Congratulations Skeeter!
It's an exciting time of life - your first home.
Our first home was an unrenovated Edwardian terrace - it took us 5 years to renovate - almost every weekend - we lived in one room over winter with 2 cats and a strip heater and when I think back, they were very happy years.
The excitement when we removed a piece of particle board and found a fireplace complete with tiles...carrying on with dinner parties in our shell of a house - losing one of our guests when her antique bentwood chair collapsed under her (she was fine but laughed for about 30 minutes), leaning against the railing on the verandah when it gave way and ending up in the shrubs 5 feet below (I was stunned but fine)...we often laugh about those days so do our family and friends.
We're now on our third home - which is currently undergoing a major restoration - we have moved into a serviced apartment while the builders are at work - we're leaving it to others this time.
I really think renovating and struggling to get ahead forged a bond between us - it also, makes us fully appreciate what we have today.
And, like you - we did it ourselves - we didn't ask anyone for money. It took much longer and was much harder but now, when we look back, it was definitely worth it.
Enjoy your new home Skeeter.
