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Searching for a home is not an easy task. This is especially true for my family and our limited budget. The home we buy, our first, will not be a "starter home." We are learning that "fixer-uppers" are more economical to buy. It will be the home we live in for the rest of our lives and pass on to our daughter. Because of this and our tight budget, there are some things we will not even consider fixing in a fixer-upper.
Kitchens
Completely redoing a kitchen is not in our limited budget. We can't afford to replace cabinetry, flooring and appliances. Of course, new plumbing is out of the question as well. A few cosmetic changes, such as backsplashes and paint is something we would be willing to invest in, but we won't pay to redo the major components of a kitchen.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms are expensive to make over. The plumbing costs alone can be astronomical. Add in the prices of tubs, showers, toilets and sinks and we would break our budget. Any home we purchase will have to have a close to perfect bathroom.
Foundations
Fixing a foundation is something we will not be doing. I would be too scared to even consider purchasing a house whose foundation was not as perfect as possible. The cost of repairing a foundation can be quite high. And, problems with the foundation can also indicate problems with the rest of the home - possibly going all the way back to original construction and making the house unsafe.
Electrical Issues
Electrical issues are too expensive for us to repair. And, the safety problems that come along with them are too much for us to even consider. Once in the walls and ceilings, repairing the electrical problems, there is no telling what other issues could be discovered. The electrical system must be in excellent working order for us to buy the home.
Our search for a new-to-us home continues. I expect it will take quite a while. With the small budget we have to work with and the current prices of homes in the area we want to live in, we must pass on many of the "steals" real estate agents are showing us. These fixer-uppers will cost too much to fix up and will exceed the budget we have set.
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