I'm in love with a house needs a lot of TLC. [View All]

[MelissaB]

We're moving out of state...from Alabama to Michigan. When hubby went up for the interview I looked for houses. I drove around, looked around, and only asked to see one because I know how much trouble people go through to show their house, and I didn't know that hubby had the job yet. As soon as I walked in the house I was in love. The real estate agent said they had shown the house probably 100 times and most people walked out. It needs that much work.

I guess what attracted me to the house was the beautiful woodwork. I had never seen anything like it. The wood work is the only thing that is in good shape. There is no way to live in the house as it is. It needs plaster work in every room. Some rooms are worse than others. All the bathrooms need to be refinished. The floors need to be redone. It needs a new kitchen, heating system, and needs insulation, etc. You get the picture.

After Tony was offered the job we went back up and this was still my favorite house. We contacted a contractor who called us about a week later and said that we could spend $200,000 on the house and it still may not be done. I was shocked. I was willing to put $100,000, but $200,000 is out of our budget. He said the porch needs to be replaced and that may be $20,000 alone. He said that you never know what you get into in these old houses until you start. On a positive note, the electrical has been redone, it has a new roof, and the basement doesn't leak. Am I crazy to continue to want this house or should I get another contractor in there for an estimate? From an emotional and aesthetic point of view, it's my dream house, so it's hard to let go. From a practical point of view, I don't want a money pit.

Here's a photo of her:



If anybody has "been there, done that" I like to hear from you. FYI: I've lived in a 100 year old house that needed work, but it wasn't this bad.