We’ve always been big promoters of loving where you live and making the most of where you are. Although we earn a living by helping people buy and sell homes, we’re ultimately more concerned with ensuring everyone has a home they love.
In some cases, that means renovating. But as we know all too well, renovating is hard! When we bought our first home, we intentionally bought a fixer-upper. Looking back, we were young, energetic, and optimistic—and those qualities helped us tackle the project with gusto (even when it was absolutely overwhelming).
As challenging as that experience was, it paved the way for us to tackle bigger and bigger projects, like our Swissvale home. Over the years, we’ve picked up some invaluable pointers about major projects.
Lessons We’ve Learned During Our Home Renovation Projects
Here’s the best advice we’ve picked up over the years:
1. Do as much planning as possible on the front end.
Your typical remodel is often coordinated between multiple parties, and that could include a contractor, subcontractors, designers, architects, and (of course) the homeowner.
Everyone has to be properly coordinated for your project to go smoothly.
If you’re not a great planner, lean on your vendors. A project manager, architect, or designer can help you develop a clear outline of goals and even recommend contractors that could be right for you.
In addition, we always recommend interviewing your contractor beforehand. Every contractor has their own unique skill set, capabilities, and personality, and you want someone who can really tackle your project while simultaneously ensuring they’re someone you’re comfortable having in your home for an extended period of time.
2. Expect the unexpected.
This sounds like such an obvious cliché, but it’s important enough that we have to include it. Problems will pop up. That’s a given. Because of that, the success of your project partially relies on your ability to problem solve.
The project will take longer than you expect. It’ll cost more than you planned for.
You’ll likely pull your hair out once or twice.
But all of that is normal.
The best thing you can do is simply accept that unexpected problems will emerge, and solve them as quickly as possible!
3. Beware of scope creep.
It’s so easy to say, “Oh, I’m just going to redo the kitchen cabinets!” and then suddenly get sucked into completely replacing the kitchen sink, retouching the countertops, and adding an island to the middle of the kitchen.
Scope creep is real, and it often occurs in unexpected ways, like when a project snowballs out of control.
One of the most common problems we see in Pittsburgh is when a family wants to remove the wall between the kitchen and the dining room. This is a completely reasonable request, but old Pittsburgh homes can turn this into a nightmare.
In many cases, that wall has been up for nearly 100 years, and pulling it out could reveal numerous unexpected issues, such as improper electrical work, asbestos, old plumbing, and much, much more.
In some cases, fixing these issues may be mandatory. In other cases, fixing that could be a really good idea. Either way, you’ll be faced with tackling yet another project with another cost.
4. Pay close attention to pricing—and other financial aspects.
Scope creep isn’t the only way pricing can increase. Even something as simple as buying a top-of-the-line stove because you’re a serious cook can actually increase your project by thousands of dollars more than the price of the stove itself.
Digging further into the stove example: If you buy a stove that’s bigger than the one currently in your kitchen, suddenly you have to install a new range, which means customizing your cabinets and potentially other features in your kitchen as well.
Those additional line items on the project could quickly turn into thousands of dollars extra—all because you wanted to splurge on a stove.
But that’s not the only way your money can be impacted. A few things to consider:
How will you pay for your project? This is something we can definitely help you figure out, so contact us if you have questions! Equity, refinancing, and other resources can help you pour thousands of dollars into your home at one time. But if you’ve never gone through this before, many of them can feel strange, foreign, or even scary!
Get financial advice from someone who doesn’t have a stake in your project. Your lender certainly has advice on which financial products to use. Your contractor may have payment plans that reduce your financial burden. And your designer may be willing to cut you a break here and there. But even if these professionals have your best interests at heart, they all stand to make money through your investment.
What are the tax implications of your project? A reassessment of your property can significantly adjust your annual property tax burden. For example, if you add $60,000 in value to your home, you could increase your annual property taxes by more than $1,000 in Allegheny County!
5. Consider whether it’s better to defer the project.
We had dreamed of redoing our kitchen, but then our foundation collapsed and we needed new sewer lines. With these headaches taking our full addition, we decided we didn’t really need to ditch our old cabinets and countertops.
Instead, we looked for ways to make them more manageable. We chose a paint color for the cabinets that made us happy, we swapped out the old hardware to make everything more cohesive, and we added a few extra pieces to make the entire kitchen more functional.
Overall, what basically equated to a weekend of work bought us at least an extra five years out of the kitchen. We still plan to redo the space eventually, but we’re comfortable enough right now that the project can wait.
6. Expect to go to the hardware store way more than you’d planned.
If you’re a relatively new DIYer, here’s something to remember: Whether you prefer the neighborhood hardware store or the nearest big box store, expect to go there at least 4-5 times more than you’d think.
It sounds unrealistic as we write it, but it’s the truth: You will inevitably find unexpected problems that can only be resolved with tools and supplies you don’t have in your possession.
7. Get the best tools you can afford (but rent when it makes sense).
If you plan to DIY, don’t skimp on tool prices just to save money. Just as there’s a difference between a hammer you find at Dollar Tree and a hammer you find at Home Depot, there’s a difference between a $30 drill and a $100 drill.
While price isn’t everything, the more expensive tools will generally perform better and last longer, which will invariably make your project go easier.
But that doesn’t mean you should always buy. For example, a floor stripper or tile cutter may make more sense to rent for a few days than to spend hundreds of dollars on a tool you’ll only use once.
8. It’s OK to spend a little more.
As with the tools, if you’re buying furniture, fixtures, or hardware you’ll use for years and years to come, it’s OK to spend a little more.
We’ve remodeled enough and have been through enough homes that we can spot the same model of bathroom light fixtures or kitchen chandelier over and over and over again.
If you really want a unique home, allow yourself to extend your budget by 10% if it means you can really find features that fit your personality.
9. Know the best places to find things.
Every store has its own pros and cons during a renovation, especially if you’re a DIY warrior. A few examples:
Ace - In our experience, Ace generally does a good job of stocking their shelves and hiring friendly associates. However, stores can vary in terms of quality and selection.
Local hardware stores - We love Master’s Hardware in Swissvale. It’s quaint and filled with supplies. And while it’s chaotic, the owner knows where everything is. We’ve found this is a great place to request free, experienced advice—even when they don’t have what we need.
Big Box Stores - You can find just about anything you could ever need at Lowe’s or Home Depot. And while they have a wide selection, we would not recommend purchasing appliances or countertops from one of these stores. There are great local specialty stores that can help in those areas!
IKEA - We actually love IKEA’s cabinets. They provide a great combination of quality and affordability, and they’re really easy to put together. Plus, since they come in about five varieties, it doesn’t take long to figure out which one you like best!
10. Don’t expect your contractor to understand your vision.
Being a good contractor is much different than being a good designer. So, if a contract asks, “What color do you want?” don’t just ask for their opinion. Really think about it.
For example, one of our past contractors once asked us what color grout we wanted for a project. We weren’t sure exactly what to choose, so we asked the contractor to pick. We’d already done enough work with them, so we trusted their judgment.
Well, they chose an orange grout that we didn’t like. And if we had been more proactive in the conversation and decision, we could have avoided that!
None of this is to say contractors invariably have bad taste. But if you are unsure exactly what you want, consult with an experienced designer first.
11. Your schedule can influence pricing.
We have a friend who is a carpenter. Like many contractors, he’s busy—often booked months in advance.
When people ask about price, he generally has the same response:
If you give me an unlimited about of time, here’s [a smaller price]. And if you need it done in four weeks, here’s [a larger price].
Contractor schedules are almost always tight. And if they take on an urgent project, they have to push all of their other projects back, inconveniencing everyone else—customers, team members, vendors, and partners.
On the flip side, allowing them to take their time means they can spend more time sourcing better prices for supplies, and they can drop in while their schedule allows, without the frantic rush of other projects competing for their time.
Be clear in your timeline. Do you really need your kitchen redone in six weeks? Or would six months be more realistic?
12. Expect it to be stressful—but worth it.
Remodeling a home is stressful. It’s exciting, sure, and parts of it are fun, but overall, the experience is a stressful one for most people.
But if your home is in desperate need of a facelift, the alternative (moving) is also stressful.
So, if you decide that a remodel is worth the effort, remember this: If you follow all of the tips above and come out with a great final product, remodeling will be worth it.
And to make it even more worthwhile, we’ve learned to squeeze as many changes as possible into each remodel. This doesn’t necessarily qualify as scope creep, either: When we realize a remodel is on our horizon, we intentionally look to knock out as many projects as possible.
After all, if you’re already planning a remodel, it’s better to squeeze all of your projects into one remodel than to spread all of it out over multiple projects.
Contact Us With Questions!
If you feel like you’re struggling at any point during your renovation, contact us! We’d be happy to talk through your issues, lend advice, and even introduce you to some of our trusted partners! Shoot us an email at info@blocksintheburgh.com.
Cheers,
Julie & Ted