What To Do When Your Fixer Upper Is Costing You Far Too Much

Buying a fixer upper to take on as a home project can be a great way to save money. Your initial costs - the sale price, the mortgage, etc., - are going to be a lot lower. You’re also going to be able to fix up the house in whatever way you see fit. It’s lovely to be able to make all the decisions about your home’s look, layout, and function.

However, there are a lot of fixer uppers out there that take ten times the amount of work that the buyer was expecting. When it comes to a case like this, the overall project cost could even be unsustainable. So, what should you do if a problem like this rears its ugly head? Here are a few options to go through.
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Get a Professional to Fix the Essentials
DIY likely got you into this mess, and trying to apply another DIY fix you’re not 100% certain on will just plunge you deeper into the problem. 

Save your toolbox for another day and hire a professional to get the essentials repaired (plumbing, electrics, the foundation, the roof) and the house into a safe and liveable state. 

Far Too Much Structural Damage? It Might Be Better to Tear it Down
You’ve had a surveyor come in, in a last ditch, hail mary attempt to try and work out what’s really wrong with your property and how much it’s going to cost you. But now that the survey report is in your inbox, the situation is worse than you ever thought possible. 

The long and short of it? There’s far too much structural damage to contend with. What now? Well, your best bet is likely to hire a scrap yard team to come out and tear the property down for you. 

This way you can start again on your home, save money on trying to fix an older property, and simply focus on building a new one. It’s not going to be a cheap option, by any means, but it’s likely to be more affordable for your budget than trying to see your current project through. 

Take Your Time
It’s OK if a fixer upper project takes more time than you were expecting it to. If you’re able to, halt work where it is right now and give yourself some time to get your savings back up to where they need to be. 

If you’re able to follow the first tip on this list, and the house can be moved into (albeit in a very poorly decorated state), this can be a handy fix to apply if you’re otherwise completely stuck.

Fixer Upper Getting Too Expensive?  
It’s a hard situation to be in, but it’s one you could navigate with a bit of careful financial planning. And next time you think about buying a house, make sure you do your research! Namely, always get a survey done to double check what’s really going on within the walls, ceilings, and floors! ​