https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 09 May 2026 04:42:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-gone-through-any-home-renovations#post-76289 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:31:21 +0000 jennylynn 76289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've done several renovations to our home, but we did them ourselves, with the help of my dad. We've done siding, layed laminate hardwood floors, tiled both of the bathroom floors, tiled the new shower, and totally gutted the living room, hallway, spare bedroom, and bathroom, and hung the drywall. We've learned a lot along the way! Tearing out old plaster definitely sucks! And so does sanding mud after you drywall! Blah! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-gone-through-any-home-renovations#post-76227 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:15:21 +0000 yoursilverlining 76227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’re getting ready to build a new home, but haven’t done any renovations to our current place. I would echo others who said get everything in writing. I don’t know if you are planning on DIY renovations or hiring someone – so my only advice is for if you will hire someone. </p> <p>With our builder, everything we do that varies from our original build contract at all (even if it doesn’t involve a price change or money) has a formal Change Order, signed by both parties. Don’t be scared to enter into contracts with whomever you hire – to protect yourself if nothing else. You can contract for the renovation completion time (with financial penalties if they don’t meet it), so you are not stuck with no bathrooms 6 months later when the guy you hired got a bigger job. I would interview several contractors/tradespeople before hiring one – see what they can offer you, and at what price. Don’t be afraid to negotiate. See if your state keeps a list of contractor (or other tradesperson) complaints, and make sure the person you will hire doesn’t have outstanding lawsuits or complaints filed against them. We also required proof of current license and adequate insurance (works comp and liability), to make sure we wouldn’t be legally responsible for anything that might happen on our property. See if you can buy the materials yourself – save overhead. Don't financially overextend yourself because additional costs will crop up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-gone-through-any-home-renovations#post-76217 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:04:17 +0000 Weagle 76217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are finishing up a bathroom and basement renovation. My parents renovated and built houses often while I was growing up, so nothing was too surprising. I had just forgotten that during a renovation it tends to be more expensive than you expected (especially with older houses...you never know what problems you will run into) and it's always dirtier than you hoped. Expect dust everywhere! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-gone-through-any-home-renovations#post-75770 Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:55:44 +0000 tequiero21 75770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i did some minor renovations with my now rental house. had to fix the kitchen floors because my dog messed it up. we bought the materials, the guys just put it on. it's definitely cheaper if you get the materials yourself - that way, you know they aren't charging you extra. my bro did some major renovations (kitchen and bathroom) with his new place, and he bought all (?) the materials from home depot and costco and just hired a contractor to actually do the labor.</p> <p>also, he used a chinese company. he said they were much cheaper.</p> <p>there are also some things you may be able to do yourselves. for example, my bro did all the crown molding in his place. with our parents home, he did all the varnishing and all of the wood floors - just depends on what your hubby could do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-gone-through-any-home-renovations#post-75748 Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:48:58 +0000 twodoghouse 75748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our house was about 10 years old when we bought it four years ago so we have: put on a new roof, tore out the old playground equipment in the backyard + did some general landscaping back there, had pergo put everywhere on the ground floor, had the hot tub removed from the four seasons room, had the bathroom in the basement gutted + completely redone and had Corian countertops installed in the kitchen. </p> <p>My only advice is to hire a professional! We thought we could totally install marble tile in the bathroom because we watched a couple Youtube videos. Um, wrong! We had no idea what we were doing. Definitely worth the cost to have a pro doing it. Also, check to see if there are any tax credits for making things more energy-efficient. We paid more for an energy-efficient roof, but got a great tax credit for it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-gone-through-any-home-renovations#post-75644 Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:18:50 +0000 Andrea 75644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: @house36: awesome! i hope i can bug you both when i actually have some specific questions! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-gone-through-any-home-renovations#post-75640 Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:17:23 +0000 house36 75640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My best advice will be plan, plan ahead! And yes, also make sure contractor prices everything.<br /> @oliviaoblivia: I'm an architect, too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-gone-through-any-home-renovations#post-75573 Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:46:10 +0000 oliviaoblivia 75573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My best advice would be to make sure you contractor prices everything for you upfront. Anything that gets added later will cost you double (or more.) Also, try to have all of your material decisions made up front. You don't want to be stuck waiting on marble and have you subs with no work to do. I've found that if they leave your job it's almost impossible to get them back.<br /> And check what permits you'll need with your local building department. I've had clients whose home have had non-permitted renovations before and find out that it's not up to code and that they are legally and financially liable for bringing it to compliance.<br /> And (sorry for the novel) get receipts for everything. Don't pay by cash to save a few bucks - if your new faucet breaks after two months and you don't have any paperwork from your contractor - he's not coming back to fix it.</p> <p>For what it's worth, I'm an Architect and my practice is in custom home renovation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-gone-through-any-home-renovations#post-75557 Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:39:19 +0000 heffalump 75557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Luckily we bought our house with no major renovations needed, just minor things like paint. But how fun to get to update everything, good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-gone-through-any-home-renovations#post-75550 Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:37:02 +0000 Andrea 75550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I are going to start some home renovations this year. We will probably gut 2 bathrooms and do some work in our family room + play room area. I am clueless about the process right now. If you've done some major home renovations, can you give a newbie some advice? What did you learn from the process? </p>