Let's talk figures

You may be wondering "surely it is easier to bulldoze it and rebuild a 3BR townhouse"

The reason I am embarking on the ridiculous :

Cost

It costs about $200,000 to have a contractor build a new house.

It will cost me about $50,000 - $60,000 to renovate the existing house.

You'd be surprised - well renovated "period" homes go for similar amounts to modern townhouses. It is laughable but you can still class this a period home despite gutting 90% of it.

Ease

New build houses require architects, engineers, soil tests, council planning etc etc.

Time

Council planning which we all know takes months of negotiating and nitpicking.

Habitation

I couldn't live in a house while someone was building it. Where as I can move in to the existing house in a few months -even though it will still be a building site. 

(sorry to sounds like a broken record to some)  My motivation to get this renovation done is to get myself in to my own place again. My CDs have been in storage for 6 years.... I have moved 10 times in 6 years.... 

I don't even know where to begin in building a new house hence why I'd have to get someone to do it. The idea is that I do it! (Refer back to renovation = distraction)

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As for current progress:

Still chugging along still pulling off plaster and laths. The front garden has now once again filled up with 5 feet high of rubble. Time to call Bluey, my Tip man.

Last night I started dismantling the wall between the laundry and "kitchen"  - Hopefully tonight I can get those cupboards off. Clearance! Everything must go!

Every time I arrive at the property, there is a whole Changing of the Clothes ceremony. Starting with the socks and $4 charity shoes which I leave at the front door.