renovating a house
DESCRIPTION
Journey to renovate a house into a homeTRANSCRIPT
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