https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:32:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712794 Mon, 20 Mar 2017 08:20:37 +0000 looch 2712794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really wanted to renovate a home, my husband had no interest, so we spent more and bought something that didn't have to have any major work done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712733 Mon, 20 Mar 2017 02:24:23 +0000 Kemma 2712733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We renovated our first home (structurally sound, reasonable neighbourhood, good yard) and after five years of working our way through it, we had major renovation fatigue! I might renovate again if it was a forever home that ticked all the other boxes but I have no interest I'd reno'ing just to make a profit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712730 Mon, 20 Mar 2017 00:02:38 +0000 PawPrints 2712730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Zero interest in renovating. Everyone I know who has done it sounds like they've been through a war. Home needs to be home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712727 Sun, 19 Mar 2017 23:07:05 +0000 JCCovi 2712727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've bought two fixer uppers and in theory I wouldn't do it again, but in actuality I can't turn down a good deal! Both houses were steep discounts. There's no way I'd buy a fixer upper at anything more then 70% of after-renovation value. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712470 Sat, 18 Mar 2017 18:42:33 +0000 atoz 2712470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We bought a fixer upper with good bones (no structural issues) and have been doing 90% of it ourselves. We have family in construction which has made it possible with their advice/guidance. I'm also picky so this way I get what I want in a house. However, it takes a LOT of time (or money if you're not DIYing) so it's worth thinking through! Also, renovations can open up a new can of worms when you inevitably find certain issues along the way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712395 Sat, 18 Mar 2017 12:36:34 +0000 Alba4 2712395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We bought a home with "potential" and "good bones". We bought the most home we could afford both in terms of acreage and sq ft. Luckily, it had wood floors, a finished basement, and nothing too hideous (other than vintage 50s blue tile). We look forward to updating it little by little. </p> <p>We have done some major projects: new roof, new furnace, new front door, steps, and path, painting kitchen cabinets, refinishing floors, updating electric, new dishwasher and stove, etc. I look forward to a new kitchen!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712383 Sat, 18 Mar 2017 11:58:40 +0000 snowjewelz 2712383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only way we could afford our town was to get a fixer upper. We found one with a good layout and no major structure issues (roof needs replacement so we knew and saved money for a year to get it done). </p> <p>Total gut job... I was happy with this because even if we could afford move in ready I didn't always like them but wouldn't have more money to change. So this allowed me to pretty much get 90% of exactly what I want. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712349 Sat, 18 Mar 2017 10:03:42 +0000 petitenoisette 2712349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We bought a fixer upper bc my husband is a carpenter and the house we bought was very cheap for our area. So we had enough money leftover every month to put into it (before we had LO). It's been a real labor of love and I agree with @honeybear: that it's not a great idea thinking doing it thinking it will be a moneymaker. Our current plan is to stay here long term even though we could technically afford to upgrade in a few years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712334 Sat, 18 Mar 2017 07:46:24 +0000 honeybear 2712334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were open to either, but bought a live-in ready house because it was in the right area and had the right configuration. </p> <p>I would not buy a reno with the main motivation of making money off of it. I looked at fixer-uppers as hobbies--something that I should only do if I would be okay with not making a profit or even potentially losing (some) money on, in order to increase my happiness. Most fixer-uppers are priced so you can't do fancier-than-normal upgrades without going over the market price for a 'finished' house. </p> <p>Especially if you're not doing the labor yourself/don't have an inside deal (like a parent who is a contractor), then I think renovations are likely to be far more expensive than anticipated. The major systems are expensive to overhaul, and even totally cosmetic stuff like paint and landscaping is not cheap if you hire it out. Like, thousands of dollars. Removing a single sick tree and planting a new one can easily be in the several thousand range. And big stuff like a new roof can run into five figures easily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712325 Sat, 18 Mar 2017 06:47:42 +0000 threeplusme 2712325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We renovated our 1st home prior to having kids so it wasn't that bad. We lived with my in laws while the work was being done. We just purchased our second home and it will need renovations but we will do them over time. Our house was built in the 60s and we purchased it from the original owner so it needs updating. The layout is good so really it's kitchen and baths which I feel are always good investments. We can live with the house as is and save up to do the work. We removed carpeting, refinished floors and painted when we moved in which made a world of difference already. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712294 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 23:08:01 +0000 birdofafeather 2712294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depends on how long you want to stay and if the market will cover the cost of the renos you see doing. We had to buy a fixer to get in our neighborhood at our price point but we know that anything we do, we'll see a return on investment. It's a neighborhood that has low inventory because people stay here for a long time. There are three adults that we know that grew up on our street and their parents still live here! So we also have the potential to be here for a long time! Also coloring my view is the fact that we have a particular style and wants/needs and I wouldn't want to buy a random persons upgrades because I know I couldn't help but want to change them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712291 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 22:45:43 +0000 youboots 2712291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We got a 100 year old fixer upper (not cheap exactly) and have put over 1/3 of the purchase price in cash into fixing it up and still arnt done.</p> <p>Next time I move it will be into a custom house we built ourselves and hopefully it will be our last house.</p> <p>This summer we have to have a tile job fixed. I don't wish we had done something different but I would not do this again. I guess it depends how long you plan to be there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712273 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 21:05:36 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2712273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh- and "older" stuff that will maybe need to be redone in 5-10 or so years, that's a maybe. But not if it's basically the whole house needing to be done soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712271 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 21:04:18 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2712271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're looking for move in ready. I just do not have the time to deal with renovations. We're trying to move right after dd's "school year" ends and send her to at least part of the summer program at her new school... plus with two kids and our current work situation it would just be a headache. Maybe if we didn't have kids yet! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712265 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 20:46:30 +0000 sapphire 2712265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We bought new construction so that we cold personalize things and have absolutely nothing to fix! Because if the current housing market, our house has already appreciated considerably in the 18 months we have owned it. To me, renovations are costly, time consuming, and a pain while living in the home. I think it's best if you have the skills and time to do it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712263 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 20:41:06 +0000 bhbee 2712263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did move in ready when we moved across country. And I loooooved it. It's actually an older house but had just been gut rehabbed and then the owners had to move. We're not handy at all and had no desire to live through renovations. And as above I think costs can get really out of control if you're not careful. And especially if once they start renovating you find problems you didn't expect, especially in an older house. my brother did a ton of upgrades to the house they bought and now he says never again. Maybe you will just find something you love that will convince you either way! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712216 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 16:45:45 +0000 MediaNaranja 2712216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like ours was in between...</p> <p>It's a 18-year old townhouse that had only one previous owner. Everything was in amazing shape, so nothing really needed to be replaced, but it's all builder-grade from 18 years ago. The seller did replace the carpet before selling, but that appeared to be the only upgrade they did.</p> <p>So most of the stuff we've done has been cosmetic, with the exception of replacing the living room floors before moving in because they were in really bad shape. We've added a backsplash in the kitchen, and are currently in the process of re-painting.</p> <p>Not a forever home, so I don't think we will make any major big changes, with the exception of the tile in the kitchen/dining area. </p> <p>For our next/forever house, I'd probably err on the side of fixer-upper so I can get what I want. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712199 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 16:10:31 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2712199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We bought a fixer because a finished house would have been another half million dollars. I'm an architect so I'm particularly picky with houses. This way I get exactly what I want. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712195 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 16:00:28 +0000 katsupgirl 2712195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I bought a fixer upper because it was the only way to afford something in my neighborhood. I'm lazy and not that picky so if I could've bought move in ready I definitely would have. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712193 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 15:58:13 +0000 MaryM 2712193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We bought the least updated house in the neighborhood. It was the only way we could afford to live there. </p> <p>BUT...our inspector said he couldn't believe our house was 40 years old because it was in amazing shape. Not a ton HAD to be done right when we moved in. Sure, we have an original 1970s kitchen with an original 1970s stove/oven, but everything works great so we can live with it until we can afford to open it up and update it. </p> <p>We saw a lot of newer houses that were somewhat updated but in worse shape. Our house is just sort of...vintage ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712192 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 15:56:09 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2712192@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just be really careful of what renovations really cost. </p> <p>We were pretty naive. A ceiling fan is an easy replacement but at a min is $100. Flooring is not cheap to upgrade. Even a simple painting project can be $100 plus time. A new front door is a couple hundred. Even replacing our light switches was going to be a couple hundred dollar project. It all just adds up REALLY fast. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712191 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 15:55:45 +0000 travelingnanny 2712191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just to add- we would need to hire someone to do most of the work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-cheap-house-renovating-vs-buying-move-in-ready#post-2712188 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 15:52:35 +0000 travelingnanny 2712188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Which did you do and why? </p> <p>I like the idea of buying a cheap house and renovating because I feel like we'd make a profit once if we sold it in the future. Plus we could pick everything to match our taste. On the other hand, move in ready is so much less stress. </p>