Anyone here familiar with a total house remodel?

[hamsterjill]

Hoping to move to a new home in the next year.

Will need to remodel and redo the house I currently own to get ready for sale. House has some major issues. Looking for someone with knowledge who I might visit with to learn do’s and don’ts.

Happy to provide additional info but didn’t know if anyone on DU was knowledgeable in this area. Thanks in advance!

[DURHAM D]

1. Do you have HGTV?

They seem to remodel homes all day every day.

Enjoy

[hamsterjill]

2. No, this is not an HGTV situation.

Thanks.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. We did it

When we bought a home in a historic district - down to the studs . . . example -

I had two prong sockets throughout the house.
Gas line to kitchen was wierd.
Front closet used to be a water closet on the first floor.

Oh - I could go on and on and on.

Plan on your 'kitchen' being in your livingroom for awhile. Good luck!

[hamsterjill]

4. May I DM you?

n/t

[JustAnotherGen]

5. Sure!

[leftieNanner]

6. I've done remodels in the past

Not exactly your situation. But be sure to talk to your real estate agent (or better yet, get several opinions) so that you don't over-improve the house. Will you get that money out when you sell?

A few examples: When we sold our last house in the Bay Area, I asked the agent if it was worth it to tear out the white tile counter tops in the kitchen and install granite. She said no. We would not sell the house for more money than otherwise. Putting on a new roof won't necessarily get you more money, but the house will be easier to sell.

My uncle inherited a house that was a charming older home that was tired. He was a serious DIYer and he did a major remodel of the house. He ended up selling it for exactly what it had been worth prior to all the work - plus his remodel costs. I guess he enjoyed the process, but he made nothing over what he would have gotten initially.

Don't know if this helps you.

Good luck!

[hamsterjill]

7. Thanks.

That’s one of my fears. To invest in renovating and come out with nothing.

[sinkingfeeling]

8. I spent 25 years taking a now 163 year old house from 5 apartments

back to a single family home. Everything was brought up to code.

My biggest mistake was doing the inside stuff before the exterior. We had all the siding removed so it could be well insulated, causing cracks in the new plaster work.

[hamsterjill]

10. Thank you!

Did you do any foundation work? If so, which type?

And what do you think of putting waterlines in the walls as opposed to redoing copper pipes during the foundation repair? Supposedly cheaper, but are there any drawbacks?

Feel free to DM if that’s easier.

[sinkingfeeling]

14. The foundation was made of stones which they re-mortared. Pipes were

all in walls.

[Cracklin Charlie]

9. I'm getting ready to do a second remodel session.

We redid the family room, and the exterior, and some foundation work last winter. Next week, we start to redo our kitchen and hall (guest) bath. We are bringing in professionals to do most of the work, but hubs and my nephew start to do some minor tear out on the day after Christmas.

Twenty years ago, we actually did a whole house remodel. We had to move out for six months while the whole house was deconstructed and reconstructed.

We thought about moving, this last time, to a slightly smaller house. But, we decided that we really didn’t want to participate in such an aggressive market, when we already have a house that we like. So, we remodel. So far, everything we’ve done has turned out great.

My advice: try to find people that your friends or neighbors have hired that they like. We have hired some good professionals that way. Ask lots of questions. Carefully word any agreements or contracts that you sign. Make sure both parties know the exact scope of the work to be done. None of the people we have hired have asked for any money up front. The ones my husband favors work off a payment schedule that only starts when work starts, with a final payment at the end. I just gave our painter a check last week, for work they completed last August. We practically had to beg the guy to come get paid! His new puppy ate the deposit check we gave him at the start, which was hilarious, and we gave him a new one.

My goal for today, which I didn’t get done, was to choose kitchen paint and hardware. There’s always tomorrow.

Good luck, I hope it all works out.

[hamsterjill]

11. Can you elaborate on the foundation work?

How big of an area? Which type? Piers? Foam?

Appreciate any insight.

[Cracklin Charlie]

15. Here's my limit of information

Some really nice strong guys came over, made a lot of noise, carried buckets up and downstairs, and then they left. The basement has been dry ever since, and my husband said they did a really good job.

I’ll go ask him what it was they actually did. BRB

[Cracklin Charlie]

16. It was fairly minor.

We had a sump pump installed with a tile drain(?). They also installed a membrane and better drainage outside the house on the other end. They did a good job.

We have a concrete basement.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

17. That's a pretty good sized job.

I’m thankful as hell the previous owner of this place I just bought had that job done.

Several big rains this summer and not one drop of water. Some others in the neighborhood were bailing.


I did have to dig out some sewer pipe inside under the foundation.

I suspected an odor in the sump pump so I flushed some dye in the toilet. Sure enough there was a crack in the old cast iron to clay joint right near the drain tile so sewage was getting in the sump.

I took the opportunity to install a back-flow prevention valve and an exterior clean-out.

[gibraltar72]

12. Rebuilt home I grew up in after retirement.

It was a mess and had structural issues.

[hamsterjill]

13. Did you have foundation repair work done?

And if so did you redo the pipes in the foundation?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

18. Hey, my husband flips houses on side. He's seen

Last edited Tue Dec 21, 2021, 05:35 AM - Edit history (1)

It all. Send me any specific questions and I'll ask

As for style side....

It's a totally different ball game when you are not rebuilding for yourself, but to sell. Looks like in TX though people want the Chip and Joanna look. Think you can get away with cheaper carpet in bedrooms. Wood in rest. Walk-in closets, islands, granite, almost must have to get top dollar. Don't paint grey it's already out and looks dull in pics. Chrome faucets because they shine. My 1¢ of advise

[hamsterjill]

19. Great. Thank you.

I will send DM.

[gibraltar72]

20. Did everything myself.

Rotted rim and floor joists. Plumbing and some electrical.