How do I stop the spending - Renovating new house

[Lockhouse]

Has anybody every got themselves into a spiral of insanity after starting to renovate a new house?

I have spent 3 x what I initially budgeted for and it just never seems to end. Everything is so bloody expensive as well!

I have not been on CUK much these days cause I am spending every free minute doing painting, sanding etc. to reduce costs.

It starts off with knocking down a wall and ends up re-plastering the whole house, new doors, new handles, new everything. Buying a house is so much more costly than what I had bargained for!!!

Indeed. These houses are never ending. All you can do is shop around for the best deals, get a B&Q trade card for example to get cheap materials, do as much as possible yourself. The alternative is to take things more slowly and do the work in phases. Most of us have been there (and still are)!

[The Spartan]

[Moscow Mule]

We still haven't finished the decorating (moved in two years ago).

We avoided your situation by having a budget at the start and sticking to it - you have to be quite ruthless.

[rootsnall]

Don't be over ambitious and adapt what is already there if at all possible. Did you not notice that Sarah Beeny's eyes ( and her producers ) used to light up when the punters start talking about knocking down walls. That shiny new open plan look is overrated and it doesn't last for long once the kids get at it.

ps. always try to follow your own advice

[Moscow Mule]

...That shiny new open plan look is overrated and it doesn't last for long once the kids get at it...

This - I'm all for separate reception rooms - hate being able to see all the way through a suburban house from front to back.

[rootsnall]

Sadly heading south after 4 kids.

Depends if its More 4, E4 or Channel 4.

[formant]

We still haven't finished the decorating (moved in two years ago).

We avoided your situation by having a budget at the start and sticking to it - you have to be quite ruthless.

And by ruthless you mean living in an unfinished place for 2 years+ because you're still sticking to that budget?

We avoided the OPs situation by moving into a house that needed little work doing. It was decently decorated (although not all to our tastes) and in good overall condition. Aside from a few bits of extra furniture, we didn't need to spend right when we moved in. A year and a half on we have done a few smaller projects (painted a few rooms, got a combi-boiler (to get rid of water storage tank) just now having one of the bathrooms done up). Of course we have an infinite list of stuff we'd like to do, but still nothing that actually needs to be done with any urgency or time-limit.

[Paddy]

Has anybody every got themselves into a spiral of insanity after starting to renovate a new house?

I have spent 3 x what I initially budgeted for and it just never seems to end. Everything is so bloody expensive as well!

I have not been on CUK much these days cause I am spending every free minute doing painting, sanding etc. to reduce costs.

It starts off with knocking down a wall and ends up re-plastering the whole house, new doors, new handles, new everything. Buying a house is so much more costly than what I had bargained for!!!

Finished mine last year and well under budget.
G2 listed built 1750-ish. Much of the timbers and brick were donated with kind permission of builders’ skips . Bolts and fixing were bought cheap at Screwfix. Insulation was from wool carpet underlay donated from a closed down department store. I did the wall plastering myself but paid an expert to do the ceilings. Rewiring and plumbing all DIY to a very high spec. Wood burners with hot water supply. Endless supply of timber from own treas.

[deanosity]

Did you not notice that Sarah Beeny's eyes ( and her producers ) used to light up when the punters start talking about knocking down walls.

I don't think anyone has looked at Beeny's eyes in the last 20 years.

[escapeUK]

1. Budget realistically
2. DIY
3. DIY
4. DIY
5. DIY

Get my drift

As I was a poor permie previously I did the majority of the work on the house wood flooring is easy to lay, so is hanging a door you just have to have the patience. I fitted the kitchen including the electrical and plumbing just by using books (I of course get an electrician to certify the work). Sanding, stripping and painting anyone can do plus skirting and coving is relatively straightforward. Like NLUK said grow a pair

Im not sure it would ever be sensible for people who earn as much as we do to do stuff ourselves. I think the time is better spent billing the client, than doing manual low paid work ourselves.