Fixer-Upper or Ready to Move In?

[Anonymous]

We're shopping for a house and I can't decide which to pursue. The ease of a house already fixed up (kitchen and bathrooms particularly) is appealing since we have a young son and dog and both work full-time. However, it seems nice to be able to fix up the kitchen and other spaces with my choice in materials. I already have a contractor I like becuase he's done work on our current house....

If you had to choose, what would be your choice? Any advantages or disadvantages to either decision? Financially or otherwise?

[Anonymous]

If I could do all the renovations before we moved in, I'd go with a fixer-upper. It's nice to feel like your house is a product of your tastes.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, doing the renovations BEFORE move in is certainly ideal. We did a major renovation the first couple months in the house, and it sucked.

That said, it was the right decision for us. We got more house for the money and got to choose the finishes we wanted. It was in one of our target neighborhoods and close to all the amenities that we liked in the neighborhood - another house we had looked at in the same neighborhood was too far to easily walk to the schools and shopping, etc.

I think it is too hard to say one vs. the other when there are so many other factors at play in home buying - access to amenities, schools, preferred neighborhoods, etc.

[Anonymous]

We bought a fixer because it was the only way to get into our neighborhood if choice. We've poured a lot of money into it, but not all of that was required to make it livable. Relatively little of it was absolutely necessary. I like that we can stop improving it at any time and stick with our low PITI payment. But if you are really busy or unable to renovate before moving in, I wouldn't go this route.

[Anonymous]

I've done both. My second was 'ready to move in'. Enough said.

The concept of picking out all fixtures, counters, cabinets, etc. is great. The reality is pain-staking---esp if you have construction involved.

If it really is just updating--that's one thing.

We have had 3 neighbors buy old homes, use very expensive contractors and 1 year later they are still not done and having many problems. The poor bastards 2 doors down had a completely new basement totally flooded. Their yard has been under constant construction with pipes exposed. The people the other direction had a roof leak on a new addition, new paint completely flake off, etc. We had another neighbor have a really great contractor and little problems, but they weren't done on time and had to move temporarily and though the house is beautiful---the mom tells me she would warn anyone considering the process.

HGTV makes everything look so easy.

[Anonymous]

If you have a baby or young children and it was built before 1978---I'd be VERY concerned about lead dust. I would not live in fixer upper where construction, walls being taken down and dust going on if that were the scenario.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've done both. My second was 'ready to move in'. Enough said.

The concept of picking out all fixtures, counters, cabinets, etc. is great. The reality is pain-staking---esp if you have construction involved.

If it really is just updating--that's one thing.

We have had 3 neighbors buy old homes, use very expensive contractors and 1 year later they are still not done and having many problems. The poor bastards 2 doors down had a completely new basement totally flooded. Their yard has been under constant construction with pipes exposed. The people the other direction had a roof leak on a new addition, new paint completely flake off, etc. We had another neighbor have a really great contractor and little problems, but they weren't done on time and had to move temporarily and though the house is beautiful---the mom tells me she would warn anyone considering the process.

HGTV makes everything look so easy.

PP, what was the reason for the basement flood? No sump pump? That would be a fear to have something new then get all damaged by something that could have been prevented...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have a baby or young children and it was built before 1978---I'd be VERY concerned about lead dust. I would not live in fixer upper where construction, walls being taken down and dust going on if that were the scenario.

Yes, this. Also, having a child and trying to juggle childcare, naps, school, noise, cleanliness and construction? NO THANKS.

[Anonymous]

If you've never done renovations, just keep in mind the 20/30 rule - anything you do will cost 20% more than you expect and take 30 days longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have a baby or young children and it was built before 1978---I'd be VERY concerned about lead dust. I would not live in fixer upper where construction, walls being taken down and dust going on if that were the scenario.

All contractors handling LBP need to be qualified and licensed. And I agree with this - would not want demolition done while in the home.

[Anonymous]

Even construction before moving in is time-consuming and stressful. My husband and I both work full-time and were not living in the house during construction, but you still have to meet the contractor regularly, see how work is going, make decisions about placement and fixtures, etc. That being said, I will never have to look at my kitchen counters and think "gee, I really wish they were light instead of dark" or "why didn't the previous owner put in an oval toilet instead of this round one?!" These things matter more to some people than others, or perhaps some people just fixate more easily on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even construction before moving in is time-consuming and stressful. My husband and I both work full-time and were not living in the house during construction, but you still have to meet the contractor regularly, see how work is going, make decisions about placement and fixtures, etc. That being said, I will never have to look at my kitchen counters and think "gee, I really wish they were light instead of dark" or "why didn't the previous owner put in an oval toilet instead of this round one?!" These things matter more to some people than others, or perhaps some people just fixate more easily on them.

I also think a lot of it is hindsight reasoning. I am the 'second house ready made' person. I think it is even worse when you were the cause of your dislike. I have a lot of friends kicking themselves for design flaws, etc...while I can always blame it on the previous owner.

In reality--'ready made' also is going to mean a lot about the quality of the previous job. There are many that slap cosmetic fixes to get it sold and it really isn't ready made since it is just covering up major problems or low grade materials were used which arent designed for wear and tear, etc.

We've been in our home 4 years now and I want to hug the previous owners for really doing a primo job renovating this old house. It doesn't leak. The basement is bone dry, dual zone HVAC systems, sump pump/french drain, large functional kitchen, etc. There are minor issues that I think 'hmmmm..maybe I would have done it this way'--but again very minor and probably things you only learn about by actually living in the house. Neighbors tell me the lady that lived here was a MAJOR perfectionist--that sure paid off in her design and renovations.

[Anonymous]

We're first time homeowners who are fixing up. Spent all our money getting the house liveable, not great, but liveable. Hard to deal with all that needs to be done-kitchen, bath, central AC are the "firsts" on our list. It will be a number of years until these sore spots are fixed.

However, we learned a ton about contracting (painfully), know which work is good and which isn't and have things done to our taste, as it were. We are thrilled to be in our neighborhood, with our house and happy with that aspect. Big lesson learned: there was well maintained house that didn't require fixing up that probably would have been great for us but we didn't recognize it at the time. That's part of the learning. C'est la vie! Or La vida loca-not sure which some times!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We've been in our home 4 years now and I want to hug the previous owners for really doing a primo job renovating this old house. It doesn't leak. The basement is bone dry, dual zone HVAC systems, sump pump/french drain, large functional kitchen, etc. There are minor issues that I think 'hmmmm..maybe I would have done it this way'--but again very minor and probably things you only learn about by actually living in the house. Neighbors tell me the lady that lived here was a MAJOR perfectionist--that sure paid off in her design and renovations.

Wow, PP, I think we may live in the same house But seriously, one thing that weighed on my mind as we looked at houses that were updated versus not updated was when did they do the renovation in relation to when they moved? I know things happen, especially in this area, where someone has to move out of the area much sooner than expected; but on the whole, my thought was that a renovation that was a few years old (5?) was often more quality... they didn't cut as many corners because they were going to be living in the house. There has also been time for flaws (an improperly installed window or roof that now leaks, etc...) to have reared their ugly head and either been dealt with or they are evident so you know to stay away. A renovation followed immediately by a sale smacks (to me) of flip and makes me nervous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have a baby or young children and it was built before 1978---I'd be VERY concerned about lead dust. I would not live in fixer upper where construction, walls being taken down and dust going on if that were the scenario.

All contractors handling LBP need to be qualified and licensed. And I agree with this - would not want demolition done while in the home.

Even the ones licensed and qualified don't always follow the rules. I say down with my licensed painter and we discussed all the lead abatement laws. We swore to follow them and did not at all.