First-Time Buyers' £185k Renovation Journey: The One Regret They Can't Shake
Embarking on a major home renovation as a first-time buyer is a daunting prospect, but for Greta and Liam from Greater Manchester, it was a calculated gamble to secure their place on the property ladder. In June 2022, the couple purchased a three-bedroom terraced house in south Liverpool for £185,000, opting for a complete back-to-brick renovation that has consumed nearly four years of their lives.
The Search for a Period Property
Greta Lawler, 30, from Stockport, and her partner Liam Dawson, originally from Wigan, met at university in Liverpool and decided to put down roots in the city. After renting for several years to build up their deposit, they began house hunting in 2022 with a maximum budget of £200,000. "We wanted to live in south Liverpool and were looking for a two or three-bed terraced house," Greta explained. "Ideally, we wanted a period property with original features like ceiling roses, high ceilings, and fireplaces."
Despite a competitive post-Covid market, they viewed seven or eight properties and made multiple offers before realizing that fixer-uppers were easier to secure. Following a near-miss on a home they loved, they found a similar property just a few roads away. "It just hadn't been done up yet, so we thought it was a good opportunity to make the house our own from scratch," Greta recalled.
The Transformation Begins
The house was outdated, with patterned carpets and dated interiors, but the couple saw its potential. They immediately launched into a demanding renovation, starting with essential work. "When we first got the keys, there wasn't a functioning kitchen, and we needed a rewire and a new boiler," Greta said. "We were still renting, so we had a one-month crossover period to get that done first."
Once they moved in, they installed a new kitchen and addressed basic needs. "We didn't really have a vision for the rest of the house at that point; we just wanted to be able to cook and have a warm property," she remarked. The renovation faced typical challenges, including leaking pipes and unexpected costs, but overall, progress was steady, albeit slower than anticipated.
Personalising Their Home
With essentials in place, Greta and Liam began personalising the space. They removed old carpets, transformed the living room with a log burner and fresh paint, and embraced a mix of traditional and modern styles inspired by Instagram home accounts. "Our style has definitely evolved over time throughout the house," Greta noted.
To cut costs, they tackled much of the work themselves, with help from Greta's father, a joiner. "We've done a lot of DIY, like fitting the kitchen and all the painting," she said. "We've had professionals for plastering, bathroom fitting, and joinery, but smaller projects we've done ourselves."
The Ongoing Renovation
Nearly four years in, the renovation is ongoing. Downstairs areas—living room, dining room, kitchen, and hallway—are mostly complete, but upstairs requires flooring, and the bathroom needs repainting. "The next project will be our main bedroom," Greta explained. "We've repainted it twice already and still don't like the colour, so we're redoing it. Then, we'll tackle the box room as an office."
Reflecting on the timeline, Greta admitted naivety: "In my head, I thought it would take two to three years, but now I think it'll be a lot longer. When you're living in a renovation, you'll always be renovating." Costs have been significant, and tracking expenses became "depressing," but they've tried to keep the budget down.
The One Major Regret
Despite their love for the transformed home, Greta reveals a poignant regret: sacrificing holidays and quality time together. "In the first two years, renovating was all we did, and we missed out on going on holidays and having time to ourselves," she shared. "We were trying to save up as much as we could just to get the house done, and it felt like we didn't have time or money to do anything else with our lives."
This experience has taught them to balance renovation with enjoyment. "Now, we've learnt to enjoy the process rather than rushing," Greta said. "We have a nice balance of renovating and enjoying ourselves before we get older. If we did a renovation again, we should probably do one less drastic."
Their story underscores the emotional and financial toll of major renovations, especially for first-time buyers, while highlighting the rewards of creating a personalised home—if you don't lose sight of life along the way.
