Our home was built in 1976, and we have a list of the "must-do" maintenance (paint, roofing repairs, we have stone FP which will need re pointing inside and out...already replaced windows -$$$$, etc.) and then there's the 'nice to do' ....updating 30' of railing from distinctly '70s to something more modern, slowly getting rid of carpet and getting rid of the last of the wallpaper...eta we just can't afford to do it all at once

We have had a mix.

The first home we bought was in fine shape but not everything was to our tastes, and over 12 years or so we eventually re-did every room in the 3-story 7 br house, and added a pool and did major landscaping. Just after we replaced 65 windows, we up and moved.

I wanted our next house (which is now our primary home) totally done before we moved in. We added 1500 sq ft, added 2BA, gutted 4 of the 5 pre-existing BA, and gutted the kitchen. I still never had that day of it all being "done" because of GC issues. Now it is 6 yrs old and it is time to touch up floors, maybe replace some carpet, etc. Sigh.

I am happy with our beachhouse, which we bought about 3 yrs ago. The inside was done in about a year, the pool and landscaping just last yr.

Before the beach house we had a lakehouse, it was virtually brand new and fully furnished when we bought it. It was "done". But it ever felt like ours since someone else did it ...

Ha-ha - totally done before moving in - I can't even imagine that!! We haven't bought that many houses in our life but they always have to be "good enough" to move in and then decide what needs to be done. Then I begin analysis paralysis and start chipping away at my list. I rarely do anything just for esthetic reasons - has to be some level of "need" and I have to live in the place to really determine my so called needs.

We've been in our house for 34 years. Kitchen and baths have been remodeled in the last 8 years. Main floor was updated 4 years ago....hardwood, some new furniture, paint, new deck. I could probably use a little more "decor/decorating" in every room....artwork, etc.but they are essentially done.

We plan to move within 2-3 years and before we do our "must-dos" are clean out the basement (of 34 years of carp!) and refurbish. DH finished it on the cheap in the early 90's as a playroom for the kids. It has cream colored paneling and a drop ceiling with fluorescents. We may not do much down there other than replace the carpet and changing the lighting but I'll be coming here for suggestions once it's cleaned out. And we need to do some landscaping/cleaning up in the backyard . It is north facing with woods so the patio and deck are always mildewed. I think I'm going to have the deck restained in dark gray so it's not as noticeable. We need to have some nice stepping stones added from deck to pato and some landscaping, which is hard because the deer eat everything. May get some ideas here for this project too. Suffice it to say.....there's always something. You're never done!

Our current home was built in 1950. Where to start? Analysis paralysis pretty much sums it up! My current strategy has been when something goes on sale, that is what gets tackled next. I would really like something here to be completely finished, but I just don't think that's ever gonna happen. Today is spring yard clean up day and I just keep looking at the trim outside that needs to be repainted. I guess I will put on my blinders and move forward!

Yes. My house is 100 years old. I moved here two years ago and have already done a lot but still have a good sized list. It doesn't end, but I enjoy it. I just wish I could do it all at once but I need to keep to a reasonable budget and thus have priorities. Luckily I am pretty much into the "wants" versus "needs" already.

I was just thinking about this today and listing in my head the projects I need to do before our houses are "finished."

We built our PA house, and then as that was under construction, bought our first FL house. Completely re-did the entire first FL house except for the kitchen (sunroom, new baths, all new floors, etc.).

Then we did a major landscape project in the PA house. Then sold the FL house. Moved into the new FL house. Added built-in cabinets, put in whole-house solar power, replaced gas pool heater with heat pump. Now we're adding a pool in PA.

Next up: I want to finish the basement in PA, then replace the small areas of siding on the back of the PA house w/ all stone, then replace one of our gas fireplaces in PA with either a much nicer gas fireplace or (preferably) a wood burning (we have 2 wood burning and 4 gas FP there, but there is one room that I wish was wood that isn't). Then, landscape our front hill in PA (we have 6 acres).

Then, in theory, I'll be done. But by the time all that is done, it will probably be time for a new roof on FL and refinishing the floors in PA.

So, I don't think we'll ever be done!

Our home was built in 1952, an addition put on in the '70's. The landscaping was probably done around that time too. We moved in 12 years ago and have redone the entire front yard (removed almost all the existing vegetation and lawn, including two trees and put in hardscaping, new lighting, fencing and vegetation). Almost 2 years ago we had a whole new roof & skylights put in.

We have overhauled every single room in this house and replaced every light fixture. My punch list includes removing the back yard deck and creating a new patio; moving the hot tub; tearing out and replacing a shed; replacing the rest of the back/side yard fencing and painting the exterior.

On my soon-to-do punch list is renoing the main bathroom. We did an overhaul about 9 years ago but left the existing tub/shower in there. It's a chocolate milk colored one piece fiberglass unit that at one time had slider doors. The floor tiles were not installed correctly and have cracked so I have some beautiful new flooring to be installed. We are going to rip out that old tub/shower and update with a new one. Plans include building storage into a closet that is on the other side of the wall, and replacing the vanity with an antique dresser we're refurbishing into a vanity. Since I love the vanity in that bathroom we're putting it in the master bathroom (which is on the list for reno in a couple years).

Just this weekend I've updated (again) the family room with 2 new side chairs, 2 new lamps, a new console table and waiting on the new sofa to come in.

I've told DH that I NEED the kitchen redone but that is just going to have to wait a few years. The roof ended up costing us double what we originally thought so we have to shelve the kitchen (major) reno. Meanwhile I'm planning to rearrange some cupboards to make storage better. I can't do anything about the lack of counter space right now, however.

So my long winded answer is yes-I'm CONSTANTLY doing home improvement!

We bought our house 27 years ago and in 2010 moved out for 6 months while we gutted it down to studs and plywood and rebuilt it. When we moved back in we had an interior decorator team come in and put the finishing touches on it. That team could do it in about 2 months whereas it would have taken me 2 years. I'm still really happy with everything, which is a really good thing.

Now it's time for the backyard and time to recover the kitchen chairs, the dining room chairs and the cushion on the hall-tree. It's always something.

@3katz4mw - That full-gut reno job started when we decided that we had to replace the carpeting in the front hall, living room and dining room. We are the classic example of renovation creep.

We custom built our primary home in 1999 and still LOVE this house! We did a complete remodel in 2015 and now it feels new again. The kitchen makes me smile every morning when I see it! Our beach house was purchased and gut remodeled last year before we moved in. I am thrilled with how it came out although it was a ton of work! We put it on the market because we want to be on the bay (we own a boat) but I will be just as happy if it doesn't sell.

I love this thread! I don't feel so crazy for wanting to spend so much money and making my house the best house it can be.

That said, DH and I are swearing off any major home projects for a while. It's time to spend money on travel, which we've put off in lieu of some large projects.

There's so many places to go, things to do and see!

I go in waves of wanting to do home things vs. other things like travel. I'm in home mode now because of being in the new old houses. These are really the nicest homes we've ever had but I'm also at the stage of life where if there's something I want to do to them to make them more enjoyable I feel like I need to get 'er done so I have maximum time to enjoy it before my time is up. I also feel like we've finally reached the point where we have saved enough for retirement so the longer I work the more I can do these things without feeling that I need to save the $ instead. I'm still very frugal but letting go more than in the past.

We have both traveled a lot in our careers and for pleasure, including internationally, so it seems we're moving into more of a home, family and friends time of life. I think that might be opposite of what many people do as they approach retirement age, probably because we didn't have kids that kept us around home when we were younger.

When the cat puked on the 15 year old carpet last night, I was reminded how much I despise carpet and that it will probably all have to go at some point. One project at a time....

Bought this has almost 33 years ago. We've done major remodeling twice, put in all new windows, gutters & downspouts, gutter guards, freshened up kitchen twice,new kitchen once, freshened up 4 bathrooms, semifinished the basement, new HVAC (both up and downstairs), painted brick once and trim multiple times, new ceiling on sun porch/front porch, reglazed sliders on sun porch, put new floor in kitchen and front hall, added auto garage opener - twice, new roof 3 times (2nd was due to hail damage 11 months after new room put on), re-landscaped extensively, new fence twice, re-seeded lawn multiple times, built a terrace and dry stone wall, new lighting in kitchen, installed underground sprinkler system - what am I forgetting! And there is still outside painting updating to do. It NEVER is finished with a house!

Our house was built in 1952....needless to say, the to-do list continues and lives on. I've not had great luck with contractors, painters and feel somewhat paralyzed in hiring again. I don't mind paying a good price for quality work but it's so hard to find that right person to hire. I try to some things myself and have learned a lot in doing so but am certainly not up to tackle everything. So the list is growing and with Spring around the corner the outside work begins also!

Honestly? I get depressed when I don't have a project of some sort to plan out and work on, so I hope it's never done. We bought a foreclosure property in 2006 and I really enjoyed redoing the inside; the projects I work on now are relatively small in comparison. My list has things on it like getting new windows and having trim and sills added to them on the inside, getting the attic insulated and the garage drywalled. This summer we need to put one more coat of paint on the new shed and add landscaping to spruce it up a bit. Some we do ourselves and some, like windows and trim we hire out.

Arapaho, I've had great luck by asking fellow trades people for a referral because they all tend to know each other. For example, the tile store had a list of tilers. One came to give a quote, I asked him if he knew a good plumber. He did and when that plumber came out he knew a good contractor and so on. Each time I've received a referral this way, the person I asked told me to please let them know if I run into problems because if I did, they wouldn't refer that person anymore. All the jobs those people did were done to perfection. Before that, I had one handyman I found through a different source. He was terrible and I felt much like you do.

I've found www.nextdoor.com to be a great resource for recommendations.

I have a 1920s arts and crafts style home. It's like triage, when I consider what I want/need to do. I plan on putting it on the market in a year when my son gets ready to graduate high school. It definitely needs to be painted on the exterior and some floors refinished. I will probably update some fixtures, and put down new carpeting on the staircase. That's about it for now.

I also own a cottage in Connecticut. Over the years, I've been tackling it bit by bit. It's a 1968 ranch style home. It's getting there, although the main roof is due to be replaced.

Mimi, your post about traveling totally reminds me of my daughter. She actually hated being a homeowner. She and her DH bought a newer home that was fairly well maintained 13 years ago. They never did any thing to improve it until it was time to sell 2 years ago. By then it needed a new roof, deck repairs, some other minor things which they had to do before selling. Now they live in an apartment and travel alot. Besides smaller vacations to surrounding states, they've been to some parts of Europe, Iceland and a 10 day drive along the west coast of Oregon. No house for now but at least they're happy (I guess).

Millenials are far less into owning large homes, being house poor and collecting "stuff".

I envy their culture of being unencumbered and affinity for experiences and making memories.

My house was built about 1970, and lipstick was put on the pig prior to putting it on the market. We did some major systems work (replumbing with copper, new heating) after closing, before we moved in. That was 10 years ago, and this seems to be the year for additional projects. I've had a few on my list, but the order has changed based on need. I think it never really ends...

I think as long as you are keeping a house up-to-date, you will have projects. I also think that doing so is important should you ever want/need to sell. Hmm, projects we have coming up: building a window seat in our breakfast nook, new backsplash in the adjoining kitchen and possibly painting cabinets, can't make up my mind on that. Will definitely be changing out hardware and light fixtures. We did new appliances a couple of years ago, flooring and countertops have been updated also. My husband will do the work. Also in the near future is new flooring for two bathrooms, updating landscaping in the back including removing or moving an arbor, and a new fire pit area.

Oh, gosh, we have a never-ending list of to-do's and re-do's! We had this place custom built for us 24 years ago. Since then, we've had the kitchen completely gutted and redone 9 years ago. Last year, we had Andersen Windows replace all of our windows and door walls. Last month I had a new wood garden gate made and installed, as the old one was falling apart. Next is a new roof and our many, many skylights recaulked. I also need to have all our furniture on the front portal stripped and restained. Ugh! And, as soon as these darn Spring canyon winds die down, I'm planning on spray painting my white wrought iron furniture (on our back bedroom portal) dark green to match those on the back family room portal. I have visions of getting it done, only to find insects and birds stuck to it, though!

I feel so much better after reading this thread....I will move forward with what seems like an endless need-to-do list, want-to-do list, etc. etc. with a lighter heart, picturing all of you doing the same!! :)

We close on our new house in two weeks. It's not custom, which is really different for us, but it fits our needs right now. Of course, there was plenty of stuff we could have (and did) upgrade but many of the available choices just weren't up to par or my taste. So we won't be moving in for a month and a half. The list is long! DH is building a workshop, adding a water softener, new front door, new door and cabinet hardware, replacing all the light fixtures, removing pewny kitchen island and replacing it with a massive one, adding a bank of kitchen cabinets in a nook, expanding master shower, adding kitchen drawer pullouts, adding closet systems, changing cooktop and vent hood, laundry countertops, landscaping . . . Oh boy. Luckily, it appraised for significantly more than the sale price but not that much more!

Cleaning the basement is the big project for us. It keeps getting postponed.