Renovating a House Adventure

The Journey of Renovating a House into a Home

November 2014

• After enduring a myriad of opinions, you finally purchased a house at a reasonable price for your specific market area.

• In most cases the sale will close in 60 to 90 days.

• There are aspects of the house that are not to your liking, do not meet your requirements, do not fit.

• Perhaps the house requires simple maintenance, windows, furnace, roof, that was not done by the previous owner.

• You have a 60 or 90 day time frame to plan out the renovation work that you want to do to the house to make it fit and turn it into your home.

So You Bought a HouseThe journey starts…

• In 2014 there are numerous experts on performing renovation work.

• It seems that everyone has a friend, or an acquaintance, that has another friend who knows someone that can do work for almost nothing.

• Its never as simple as what the television programs portray.

• Quality materials still have a price.

• Quality work has a price.

• Its your decision regarding the level of quality that you are prepared to pay, or that your budget permits.

A Word On RenovationsEveryone is not an expert.

• Now that you have the house, the first order is to decide what areas of the house you want to renovate.

• The next point is to what extent do you want to renovate.

• What is your budget.

• What is your appetite for surprises.

• We all know the kitchen, bathroom, open concept, granite, hardwood mantra.

• Start with the most glaring, obvious, that does not fit your requirements.

What to RenovateThe most glaring shortcomings…

• Take the time to make a “wish list” of all the areas and items you would like to renovate and/or change.

• You do not like the powder room (simple example) how do you visualize the powder room. Yes…what would it cost

• Repeat for every aspect of the house that requires from your perspective one form or another of alteration/renovation.

• The sooner you have a complete and detailed wish list

the faster you can proceed.

• Support your wish list with photos to depict what you are seeking.

• Yes…its time consuming to define your wish list.

• The more detailed the wish list, the easier to establish, and mange a budget, and perhaps save some money.

Wish ListThe ideal…

• Be cautious and circumspect of any general information that is floating around regarding items to renovate.

• We all know the pedestrian guidelines, its so much for this, and so much for that.

• What you are seeking in many case does not fit the guidelines.

• An example – there is this xyz for 2.99 a square foot, but the one you prefer and meets your expectations is 5.99 and an additional cost to install.

• We are individuals with our own personal preferences, the pedestrian information provides a “pedestrian idea” of approximate costs.

Pedestrian InformationBe cautious…

• Once you have defined the extent of renovation work that fits your budget.

• How this work will fit with your time frames, of doing it prior to or after you move into your house.

• Ideally if you can perform all renovation work prior to moving into the house, its preferable.

• Especially when considering to renovate a kitchen, or bathrooms.

• If you are considering extensive renovations within a short time frame, it’s a good idea to have an individual co ordinate the work for you.

• Keep in mind that you acquired the house with full knowledge of the renovation work that is required.

Extent of RenovationsWhat can your budget support…

• What we see on TV as the “crew” is not easy to find.

• If you find all the trades yourself (a daunting task), it will be your responsibility to co ordinate the work process and flow.

• An individual coordinating / overseeing the work for you, this person will assemble the various “experienced” trades.

• Renovating a powder room, having exterior doors replaced its easy, and you can quickly find trades to perform the work.

• If the renovations are more extensive, requiring various trades, this becomes increasingly more challenging to find experienced trades, and co ordinate by yourself.

Trades to do the WorkNot easy to find…

• In your agreement to purchase, there is the clause that you can visit the home on a few occasions prior to closing.

• Now that you have the wish list, the trades, or the individual that will co ordinate the trades.

• It’s time to visit the home with these folks to better define the costs, and in most instances start recalibrating the wish list.

• This is when reality sets in, and what looked like $1.00 starts escalating.

• We always read about contracts, when reno work involves demolishing first. A level of trust, understanding, has a higher value than a contract.

• Every house is unique, with its own features, circumstances, and challenges.

Visiting the HouseA must…

• Initiating a renovation project requires due diligence on your part.

• The more extensive the renovation, the more due diligence, and time is required from you.

• Especially when finalising designs, materials, products, and finished appearance.

• Although technology will save you time, you still need to see, touch, feel, finalise choices among a myriad of variables.

• The more due diligence you do, the more time it will require, the easier it is to complete the work.

Your Due DiligenceMakes it easier…

• Starting the work is exciting, and stressful.

• If you are living in the house its even more stressful.

• Not living in the house, the work is extensive, you reach a point where the house that someone else lived in, is not longer habitable.

• The surprises and unforeseen will appear.

• The work does not seem to be going fast enough.

• Items are back order, ran out, not available in a timely fashion.

• Its remains exciting to turn a house into your home.

• Yes…you need an appetite, and genuine understanding of the renovation process, and work.

Starting the WorkIts exciting…

• The more due diligence you do…

• The more your concept, and design is specific…

• It facilitates choosing materials, which expedites doing the work.

• It enables choosing the various hardware, fixtures, and so on.

• The more photos you have to portray your ideas the easier it is to finalise the concept and design.

• If you let other folks define your concept and design, then its no longer yours.

• Its your concept, money, home.

Your ConceptTurns the house into your home.

• You bought a house with an unmolested original kitchen, with ideally a linoleum floor.

• Keeping the same layout, with new cabinetry, counter tops, back splash, appliances, floor.

• Easy to do with pre assembled cabinetry, with minor plumbing and electrical work.

• Redesigning the kitchen will involve custom cabinetry, additional plumbing, electrical, removing bulkheads to name a few.

• It’s having a new kitchen for X, or a new kitchen for 3 X both are new kitchens, one is off the shelf, the other requires custom work.

The KitchenWhat is your design…

• The house has a curving staircase, with steps covered by carpet

• The pedestrian comment “its easy went online its about X per step for hardwood”.

• What is around the staircase, what floor is on the first level, the second level, how will the railing, spindles fit in once its completed?

• “Its X per step for hardwood, refinish the hand rail, paint the spindles white”.

• “Its X per step, the floor on the second level requires a nosing, the railing posts no longer fit in the design, to name a few additional variables that impact the cost”.

StaircaseWhat do you want…

• From your design, wish list, concept, be certain to explore the various possibilities.

• Take samples, to ensure that in the house it actually works with your design.

• Yes…you will change your mind, you will alter design components after trying out the samples.

• Its work, time, and also fun if you enjoy renovations.

• It will also test your patience, and appetite for stress.

• Obvious that your design, concept, components, materials, will have a direct bearing on how much you will spend.

Design and ConceptTake your time to be certain…

• Its mandatory to have an idea of how much you are prepared to spend / invest in the renovation project.

• From your wish list, concept and design you will develop an approximate budget for the entire project.

• Be prepared for unexpected occurrences, additional cost here, and cost savings there…as an example.

• Surprises…yes there will be surprises which always entail more money.

• Be flexible, and astute to derive the best value for your money.

• Especially if your concept and designs involves re imagining areas that you want to renovate.

• The extent of renovations will dictate the flexibility required in your budget.

BudgetHow much will you spend / invest…

• Its essential that you manage the budget, which at some point becomes a “moving target” as the work progresses.

• Its the house that you are renovating to make it your home…you will become passionate about certain aspects more than others.

• Quality materials, attention to details, accurate work, have an enduring value.

• From your wish list certain items are more flexible than others, which will permit you to manage your budget.

• The television shows usually portray only a few areas being renovating, and the flexibility that is applied to manage the budget.

• Focus on the end result that its your HOME.

Managing the BudgetIts the house that will become your home…

• If its an extensive renovation project, you need an individual that will oversee the entire project to diminish the stress level.

• If you plan on managing the project yourself, be prepared to endure several stressful moments for a myriad of reasons.

• The more due diligence you do, the less the stress level.

• The more meticulous and demanding that you are, the more the stress level.

• A weekly review of the work that has been done, and the work that will be performed the following week is essential.

• Be prepared to visit suppliers, phone calls, text messages, chasing after various items…its part of the process.

StressWhat is your appetite for stressful moments…

• Yes…you will need enduring WOW factors to increase the value of your renovation.

• WOW factors cost more money.

• WOW factors protect your investment on a mid term basis.

• If you are seeking ideas for WOW factors spend time perusing Houzz.

• Decide in which areas you want to include WOW factors, and the additional cost. Its always more money to have compelling WOW factors.

• The “big box” establishments are not the place to find inspiring WOW factors.

WOW FactorsThey are essential…

• Extensive renovations become a moving target, take on a life of their own, and have a tendency of escalating in costs. Its imperative to know all the costs.

• Its a house that will become your home, and must provide satisfaction.

• The weekly meetings are crucial, you will change your mind, alter designs, deal with the unexpected, and uncover savings.

• Savings are not easy to realise.

• Being diligent during your weekly reviews, will generate ideas to save money usually to compensate for the unexpected or the WOW.

• Keeping in mind that experienced trades, quality work, quality components have a price.

SavingsHow to save…

• Once most of the work is done, take a moment to enjoy your home, and settle in.

• Take a break, there are certainly a few additional items on your wish list that you would like to do. Yes…take a break.

• Especially if you have done extensive renovations, on a specific time frame. Yes…you experienced “intense” moments on a few occasions.

• Review the completed work you have done, settle into your home, take a break prior to finalising the smaller usually decorating details.

Take a BreakTo refine the small important details…

• Renovating a house, especially if extensive renovation work is involved, from kitchen, bathrooms, staircase, floors, re designing, re imagining is daunting.

• It’s a journey and an adventure that is stressful and satisfying.

• Its demanding on time, energy, resources, understanding, cooperation, and obvious money.

• Being prepared for the journey, and the ensuing adventure is a prerequisite.

• Having a level of trust on the various trades that will perform work is essential.

• The journey provides a unique learning experience, accompanied by a strong sense of accomplishment.

The JourneyIts an adventure…

• Completing the renovation project is satisfying and enriching. Especially when you renovate the entire house.

• Yes…you will have some tweaking to do, its part of the process.

• Ensure that your are satisfied with your project, especially after the tweaking is all done.

• How much did it cost? Probably more than your budget.

• Complete the final details once you settle into your home.

• If you can do most of the work prior to moving into your home, its easier and less stressful.

• Looking back…it was fun, and satisfying.

SatisfactionIts enriching to complete the project