Journey to renovate a house into a home

1. The Journey of Renovating a House
into a Home
November 2014

2. • 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.
The journey starts…

3. • 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.
Everyone is not an
expert.

4. • 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.
The most glaring
shortcomings…

5. • 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.
The ideal…

6. • 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.
Be cautious…

7. • 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.
What can your
budget support…

8. • 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.
Not easy to find…

9. • 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.
A must…

10. • 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.
Makes it easier…

11. • 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.
Its exciting…

12. • 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.
Turns the house into
your home.

13. • 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.
What is your
design…

14. • 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”.
What do you want…

15. • 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.
Take your time to be
certain…

16. • 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.
How much will you
spend / invest…

17. • 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.
Its the house that will
become your home…

18. • 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.
What is your appetite
for stressful
moments…

19. • 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.
They are essential…

20. • 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.
How to save…

21. • 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.
To refine the small
important details…

22. • 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.
Its an adventure…

23. • 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.
Its enriching to
complete the project