I bought an abandoned house and tried to renovate it but failed. I'll never buy another fixer-upper.

• Karie Fugett bought a dilapidated house in Oregon to renovate and live in with her boyfriend.
• The renovations proved overwhelming and expensive, especially after Fugett became pregnant.
• She and her boyfriend moved to a family property in Alabama after the home became too burdensome.

In 2018, I fell in love with a 1200-square-foot dilapidated home. It sat on 22 acres atop a hill, hidden under overgrown bushes and trees. Ivy crept through the windows, and debris littered the yard. The kitchen and bathroom were gutted, and the smell of rats' nests was so strong I could hardly stand it. But with a little imagination, I could see its potential.