Ever wonder what renovating a fixer-upper looks like besides the obvious plumbing, electrical, roof & HVAC? Well, I am going to share that with y’all today!
When we were looking to buy our forever home here in South Carolina, we knew we wanted a fixer-upper, and we also wanted a historic home with lots of character that most modern homes lack. We wanted it to be authentic, beautiful, and one of a kind. When we found our historic farmhouse here in Summerville, we knew instantly it was our dream home, and we planned to be in it forever. Our home though is a fixer-upper, and we dove in knowing it would take years to get it to where we want it. It has been almost 3 years now, and we have done ALOT! But we still have a LONG way to go. So I thought I would share with y’all today what renovating a fixer-upper looks like on paper. Feel free to click on some of the corresponding links to see the blog on that particular renovation! We have here our lists of what we have accomplished, what we would like to finish this year, and our master list of a million projects yet to come. Click here to see pictures of our house before we started renovating!
Renovations We Have Completed
- Fence in Backyard
- Refinish Hardwood Floors in Entire House
- Kitchen Subfloor Replaced
- Kitchen Cabinets Put Back in Place
- Kitchen Cabinets Painted
- Landscaping Cleaned Up
- Gas Cooktop Installed with New Gas Line
- Copper Prep Sink & Faucet Installed
- Porch Swing Installed
- Paint Master Closet & Add Poles
- Install Window Treatments in Entire House
- Paint Upstairs & Downstairs Hallways & Add Wallpaper
- Paint Kitchen
- Paint Guest Bedroom
- Dryer Vent Installed
- Paint Master Bedroom (half done)
- Paint Office
- Guest Bathroom Renovation (see that here)
- Dining Room Renovation (see that here)
- Build Garden Beds (see that here)
- Replace Light Fixtures
- Replace All Light Switches to White
- Replace All Electrical Outlets to White
- Replace Entire Electrical Panel
- Fixing Plumbing Leaks (maybe 5-7 different times)
- Replace Dishwasher
- Sanitize HVAC System
- Fireplaces Inspected & Cleaned
- Landscaping Upkeep
- Buying Tools for Projects
- Add Storage Shed to Property
- Weather Seal & Caulk Windows
- Energy & Home Efficiency Evaluation
- Built Goat Barn (see that here)
- Power Wash Home (every year)
- Buy Home Warranty Each Year for Utilities & Appliances (this has been very helpful)
- Roof Leaks Repaired (Thanks Thomas!)
Renovations to Finish Between 9/2017-12/2017
- Finish Chicken Coop (90% done, see that here)
- Finish Half Bathroom Renovation
- Fence in Front Yard
- Paint Front Porch Deck
- Start on Master Bathroom Renovation
- Paint Living Room
Future Renovations
- Master Bathroom Renovation
- Replace Concrete Walkway with Brick
- Add Fountain to Front Yard
- Repaint the Exterior of House
- Paint Guest Bedroom
- Paint Parlor
- Repaint Kitchen
- Add Flooring to Sunroom
- Repair Some of the Fireplaces
- Remove Cement Cap on Chimneys
- Vault Ceiling in Kitchen
- Add Backsplash to Kitchen
- New Countertops in Kitchen
- New Flooring in Kitchen
- Copper Farmhouse Sink Installed
- Add Pot Filler in Kitchen
- Laundry Room Renovation
- Tin Roof Over Front Porch Re-Sealed
- Paint Screened-In Porch Ceiling & Deck Floor
- Wood Repairs on Exterior Siding
- Couple Windows Replaced
- Front Porch Deck Repaired
- Add Gas Lamps
- Carport or Garage with Studio for me!
- Pool…someday!
- Register to be on the National Historic Places List! I would be so honored!!!
Inspiration
We are constantly taking in inspiration everywhere we go. From the gorgeous Charleston row houses to Summerville’s colonial homes, Renovation TV shows, to Instagram, Pinterest, and magazines. So sometimes this list changes, I add new things on, and others get started and not finished. But that’s part of the fun too! It’s an adventure my husband and I took on, and we love it, hate it, appreciate hard work, fight about it, but after its all done we are damn proud of it. It has been HARD work, and we have done probably 90% of it ourselves. So if you have ever considered taking on a fixer-upper, (just like Chip & Joanna say on the HGTV show “Fixer-Upper” LOL!), I hope this gives you an idea of what to expect.
Money Money Money
Then there is the financial aspect! Cant forget that unfortunate little detail. Honestly, if I won the lottery tomorrow, I would put the $ towards our home. I wouldn’t sell it and go buy a mansion. I love this home, and we have put our heart and soul into it, and a bunch of bucks too…But we knew that going in, and we bought this home for a lot less than it is worth, which is the important part! Do not go buying a fixer-upper that is top dollar and then put $50,000-$100,000 into it! Big No-No! I lost track a long time ago of what we have put into our home, another big no-no, but I keep track now! The important part is we have not put in more than the home is worth, and we will continue to do that. In our case, we are lucky that is a big number, as our home has doubled in worth than what we paid. Thankfully!
We will continue renovating our old home until everything is updated, but historically accurate, and not overdone, that is the goal!
Have you done a Fixer-Upper home? What was your favorite part???? Share it with us in the comments! We love to hear about others opinions on taking it all on!
Anonymous says
It is so wonderful to see your children’s dreams coming true.
And,watching them work so hard to accomplish them themselves.
It’s rewarding to all of us!!