We’ve purchased a fixer-upper that has turned into a money-pit. HELP

Any Fixer Upper has the potential to turn into a money pit. You are not alone. Here is how to hire a contractor:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0242-hiring-contractor

And tips for hiring an interior designer.

https://www.mydomaine.com/affordable-interior-design-services

https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/smart-money/5-tips-for-hiring-an-interior-designer/

Set a budget and stick to it.

Or just continue to fix things up as you go along. My house was a Fixer Upper 18 years ago and I had a 5 year plan that turned into an 8 year plan and here I am all these years later and the house is far from being "done." The hard stuff, electrical, plumbing, hvac, roof have been completed, but there is still a lot more to do. Life happens. Just stick with it and hopefully you will have far less bumps in the road!

Hiring a contractor very experienced in home remodeling is the best start....or at least talking with a couple of them on site. They will be able to provide you general info about moving forward based on what add-on you think you want. Keep in mind if you can come up with a plan where plumbing lines are consolidated into one area you will be using your dollars more efficiently. An example is if you add a bathroom, try to add it so the plumbing is on a wall where there is an adjacent plumbing line such as a kitchen sink or another bathroom that is close. Get estimates for the work from 2-3 professionals that you've checked on to insure they will stand by their work. Decide what work you can do and what is above your expertise. Watch while the pro's do their work so you can learn as much as possible. It can be very exciting and rewarding to work on your own fixer upper and create the space you love. Good Luck!

Some paint stores offer free or discounted decorator consultations if you buy their paint. Some even go to your home. Places like Ikea help with computerized kitchen design, closet planning and furniture placement. If you go at a less busy time, an associate can help you.

We have a service called Handyman Connection. Many of the employees are retired or starting out. It usually costs at least $150. for a plumber to set foot in the door here. When I was selling a house, I had a leak. I called HC and a young guy came out. The repair was $2., and he even waived that. He gave me his # and told me he was slowly building up his clientele.

Ask around at the local Big Box or hardware store too...word of mouth does wonders. Of course you should always check out credentials, and get the quotes in writing.

One thing I've learned over the years is to ask the contractor what his skills are best in. Even though they say they can "do it all", I tend to not believe this. Get references. We just ran headlong into this exact problem, the sales rep puffed himself up and ended up misguiding us starting with the selection of tiles at the diy store, resulting in giving us more expense and time on a tub to shower job. It just snowballed from there .