We Bought a Wreck.
On Purpose.
The story of how two non-contractors bought a 1952 ranch house in need of everything and decided to document every bit of it.
The 2019 Purchase That Changed Everything
When we found the listing, our realtor literally said "I don't think you want to go see this one." The photos showed peeling wallpaper, carpeted-over hardwood, a kitchen that hadn't been updated since 1987, and a backyard that had returned to nature.
We went to see it anyway. The bones were incredible — original oak floors under the carpet, solid plaster walls, a fireplace with its original mantel, and an asking price that reflected its condition. We put in an offer that afternoon.
That was in April 2019. We've been renovating it ever since — every weekend, every vacation day, and some nights we probably shouldn't have stayed up until midnight swinging a hammer.
This blog is our record of that work.
The Project Timeline
- –Purchased the house (April)
- –Immediate roof patch to stop active leak
- –Stripped all carpet — revealed original oak floors
- –Painted entire interior to neutralize 1987 palette
- –Full hardwood floor refinish (3 weekends)
- –Replaced all windows (14 total)
- –Complete electrical panel upgrade
- –Insulated attic — first time in the house's history
- –Master bathroom full gut and rebuild
- –Laundry room relocation and new mechanical closet
- –Exterior painting — first time we hired out a major project
- –New front door and exterior lighting
- –Half-bath addition in the basement
- –Basement waterproofing — the worst project we've ever done
- –Deck demolition and rebuild
- –Complete landscaping overhaul
- –Kitchen demo and rebuild began (still ongoing)
- –Replaced all cast-iron drain lines
- –New HVAC system — forced air to minisplit
- –Began guest bedroom renovation
- –Kitchen completion
- –Guest bedroom finish
- –Living room fireplace restoration
- –Garage organization and workshop buildout
Follow Along with the House
New posts every week. The kitchen is still not done.