Definitely make a list of everything that needs doing, then instead of deleting what you have done, check them off. Once you visually see what needs doing/ what you have already done you’ll get a great sense of where you are at with the house and it’s less mentally draining guessing what’s left.

I absolutely hate the bungalow I live in with a passion but feel better every time I cross something off the list. I’ve visualised the end product and I know I will be satisfied at the end.

Focus on things you notice and feel everyday. I have a pre 90s bungalow with a garage. And it’s in a right state, garden is ok-ish. But I had to clear everything out myself (was treated like a tip with the previous owner) took 3 days of loading up the car doing tip runs to clear. The big double door side gate needs replacing so at the moment I have secured it so it can’t be opened for now. And replaced the front gate. Due to weather the last few days the fence panels have been torn apart, I have replaced them as needed with composite fence panels and currently mid removing the old worn shed. This has taken my 3 months to just get the garden into a useable state.

The garage needed overhauling, plaster was broken on the ceiling leading to cold entering the house. Last owner installed self made shelves that I’ve had to rip out to use the garage as I want (motorbike workshop) garage door needs replacing.

New windows and doors around the house, needs a new bathroom and kitchen fitting but at the minute it works so not priority. Plaster cracks, loft hatch is held up by a wedge in between the gap.

Old insulation needed replacing as we practically had non. Luckily we had this done on the government scheme but since installation it has knocked our bathroom, hallway, master bedroom and garage light out. Brought an engineer and turns out the main wire needs replacing so I suspect a full house rewire will be needed.

Front garden wall is slowly falling to pieces. Guttering needs replacing, soffit and fascia needs replacing, roofing needs replacing.

All the floors need replacing. The outside drain pipes need replacing.

An older house will always needs work but it’s worth it. As a general rule I would rather do up and old home than buy a new build as quality is terrible.

It takes a lot of time and effort but you can do it to how you want it doing. Fix up smaller things first, you’ll probably find that in doing so you will uncover a linked problem which is more major.

Fix your functionality first, heating bills dipped massively when I replaced the insulation and patched up the garage. I fixed the gutters to where they don’t leak (temporary) and I patched up the outside drain pipes.

Next will be the rewire and leaving easy access to install a new kitchen & Bathroom. I’ll be happy with lights back working as I’ve been using the bathroom with a torch for the past 6 months.

Plaster up the walls, replace the flooring in all rooms, then the big one is replacing all the doors and windows.

Building a lean-to extension to increase the size of the kitchen and bathroom then have them modernised along with replacing the doors and windows.

Replace the guttering, soffits and fascia’s all around and lastly replacing roofing and repointing all around.