New build vs. renovation?

[Hotzcatz]

I've built a half dozen houses (bash my finger with a hammer level of building) and am currently in the middle of a long term remodel. The remodel is much cheaper than new construction (as long as I don't count my time) but it takes much longer. We picked up a "tear-down" about eight years ago and so far we haven't torn it down. The termites have been well fed over the years but there was enough structural integrity left that we've managed to patch instead of replace. Everything from the floorboards on down has either been replaced, restored or sistered. When we started one out of three support posts were missing for one reason or another. Everything above the floor has been more or less saved, but a lot of it was patch and paint which is a slow process. We do have the oldest house in the neighborhood.

We've been living in it while remodeling so that has slowed things down and there's other things to do instead of working on the house all the time so it is a very slow process. The good parts are the taxes are very low since it is an old building. It also has "character".

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"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson