In early May of this year, we moved into a new home—leaving behind our peaceful five-acre, 1970s ranch-style property for life in a nearby city subdivision. Essentially, we traded serenity and space for sidewalks, school zones, and a HOA. Our HOA seems decent so far—we’re just adjusting to having neighbors right next door instead of the acres of breathing room we were used to.
We had always dreamed of owning land. When we bought our last property in June 2022, it felt like we had finally made that dream a reality. The land was breathtaking—lush with towering trees, home to deer, and filled with the kind of stillness you can only get in the country. But the house? A different story.
We knew from the start it needed a full renovation. And we meant full: we stripped it down to the studs, tore out wood paneling, scraped popcorn ceilings, laid new flooring, painted everything, and replaced the AC unit. The only things we didn’t touch were the bathrooms and kitchen—mainly because those are usually the most expensive projects, and we were trying to recoup some costs before tackling them. Still, we did all the work ourselves and saved a significant amount of money. By the end of it, I felt like a renovation queen.
But just when we were settling into our hard-earned progress, a major freeze hit in January 2024. We did everything to insulate our outdoor faucets, but a pipe burst in our daughter’s closet anyway. The water poured in with such force that the only rooms spared were the kitchen and dining room on the far end of the house.
We filed an insurance claim and had to redo the new flooring, replace damaged walls, and repaint nearly everything. Thankfully, we were able to renovate both bathrooms with the help of the insurance payout. We brought in a friend to handle the bathroom tiling and remodel, but that turned out to be a huge mistake. In the end, we had to finish the job ourselves—and along the way, we learned more about plumbing than we ever wanted to know. Installing a shower for the first time was… an experience.
By this point, I was exhausted. It felt like we had spent nearly two straight years in renovation mode. The house started to feel more like a burden than a blessing. Our girls were tired of sharing a room. The constant projects were draining our time, energy, and finances. I began to resent the house and the toll it had taken on us.
So, in September 2024, after talking things over with our realtor, we decided to list the property. We hired someone to paint the exterior, I painted the kitchen myself, and we cleaned up the flowerbeds. I was done—mentally and emotionally.
We received an offer in March 2025. It felt like the light at the end of the tunnel. But then, the buyer backed out. We were already under contingency for the home we’re in now, and losing that deal was heartbreaking. Luckily, in early April, we got another offer, went under contract, and officially closed at the end of May.
We were out. Finally.
And yet, the chaos wasn’t quite over.
We quickly realized the previous owner of our new home had completely let the backyard go. The fence was falling apart, and the overgrowth—trees, brush, and even poison ivy—had taken over. The kids were thrilled to have their own rooms (no more fighting!), but all three needed patching and painting. There were knife holes in the walls. Yes—actual knife holes. What happened here? We’ll never know.
We hired a landscaper and fencing company to get the yard under control, since we simply didn’t have the time or energy to do it ourselves.
Then last week, we discovered the garbage disposal had been leaking—apparently for quite a while. The base cabinets were full of wood rot and mold. We had to cut and remove the granite island countertop (all 500 lbs of it), rip out the cabinets, treat the mold, and now we’re installing new cabinets, outlets, wiring, and a brand-new sink.
At this point, I feel like I could host my own HGTV show. We’ve lived through so much renovation drama, I could write several seasons’ worth of episodes. And while I’ve learned a ton along the way, I have officially reached my limit.
I am on strike.
No more demo days. No more paint rollers. No more tile saws or caulk guns. I’m done. Stick a fork in me.
#newhousenewproblems
#renovationqueenretired
#sendhelporwine
RIP
Singing Like A Canary 