How do you accidentally buy an abandoned house at auction? According to the couple behind @ouroldhouse, it is the number one question they get. In a post shared on social media, the wife explained how a hard spending limit, a rising bid and one friendly smile changed their lives.
@ouroldhouse
A Search for More Land
She says that back in 2020 they were not looking for a massive renovation. They were looking for a property with a little more land. One day, while her husband Tyler was scrolling on Zillow, he came across an 1830s stone house on five acres that was up for auction.
The sale was in the fall, and she describes it as picturesque that time of year. The house sits at the base of a mountain, surrounded by huge trees changing colors.
Knowing It Needed a Ton of Work
The couple toured the house twice before the auction. They knew it needed a ton of work, she says, but it felt like a once in a lifetime chance.
Auction Day in the Front Yard
Auction day took place right in the front yard. The couple had a hard limit on what they were willing to spend, and that number was $440,000. As the bidding kept climbing, they thought they were going to be out.
Then came the moment that gave the story its name. The auctioneer was at 460. Tyler gave him a smile. The auctioneer took that as a bid and said sold. They won, she says, 20 grand over budget, which was good foreshadowing of what the next five years renovating the place would look like.
What Came Next
In later posts, she shares more of the story. She says they bought the abandoned house at the end of October 2020, received the keys that December and began with the barn. Six years later, she says, they are still working on what they thought would be a one year renovation.
She was pregnant with their second child, and the goal was to be in the house before he was born. Instead, they lived in a renovated apartment in the barn for four and a half years. In another post from 2024, she describes a first year with plenty of surprises: the first floor had no floors, a septic tank backed up and flooded, and pipes froze and burst. She mentions a year of structural work and says their son was born while they lived in the barn. When they finally moved in, she says, they had 6,000 square feet of empty rooms and one possession, a grandfather clock.
Lessons From an Auction Win
Her story is funny, but it offers real lessons for anyone who dreams of buying an old property at auction.
Set a number and write it down. The couple had a hard limit of $440,000, and the bidding still climbed past it. Decide your maximum before the bidding begins and remember to include fees, taxes and repair costs.
Mind your body language. Auctioneers and their spotters scan the crowd closely for nods, waves and even raised eyebrows. If you do not intend to bid, keep your hands still and your face neutral. Ask the auction company how bids are recognized before the sale starts.
Read the terms. Auction purchases are typically binding, and many require a deposit that day. Review the conditions of sale in advance and ask about financing, contingencies and inspections.
Inspect as thoroughly as you can. They toured the house twice, which was wise. Bring a contractor if possible to look at the roof, the foundation, the wiring and the plumbing.
Plan for the unknown. A renovation expected to last a year can last many more, as she describes. Keep a cash reserve and be flexible about where you will live in the meantime.
Start with a livable space. Their decision to begin with the barn gave them an apartment to live in while they worked on the main house. Making one area comfortable first can keep a family going through a long project.
Caring for a Historic Stone House
A stone house from the 1830s has qualities that modern homes cannot copy, including thick walls and lasting materials. It also needs careful attention. Old stone and mortar should be repaired with compatible materials, since hard modern mortar can damage soft historic stone. Keep water away from the walls with good gutters and drainage, and consult a mason who understands traditional methods.
Old houses also hold surprises in the floors, the pipes and the structure, and the couple’s later posts, by her account, include all three. Heating and insulating a house of this age is another long term task that takes planning.
Living Through a Long Renovation
Anyone who has lived in a work site knows how tiring it can be. Set up a clean kitchen area, even a small one, so the family can eat without dust. Create one room where tools are not allowed. Keep a calendar of milestones so progress feels real, and celebrate when each phase is done. Couples who renovate together also benefit from agreeing on who makes the final call on each type of decision, whether it is budget, design or schedule. Her account of years in a barn apartment shows how much patience that kind of project can require.
Smart Questions Before You Bid
Before you register for any auction, ask about the title and any liens, the status of utilities, the age of the septic system and whether the property is in a historic district with extra rules. Ask neighbors about the property and visit at different times of day. These steps take little time and can prevent a costly surprise after the hammer falls.
A Smile Worth Remembering
Her story is a good reminder that some of life’s biggest changes can start with a tiny gesture. Six years on, she says the house is still a work in progress, but it is also home. If you ever stand at an auction with a firm limit in your pocket, her tale is a good reason to keep your smile to yourself, or at least to know what it might cost you.
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