Don't stop now it may take years to get going again.
Took me 10 years and a new wife to get going again on mine

I'm so there. Curious to see what tips people have. I've got a list of things and I'm trying to set a schedule to work on it a few nights a week to try to make a dent in the list. I broke mine out into small steps so the list is long, but it is broken out so I can finish and cross off a task and it is only a 1-4hrs to complete. At least this gives me some sense of making progress as I crossed something off the list.

I've also limited what I need to do besides finishing already started projects. I've decided to not tear out the bath tubs and surrounds etc. even though outdated and in an ugly color. They are in good shape and function. Instead I'm painting and added things to make them work. I need to take a break from working on the house for a few years so unless it falls under a must repair or finish already started I'm trying to limit myself to not starting another project. Easier said than done, but I'm determined to stick to it. I want to enjoy what I've done so far instead of feeling like I live in a construction zone.

Or maybe I'll just hold off until I can afford to pay somebody to do it. ;)

Yes!!!! And you're way ahead of us. I am VERY impressed, did you DIY your plumbing and electrical? We did NOT. We're also calling in the pro's for floor refinishing. Otherwise, this entire whole house remodel, including the design, has been entirely DIY.

We're not burned out now, but we were. We're at a critical point, with SO much done and all the finish work looming over us. Ugh. It's exciting and exhausting all at the same time.

My advice? Take a break. "Step away from the remodel." Even if only for a weekend. And I'd take WAY longer than that between main floor and basement. Take a week off, enjoy the fruits of your labor and let them reenergize you for the next phase.

But what do I know? I am clearly losing it...

:)
Ivette

Yes--we've been going at it 6 years now. We've started taking it a lot slower this last year and have recently been hiring some of the stuff out--I had a painter come and paint the outside of the small addition. I also recently hired a lawn service so we don't have to waste a day on the weekend with yard work. We'll keep plugging away at the inside but I need to get the eaves painted and I'll hire that out as well. I try to break it down into what will take me a long time to do versus someone coming in and finishing in a couple of hours--the eaves fall in that category.

It also helps to finish up one project at a time. We have a bad habit of jumping from room to room and then are left with nothing finished in the entire house. Plus, we buy supplies for a lot of projects ahead of time and then take forever to actually get to them. We've tried to only buy what we are working on at the moment and get it installed before buying the next materials. That has helped a little.

De

Ivette, we did the drain lines ourselves, hired a plumber to replumb to supply lines in copper and move them up. All the electrical has been us, including adding a subpanel since we are out of slots for new circuits in the old panel due to new code and our kitchen.

I like the idea of totally finishing a room, but I try to do things in economies of scale. Like once you are painting, it's easier to do several rooms rather than one at a time. You get in the zone. And we are lucky that much of the trim is original wood so that is not being painted.

We are planning a long weekend at the beach in early August. But I really hope to be done with the main floor before then.

Misery loves company.

Make to do lists and keep it managable each day. If painting the exterior of the house for example...paint/stain west side today. Or interiors...first finish coat on walls in bedroom today...second finish coat tomorrow.

Do things in a logical order so that work that comes later does not undo work that has been done prior.

Take a day off now an then to just relax. Realize that it will get done if you keep working towards the endpoint.

Don't bite off more than you can reasonably do based on your knowledge base and available tools. Sometimes it is easier to just hire out for certain things, so that you don't get bogged down.

Understand it is not going to be perfect. It is a house meant to be actually lived in and used. It's not a museum piece.

Do related work together, even if in separate rooms, so that you don't have to keep breaking down and setting up for the same type project over and over. For example, tiling in more than one room, painting, basic electrical, installing shelving.

Get a small tool bag and keep all the most commonly used tools in it and take it with you from room to room. Large tool bags become too packed with stuff and HEAVY.

You can set up a temporary worktable with a large tarp under it at some midpoint location for other tools and work.

Take breaks to relax for 10 minutes. Don't put off lunch until 3pm.

Think about what you will be doing the next day after the current day is done.

Make lists of things you need to buy and post it on the door.

Cross things off your to do lists as they get done. Soon you will see a lot of cross offs and realize that you have indeed been doing a lot and progessing.

>

Yep, you can tear out more in five minutes than you can put back in five months. Learning to estimate time is very difficult, and that makes it easy for amateurs to overload themselves. Worse, it's the hard-working and determined folks that are most likely to get caught in the quicksand.

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My advice to the original poster is to take all the time you need to completely rest and relax. Hard work is one thing, but punishing yourself is another, and, as was pointed out, the stress of living in a construction zone can break up a marriage.

A fresh start with a plan that takes on one or two things at a time will be a lot more manageable. Good luck.

Here are some reasons to be glad that you are doing it yourselves.
No trash and cigarettes to clean up after rascals leave at night.
No foul language and loud music unless it is your own.
No waiting around forever, non returned phone calls and general disrespect for your time.
No ungodly bills for cruddy work.
Noone in your house at strange hours, just because it is convenient for them and not because they are accommodating you.
In the middle of my worst day, my friend gave me great advice. Go shopping for curtains, it will make you think about what the house is going to be in the end. It was silly but it worked. Good luck.
ps I don't know how to drywall, but we're gonna.