little things that could have been done better for no more money during the build but for whatever reason…
Well, it is what it is. This is the house we bought. This is the house we have.
Why not hire this work out and get it done quickly?
Uhm…$$$ It’s as simple as that.
We knew that we would have to spend money to make this house awesome. There’s no two ways about it, doing it myself saves us TONS of money. If I were to hire out everything I want done, I would have already blown my “entire house remodeling budget” (and I’ve only done the Master Closet, my Workshop and a portion of a couple other rooms). I could probably get a job and work for 4 or 5 years and save up enough to hire it out but I’d be done myself by then so …WHY do that?
I’ll have to hire some of it out but I have to pick and choose because every dime I pay for labor is $ not spent on THINGS I need like appliances, lights, sinks, faucets… Things that have to be purchased no matter WHO puts them in. (Like that $6000 ceiling fan light I want so bad for my bedroom! LOL. JK. Not.)
I really do think I’ll be very happy with this house when I’m done with it. I think it can be an AMAZING house. It’s just going to take some time. Time and money and sweat … and some tears. There will be tears.
Hopefully mostly tears of joy but you never know! 🙂
Laura says
It will be an amazing house!! And I will love following along as you put your stamp on it. Wish I were still closer to get my hands dirty with you!
Sandra says
Me TOO! 🙂 (wish you were closer) LOL
Shelly R Wilson says
I love your talent and willingness to share. Thank you!
Sandra says
Thank you Shelly.
Tamara says
I Love the “curb appeal” that your house has! It has a cottage-y feel. (Is that a word)
I bought my house with the idea of it having a day with a wrecking ball but I have slowly learned to love the old girl. but her is my to-do list
Kitchen: everything
Dining Room: everything
Living room: everything
I think you can figure out the rest of the list yourself!
Tamara
[email protected]
Sandra says
LOL That would make creating a list so much easier!
Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage says
I admire you and what you do. 🙂 Love ya!
Sandra says
Aww, smooches Angie! <3 ya 2
Deb. @Deb's "Projects" Furniture Rehab says
I love it!!! Hubby and I did same while younger. Wanted to tell you we did build one… YIPES!!! Have to have a very, very, stong marriage to do that! LOL!!! We sold it. I now have been living in one for 22 years. I love it !!! Still continue to work on it. But wanted to add I’m not satisfied unless I can work on it!
Sandra says
Well, the fact that we don’t work together helps with that part. LOL I don’t think I”ll every try to build an entire house by myself but I’d sure like to design one and have it built.
Kristi @ Creative Kristi says
I don’t think any house is ever ‘done’ when you have a creative mind and a DIY brain. If I don’t have a list I’m bored. 🙂 I love your house now, then & most certainly in the future because you live there 🙂
Sandra says
I think you’re right Kristi. I’ll always be scheming and dreaming!
Kim says
I was wondering what your budget is exactly (if that is not too personal of a question) and how you decided on that number.
I am very inspired by what you do.
Sandra says
More on that later Kim. 😉 Hee hee
Liz VanKirk says
Thanks for sharing with us. Your house will be great & it will be on your time! Plus you will feel so proud knowing…. I did that!
We pretty much do all our DIY. Because it feels good & it’s cost effective, plain and simple. We are trying to infuse character into our rectangle colonial style 2 story. Ugh – hard at times. I also do all the outside gardening/lawn care. I have lots of perennial beds for instant bouquets!
Can’t wait to see the workshop all completed (and tools put away).
Liz
Sandra says
One of these days. Honestly, if I had the money, I don’t think I’d have a problem letting someone else do things. I’d be very hard to please and have super high expectations…so I might not be able to find anyone who would work for me. LOL
Jean says
I wish I had your talent and patience to do it all myself. I would have a list that long, as well!!
Sandra says
Thanks Jean.
Deb-IL says
I get such a kick out of your blog and your projects, although projects seems too small of a word for much of what you do. Your ‘back story’ makes perfect sense to me and is just what I would have expected because we fit the same mold but with far less wife skills and older joints 😉 I don’t know if my husband would be thrilled if I tackled what you do or terrified – that’s his business and He’d NEVER be able to let go of the control! Thanks so much for sharing where you are and why. It’s a fun ride to take with you.
Darla says
You are such a fantastic inspiration for me! We decided to stay and improve our current house rather than just move to a bigger one. We had an addition of 3 rooms added and are doing all the finish work ourselves as well as eventually remodeling every room in the house to get it to its most beautiful and functional for us. One project leads to another and it does seem never ending. But when you have a vision of what could be and the skills to do it,then why not go for it! I totally get why you do what you do! I always scroll thru all of the blogs I read and read yours first! Thanks for keeping it real too–I love that you show all the diy mess as well as the success!
chris says
I get it , I would never question why. We just bought a brand new house and picked a lot of upgrades but I plan on spending the next two years customizing and personalizing the rest of the house. I suppose I could have added a bundle to my mortgage and sort of get the result I could create but no one can do the work I love and that is in my head as well as I can or for cost. Duh! Now if I could only find a spare room to turn into a giant walk in closet like yours , oh well you can’t get every thing. So far I have completely renovated a standard kitchen working with everything but the counters and sink, its amazing what one girl can do with a little know how and wood.
Jean says
You are a person after my own heart
Love that you want to work to make your house your home
Michelle says
Thank you so much for sharing your story! We purchased a house in foreclosure instead of building (even had the property to build). We moved in the end of May and I feel like we are getting nowhere any time soon 🙂 This makes me feel so much better about our situation (misery loves company!) I know in the end it will be perfect, it is just a lot of hard work with no end in sight right now! Best of luck to you…your house is gorgeous!
Chandra says
I love what you do and can’t wait to see what you will make of this house. Keep up the work because you inspire me with all you do. I wish I could do 1% of what you can. I have always wanted to get a house that needs remodeling. Hopefully it will come one day soon.
Brook @ BeingBrook says
Love the outside-great curb appeal. It looks so cozy. I always want to change a ton of stuff every house we move into. I thought that was normal? LOL. The closet is amazing so I can’t wait to see the rest as it gets finished!
Jake's a Girl says
I didn’t ask cause I totally understand. This house is great! Love the look of it.
I wondered when you first showed the kitchen and the pic. of the dishwasher door open…What were those people thinking? Not you…the ones that built the house. Who does that?
You will make this house wonderful, on a great budget and maybe with some good luck make a dollar or two when you sell.
Besides nothing is as great as the pride you feel from the DIY.
Oh and I get to sit at my computer and watch the whole process. 😉
katie says
I totally get it… you want to make your house a home! Excited to watch you tackle all these projects!
Mary says
After seeing your list, I’m SO glad all I have to do is redo my already finished basement studio/work room in our house! It made me tired just reading your list!
LynnR says
It IS a gorgeous house ! Tremendous curb appeal! I applaud you! You are a hard-working person and you have a great eye. Just going back to that Master Closet is proof you know what you are doing!!!
David Guith says
How exciting for you! Congrats you deserve it. Am I the only guy on here???