Reality Check and Renovations: Why We’re Fixing Up Our House Ourselves (Fast)
In our previous post, “Two Months Before Our Move Abroad: Selling, Sorting, and Starting Fresh,” we talked about the chaos, the excitement, and the long list of things to do before our move to Spain. What we didn’t know at the time—what we couldn’t have known—was just how dramatically our selling plans were about to change.
Originally, we were planning to sell our house off-market to a friend. Easy, clean, simple. Or so we thought. That fell through, and suddenly we were on the clock to get the house market-ready in a more traditional, much more intense way.
We met with realtors. Multiple. We asked smart questions, got real answers, and came to two very important, very sobering conclusions:
- We couldn’t sell our house as-is.
- We couldn’t afford to pay someone else to fix it for us—unless we were okay walking away with nothing to help fund our new life in Spain.
Spoiler: We’re not okay with that.
So we pivoted. Fast. We’re fixing it up ourselves.
We are either very confident or very delusional. TBD.
A 1947 House, a 2025 Timeline, and One Very Big List
Here’s what we’re tackling, mostly with our own two hands (and a few borrowed tools):
- A lot of drywall repair. We started by buying 1/2” drywall based on one previously patched section… only to realize the whole house was built with 1/4” drywall. Because of course it was.
- Replacing every single outlet and switch. There are many. They are confusing. We are learning.
- Swapping out all the ceiling fans and light fixtures. So far, no one has been electrocuted, and that feels like a win.
- A full bathroom remodel. Flooring, vanity, walls, lights. The works.
- Demolishing and rebuilding the primary bedroom closet. A previous owner left it half-done for literal years. No wall separated it from the bathroom. We are… fixing that.
- Framing a new wall between the closet and the bathroom. Because see above.
- New flooring in several rooms.
- Gutting and rebuilding the laundry area. Let’s just say it was not cute.
- Deep cleaning everything.
- Painting the entire interior—including ceilings. This is a form of cardio, right?
- A hundred other big and small tasks.
We’re budgeting as carefully as we can, making smart trade-offs, and doing everything we can to make this house the cutest little version of itself. Not for us—but for someone else. Which, honestly, is kind of heartbreaking.
The Emotional Whiplash of Fixing Up a Home You’re About to Leave
Here’s the hardest part: we’re finally giving this home the love and attention it’s deserved… right before saying goodbye.
There’s something heavy about seeing it come together—finally becoming functional, warm, and beautiful—when we’re not the ones who’ll get to enjoy it. There’s pride in the work, sure. But there’s also this twinge of why now? and what if? And then there’s the added sting of a stretched timeline and the ripple effects that has on every part of our plan to move abroad.
We didn’t budget this much time for renovations. Emotionally or logistically. We thought we’d be out sooner. Now we’re sprinting through projects every day, racing the clock while trying not to burn out.
Divide and Conquer (and Occasionally Cry)
Some tasks we’ve split up—one of us becoming the designated electrician (again, still alive!), the other learning drywall repair like it’s a competitive sport.
Other projects we’re figuring out together, shoulder to shoulder, watching tutorials, talking through decisions, and taking turns holding the flashlight.
It’s exhausting. It’s overwhelming. It’s also kind of empowering.
We’re learning what we’re capable of, and finding ways to laugh at the chaos—like when we realized the “wall” between the closet and bathroom wasn’t actually a wall at all. Or when we confidently measured and cut drywall… only to remember we hadn’t accounted for the light switch box. Twice.
Why We’re Doing This
It comes down to this: we have to sell this house, and we need it to sell well. That’s the key to unlocking the next chapter of our lives in Spain. So we’re doing what needs to be done—ourselves, with intention, and with a level of determination that might look a lot like madness from the outside.
And yeah, it’s a little bittersweet. But we’re doing our best to channel that energy into making this home feel truly finished—for the first time in a long time.
If nothing else, we’ll walk away knowing we built something good. Even if we’re handing over the keys the moment it’s done.
Next Up: Finishing Strong
We’ll keep sharing the progress as we go—photos, mishaps, probably a few more drywall surprises—and we’ll let you know when the listing goes live. Follow along on Instagram and TikTok.
Until then, we’re going back to work. The outlet covers aren’t going to install themselves. (We already tried staring at them really hard. No luck.)
– Lauren & Lee
LAUREN & LEE ROBERTS 
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