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August 4, 2007
Can a single woman ...
... reno an old house (not a brownstone)? Have heard 'good bones' and 'structurally' fine, cliches this site has taught me to laugh off, but I still like the SW Ditmas property I've contracted to buy. I have an escape hatch if the consensus is No. My weaknesses: not competent at DIY; not much homeowning history; have received few recommendations for tradesmen/women so far. Strengths: love the house; decent amount of money in the bank; really hate the thought of a co-op instead so will happily accept hassles. I want to go ahead if I can. Tips on how to have a good experience would be appreciated.
Comments
Well, by reno do you mean hiring someone to fix up your place? If so, then of course you can. You are, I assume, highly organized, detail oriented, and know exactly what you want, right? Money can make whatever you want happen, but you have to know what you want. Don't do it alone - especially if this is a big job. Hire an architect and/or interior designer. Money well spent....
Posted by: Anonymous at August 4, 2007 4:38 AM
Well, by reno do you mean hiring someone to fix up your place? If so, then of course you can. You are, I assume, highly organized, detail oriented, and know exactly what you want, right? Money can make whatever you want happen, but you have to know what you want. Don't do it alone - especially if this is a big job. Hire an architect and/or interior designer. Money well spent....
Posted by: Anonymous at August 4, 2007 4:39 AM
Absolutely, IF you have a good GC, and of course the money. The money is the most important. Get estimates, then double that amount. If you have that much, go for it! Good luck!
Posted by: Anonymous at August 4, 2007 9:45 AM
Yes, I did it and had a demanding job at the same time. Let me give you some advice. Really do your homework up front. I also recommend getting an architect for design and plans-- and to help with oversight of the work if he/she can do that or a construction manager to oversee the entire process (not GC). I did not do that; I relied a lot on my contractor for design issues and he was hopeless and I spent all of my time running around trying to make expensive decisions about things I knew very little about while he twiddled his thumbs waiting for my decisions, or worse, used the time I took making decisions to work on other jobs. (If there were 100 things he could do and I was deciding on 3, he would use the 3 as an excuse). Also, I got an contractor who had little interest in historic homes -- he indulged me -- but if I didn't watch everything like a hawk, his guys would do something that might work on a ranch in Staten Island but didn't work here. We did a lot of things twice. The house is OK now and I did it cheaper than most, but my primary job suffered, I was a major stress ball for 2 years, I gained weight and I had NO LIFE. rs. You can do it, but just realize that you can't do it the cheap way. It might turn out to the the most expensive way in the end.
If you don't have help, you will
Posted by: anon at August 4, 2007 10:26 AM
A good GC is the most important factor -- ask around for a good recommendation. When I renovated my own house I waited more than six months after closing for a guy I knew I could trust.
Besides an adequate budget, the next most important thing is being very clear on what you want, while also being willing to compromise. Some things which seem simple are not; conversely, a good contractor can make the seemingly impossible happen. The trick is knowing what makes sense to expend effort on, and what should be left well alone.
Professional design help and construction administration is also a good idea. A talented client with a clear vision can do this, but many people benefit from some cool-headed "this'll work better" plans by a designer or architect.
Good luck.
--an architect in Brooklyn
Posted by: Anonymous at August 4, 2007 10:28 AM
All y'all think she crazy but what other choices does a good lady have these days, other than to find a good man and latchet onto him tight. Otherwise unless she one for the ladies herself, she can roll up them sleeves and dig right down into the show hereself and see what gives out. I give you my luck, as you might as well need it now.
Posted by: Mom Vidalia at August 4, 2007 6:55 PM
Hey, Mom, go drink some stupid juice. You need a good time too.
Posted by: anon at August 4, 2007 9:13 PM
Of course you can do it. I agree with others about getting a good general contractor, but you still MUST keep on top of him/her, don't trust even the best of them to keep your interests and priorities at the forefront of their minds. Speaking of which, they can't read minds either. If you are not clear, don't expect anyone to somehow divine what you want. You want a team member, not just an employee. Take your time and shop around carefully.
Do yourself a huge favor - educate yourself. Spend some of your money on books on home repair, renovation, etc, and get familiar with common terms, procedures, etc. Go to stores like Home Depot, Lowes, local hardware stores, tile stores, lighting stores, etc and see what's out there, and familiarize yourself with general pricing, talk to anyone who knows what they are talking about. Go to high end and low end places. Touch and feel the difference between, for example, a $2. tile and a $20. tile, or whatever you will need. Watch This Old House reruns, and some HGTV, if you get a chance, especially the shows that actually show renovation, not just interior design. Buy Old House Journal and troll their website and message forums and read, read, read.
Better yet, take a home repair course somewhere, like from Neighborhood Housing, and learn how to do basic building skills. You may never pick up a hammer again, but if your contractor says he/she needs to put up a stud wall, you'll know they aren't talking about a line up from Chippendale's.
This isn't rocket science, and one's gender should have nothing to do with your ability to be able to handle owning and renovating your home. A gazillion women across the globe do it every day. It can be an all consuming lifestyle for a while, but it is all worth it in the end.
Good luck!
Posted by: Brower Park at August 6, 2007 11:17 AM
Back to add - when you are at Home Depot or similar store, don't just look at the decorative stuff. Check out the difference between the different grades of lumber, the different thicknesses of sheetrock, the difference between cement board and greenboard, and sheetrocks and what they are used for. Look at nails, screws and tools. Look at the grades of insulation, roofing materials, ask about the difference between metal studs and wooden framing. Check out all the prices and make notes. Learn how to figure out how much materials are needed for a project - square footage, etc.
This is your new job, and like any job, you have to be conversant and knowledgeable on the materials needed and the lingo spoken. You will not be sorry.
Posted by: Brower Park at August 6, 2007 11:27 AM
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