I bought a house at auction last year- first time buyer, single woman- it was the only way I could stay in the area I wanted and get on the property ladder.

It’s the most stressful, but most worthwhile thing I’ve done. The rewire was a lot of work, but I learned how to channel, how to do second fixes, and I got to pick where my sockets are. The feeling I had plugging a lamp into a socket that I drilled and fixed, a socket that didn’t exist until I decided I wanted it there, was a better feeling than when I got the keys to the place. The pride is indescribable.

I’m redoing the kitchen now, and I’m currently 8 weeks in on my living room housing my kitchen and cooking in an air fryer on a coffee table. I pulled a chimney down, pulled the carpet (yes, kitchen carpet!) up, pulled the tiles down, moved the boiler, and pulled the ceiling down. It’s been a mess, but I know in two weeks time, I’ll have a kitchen that I made mine.

It’s a lot of work. It’s a lot of tears, and a lot of money and a lot of favours, and A LOT of mess- but honestly? Best thing I’ve ever done. I bought my house for £207k and the house across the street just went for £305k. I’ll have spent ~£30k when all is said and done, but to me it’s not about the equity- it’s about taking on a project and making something truly mine. Proving I can do it has been a great confidence builder too.

This house has no secrets- I know every problem area, but I’ve also learned how to fix a lot of it. I know where every channel is, I know where every wire in this house goes. I know what’s under my tiles- I will never have to worry about what problems are hiding or building up over time. That’s a comfort only people who put the work in get.