Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Woman Buys Abandoned House To Make Her Dream Home—It Turns Into A Nightmare
17

Woman Buys Abandoned House To Make Her Dream Home—It Turns Into A Nightmare

ADVERTISEMENT

Buying an old home for renovation instead of purchasing a new one gives people the opportunity to save money and customize every corner and surface to their preferences. However, undertaking such a massive and ambitious DIY project has its drawbacks, as YouTuber Jenna Phipps has demonstrated with her videos.

In a clip captioned “We found more friends in our walls,” Jenna showed her followers that the abandoned home she bought came with a few intrusive guests.

“We’re stuck with this abandoned home, and we’re trying to fix it up. When we were taking down the walls, we found some friends,” the young woman said, dressed in brown overalls. 

Image credits: jennaphipps

The camera then cuts to her boyfriend, Nick, standing on a ladder with a protective mask, getting ready to work on the ceiling.

As soon as he removed the installation from the ceiling, Nick found himself showered with hundreds of ants. “Not as many as I was thinking,” said Jenna, who has been documenting the process of renovating her home on social media since February.

However, the clothing designer agreed that getting rid of the insects isn’t the most thrilling task. “My least favorite job so far is exterminator,” she added.

ADVERTISEMENT

“When we were taking down the walls, we found some friends,” the young woman said

Image credits: jennaphipps

 

Jenna keeps her 1.8 million Instagram followers—and home renovation enthusiasts—updated with the latest changes in her property. Her videos show her alongside her partner removing the old house’s insulation, dealing with leaks (or “waterfalls,” as the couple jokingly calls them), and demolishing the kitchen.

Along the way, the homeowners have encountered one rat, two mice, and three ant farms. They’ve also found a hidden suitcase containing an old Boy Scout handbook, two hats, clothes, and a couple of unopened Christmas presents with a teapot inside.

The couple isn’t alone in the house renovation project. On Instagram, Jenna informed her followers that professionals such as engineers and hazmat surveyors are working with them to ensure everything goes smoothly for their future residence.

As Jenna explained, the house was owned by a family who built it over 60 years ago

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: jennaphipps

Image credits: jennaphipps

As the YouTuber explained, the house was owned by a family who built it over 60 years ago. When the parents passed away due to illness, the children inherited the property. The eldest one, an architect, lived in it until he got sick as well and wasn’t able to keep up the home. After he passed away, the home went to his sister, who couldn’t invest her time and money in it because she lived far away.

It was then purchased by Jenna last February. “It’s looking a little rough around the edges, but I have faith that I can fix this place up,” the social media star said in her first video showcasing the neglected abode.

Taking to the comment section of her videos, Jenna’s followers have shared their thoughts on her large-scale DIY project.

“You all got this. It’s so fun to watch along and will be fabulous when you finish!” an Instagram user expressed.

Her videos show her alongside her partner removing the old house’s insulation, dealing with leaks (or “waterfalls,” as the couple jokingly calls them), and demolishing the kitchen

ADVERTISEMENT

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jenna Phipps (@jennaphipps)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jenna Phipps (@jennaphipps)

Another person discouraged others from purchasing old homes, saying it’s not as great a deal as it may seem. “I don’t know why people are so intent on buying old, decaying homes when you’re not saving any money in the grand scheme of things, you’re wasting time and energy tearing it apart, and you’re exposing yourself to toxins and biohazards,” they said. 

“It’s not worth it. It’s always worse than you think it’s gonna be, especially when mold is involved,” the user added.

A separate individual echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the house’s state of deterioration is too severe. “This one is in such bad condition, and to make it safe, it needs a lot of repair and cleaning, and it’s likely beyond just DIY at this point,” they commented.

As soon as her boyfriend, Nick, removed the installation from the ceiling, he found himself showered with hundreds of ants

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jenna Phipps (@jennaphipps)

Somebody else shared their experience with home renovation, advising Jenna on what her expectations should be for the process. “As a person who has just lived through two years of home renovations, I’ll tell you there will be low points and high points. Sometimes, many low points all at once,” they said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“You’ll make it through. It just may take a lot more time and energy than you ever imagined.” 

An additional Instagram user shut down the criticism and supported Jenna’s efforts to renovate the property. “I think some others give up too easily, but not you. Perseverance will pay off, and you are doing a great job. The house is a mid-century gem and worth saving.”

“It’s going to be beautiful once you fix it up,” a social media user said

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Share on Facebook
Marina Urman

Marina Urman

Writer, BoredPanda staff

Read more »

Marina is a journalist at Bored Panda. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she holds a Bachelor of Social Science. In her spare time, you can find her baking, reading, or watching a docuseries. Her main areas of interest are pop culture, literature, and education.

Read less »
Marina Urman

Marina Urman

Writer, BoredPanda staff

Marina is a journalist at Bored Panda. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she holds a Bachelor of Social Science. In her spare time, you can find her baking, reading, or watching a docuseries. Her main areas of interest are pop culture, literature, and education.

Donata Leskauskaite

Donata Leskauskaite

Author, BoredPanda staff

Read more »

Hey there! I'm a Visual Editor in News team. My responsibility is to ensure that you can read the story not just through text, but also through photos. I get to work with a variety of topics ranging from celebrity drama to mind-blowing Nasa cosmic news. And let me tell you, that's what makes this job an absolute blast! Outside of work, you can find me sweating it out in dance classes or unleashing my creativity by drawing and creating digital paintings of different characters that lives in my head. I also love spending time outdoors and play board games with my friends.

Read less »

Donata Leskauskaite

Donata Leskauskaite

Author, BoredPanda staff

Hey there! I'm a Visual Editor in News team. My responsibility is to ensure that you can read the story not just through text, but also through photos. I get to work with a variety of topics ranging from celebrity drama to mind-blowing Nasa cosmic news. And let me tell you, that's what makes this job an absolute blast! Outside of work, you can find me sweating it out in dance classes or unleashing my creativity by drawing and creating digital paintings of different characters that lives in my head. I also love spending time outdoors and play board games with my friends.

What do you think ?
Add photo comments
POST
The Starsong Princess
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don’t think of it as a house, think of it as YouTube content. The worse the house, the more content and money. She has over 800,000 followers - she’s renovating this house at a profit.

Cool crow
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If so, that is the only way they can afford to renovate. A beautiful house. I hope they will get it back to its original glory!

Load More Replies...
trollingergirl
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I follow her on youtube. It was the most beautiful house, but moldy. Per last upload, it is now almost empty, just the timber frame construction is left, the roof still to be fixed. Sadly, all the beautiful 1960ies wood panneling on walls and ceiling had to go. It is her decition what to do next, and I am very curious how this will end.

FloralDangerNoodle
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just started watching the first video with the tour right after she bought it. Such a crying shame about that paneling, it was so gorgeous. :(

Load More Replies...
Zephyr343
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At this point it is the sunk cost fallacy. "Already put this amount of time and effort into it, just a little more." The pool alone is going to be $10,000 at least (from experience, nothing with a pool is cheap.) Home renovations are not cheap or easy. Wonder if they had an inspection done?

Bisha Moten
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm wondering how long before the city or county condemn the property, given the damage they've shown.

Load More Replies...
Load More Comments
The Starsong Princess
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don’t think of it as a house, think of it as YouTube content. The worse the house, the more content and money. She has over 800,000 followers - she’s renovating this house at a profit.

Cool crow
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If so, that is the only way they can afford to renovate. A beautiful house. I hope they will get it back to its original glory!

Load More Replies...
trollingergirl
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I follow her on youtube. It was the most beautiful house, but moldy. Per last upload, it is now almost empty, just the timber frame construction is left, the roof still to be fixed. Sadly, all the beautiful 1960ies wood panneling on walls and ceiling had to go. It is her decition what to do next, and I am very curious how this will end.

FloralDangerNoodle
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just started watching the first video with the tour right after she bought it. Such a crying shame about that paneling, it was so gorgeous. :(

Load More Replies...
Zephyr343
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At this point it is the sunk cost fallacy. "Already put this amount of time and effort into it, just a little more." The pool alone is going to be $10,000 at least (from experience, nothing with a pool is cheap.) Home renovations are not cheap or easy. Wonder if they had an inspection done?

Bisha Moten
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm wondering how long before the city or county condemn the property, given the damage they've shown.

Load More Replies...
Load More Comments
You May Like
Related on Bored Panda
Related on Bored Panda
Trending on Bored Panda
Also on Bored Panda