How to Manage a Home Renovation

You Bought a Fixer-Upper

You have acquired a home with wonderful bones. You love it but it needs a lot of rehab, perhaps much more than you imagined. Now you are wondering how to manage a home renovation. So many decisions to make!

If the thrill of acquiring a home with great potential gives way to overwhelm writing out a plan will help you. Words help us untangle the thoughts that keep circling in our minds, and plans give us direction and a course of action.

Define your projects and organize them by priorities

First, make your projects list; then, organize it by priorities. Priority 1 is health, safety and repairs that prevent further damage. Include electrical updates, removal of hazardous materials like lead paint or asbestos, and repairing roof or plumbing leaks. Priority 2 includes projects that are better to complete before you move in. Those might be messy things like popcorn ceiling removal, tile removal, demolition, and big painting or flooring projects. Priority 3 is everything else that your house needs to function well such as new appliances, lighting, irrigation, tree trimming, There is a fourth list that is always in play-the little personal projects and purchases that make your house beautiful and uniquely yours. That list is never complete because your artEssential home grows and changes with you.

Set your budget

Second, determine your budget. Avoid the credit card trap. Base your budget on available funds or, if you must, get a low interest home improvement loan. Research costs and make a spread sheet for the first three priorities above. Modify it as you get actual estimates and repairs.

Keep your fourth list handy as well as a small notebook with dimensions and color swatches and add to it often!

General Contractor, Individual Contractor or DIY?

The budget gives you important information for making another decision—which projects can you do yourself, which projects can you manage, and which projects would are best turned over to a general contractor?

General contractors manage a whole project for a specific contractual amount. They hire and schedule subcontractors, and supervisestheir work. They usually have dependable crews that they trust to do good work.

The GC adds expense to your project by charging a fee. On the other hand, if you are inexperienced with home improvement your misfortunes and mistakes can make the contractor’s fee look like a bargain.

If you are managing the projects yourself, you will have to find and hire individual painters, carpenters, etc. to do the work and manage the scheduling of each one. This requires time, flexibility, patience and enough experience to know if the work is being done well.

DIY is the way to go if your budget requires, and if you have the skills or can learn them on YouTube.

My Experience

A year ago we bought a house built in 1974, well-built, beautifully designed, and poorly maintained. Therefore, we had many projects and repairs, large and small–electrical, plumbing, popcorn removal, paint, floors, countertops, appliances, roof repair, drainage work, new deck and much more. I hired individual contractors or companies for most of the work. For the kitchen update, I hired a general contractor which was a great decision and a huge relief! I have done some of the smaller work myself. Being present and involved gave me more influence over the outcome, and working of my hands created a personal connection and a sense of home.

My Advice

Know your strengths including your personality and your skills; know when to ask for help. See “How to Communicate with Home Improvement Contractors” and “10 Best Tips for Hiring the Right Contractor.” (Coming soon.)By sharing these suggestions, I hope to save you from many of the mistakes I have made.

You can do this! Approach your home improvements with creativity and pleasure and that will get you through the trials! Don’t wait until it’s all perfect to enjoy your home. Enjoy the process, too. Remember, you are creating an ArtEssential Home.