https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 19:43:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/major-renovation-what-did-you-do#post-2823122 Thu, 17 May 2018 09:45:54 +0000 Myicitygirl 2823122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: so we put everything we could think of into our request for bids and the bids were line item, so it was easy enough to take something off or downgrade the scale if it ended up being too costly</p> <p>***we did what you did - we had “cost consultations” with 2 different GCs before we met with our architect and the GCs gave us rough estimates of costs and issues. One of them ended up submitting a final bid </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/major-renovation-what-did-you-do#post-2823118 Thu, 17 May 2018 09:32:13 +0000 Myicitygirl 2823118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: I will say planning a vacation or even 2 around renovation is risky. Nothing ever goes according to schedule, even if there are no major delays. But scheduling and availability can change last minute, problems can arise and even the order of tasks can be flipped. Chances would be high that when it’s time for you to be out of the house for a few weeks, they won’t be ready to tackle the interior work on the key living areas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/major-renovation-what-did-you-do#post-2823099 Thu, 17 May 2018 08:52:12 +0000 Mrs D 2823099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Myicitygirl: Thanks for all these really great points. I think moving out, at least for a short while is the route we will go.</p> <p>For us, we have had to talk to a GC first because we needed to understand the $$ involved, to make the right choice. We have some projects we 100% will do, and we have some that it depends on price how we will move forward.</p> <p>The GC I am liking the best said exactly what you are saying about timeline. Even thought I am talking about starting in 18-22 mos...he said its really not too early. He said perfect scenario would be that 1 year out we have plans and everything big decided so we can pick finishes and start the city process. Then he said it just helps everything flow so much easier when city approvals and materials arriving are not prohibiting them from working most efficiently. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/major-renovation-what-did-you-do#post-2823022 Wed, 16 May 2018 23:14:13 +0000 Myicitygirl 2823022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: so I wanted to suggest something we did that helped our process go relatively smoothly. </p> <p>I worked with my architect on the plans for our new loft (which required a structural engineer) and kitchen and master bath and submitted them for city permit approval before even hiring a GC. This can save time and just makes sense if you know what you want to do and know you will have a few months before you are ready to start demo. Renovations always go more smoothly with as much advance planning as possible. We planned to move out and start demo late February, so I worked with the architect starting in September and we submitted the plans late November and had approval in mid February. </p> <p>Then while waiting for city approval, I gave the plans to each GC and they used that to provide me a bid. So everyone was bidding on exactly the same scope of work. They knew exactly how many new outlets were needed, which walls were being moved, where lights were being added, where plumbing needed to be moved, etc. So when you get final bids, you can compare apples to apples. </p> <p>Doing this really helped keep the beginning of the process manageable for me, vs scrambling to get the designs drawn up and the permit plans submitted after choosing a GC and while packing the house and getting ready for demo.</p> <p>*** I think it made it more manageable by segmenting the entire process into stages: a planning/permit stage, a short bidding stage, and then the moving out/remodel stage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/major-renovation-what-did-you-do#post-2823016 Wed, 16 May 2018 22:55:06 +0000 Myicitygirl 2823016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: we did a full interior remodel of our home, 3 years after buying it. We added a loft above our dining room (open to 2nd floor ceiling) and gutted everything else. </p> <p>(1). We moved out for 5 months and initially my husband was NOT happy about my decision to pay rent and mortgage. But after the remodel, he was telling everyone it was the right move. Even though we had to pay sky high rent because there are only luxury rentals in our area and we had to pay a premium for short term leases. But we both honestly believe that money (enough to buy a new car) was well spent to preserve our sanity and save our marriage.</p> <p>My kids were 3 and 5 at the time and I didn’t want to worry about tools and debris and dust and lack of a kitchen. Getting ready for school and work is hard enough in a fully functioning house. Plus we saved a small amount of money because our GC could get everything done faster, and his crew didn’t have to clean up every day or wait to work on a certain area because we were using it.</p> <p>We moved a lot of stuff into the garage and was able to clear out the house because we needed furniture, etc in our rental. But it absolutely was worth the money to move out. </p> <p>(2) we paid a combination of cash to our GC and I charged a good chunk of the materials on new zero interest credit cards we got just for the remodel. So we had 15 interest free months to pay off over $70k of materials, which was less painful than paying that amount all at once. There was an article in the NYT about people who did this and earned enough credit card points for airline tickets or vacations. </p> <p>For paying our GC, we used a Builders Fund Control which is like an escrow account. The GC or subcontractor would submit their invoices to the fund control manager (Dixieline in our case), and after I approved payment, Dixieline would release the funds. It is a great way to keep track of the flow of money and the paperwork for work completed. And it makes it much harder for someone to claim you didn’t pay them. </p> <p>(3). We did not hire a project manager because I am a SAHM so I was on site nearly every day. I have a great GC as well</p> <p>(4). We did not hire an designer. We had our architect draw up kitchen and master bath designs. We had lived in the house for 3 years and knew what we wanted done. As far as finishes, I just spent a lot of time researching online and going to showrooms to look at samples and asking my design-minded friends for their opinions </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/major-renovation-what-did-you-do#post-2822897 Wed, 16 May 2018 14:40:14 +0000 snowjewelz 2822897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We pretty much gutted our whole house after we closed, but before we moved in so can't answer #1. But we did move in while they were still finishing up basement/outside. We just required that our "living spaces" be done. </p> <p>We borrowed money from both our parents and paid cash.</p> <p>Our contractor pretty much acted as the pm since his crew did the work. We made all the decorating/designing decisions and he also helped us a lot by giving us suggestions, different options and sometimes outright telling us what we want wouldn't work and offering alternatives. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/major-renovation-what-did-you-do#post-2822862 Wed, 16 May 2018 11:57:57 +0000 Mama Bird 2822862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents did this. They didn't move out, but it's a two-family house so they could do the cooking in my grandparents' place downstairs. I also told them I can cook for them at my place, but that wasn't needed.</p> <p>They paid out of savings. They were asking around about costs for a while before diving in, so they could make sure they had funds.</p> <p>There was a designer and GC. No project manager. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/major-renovation-what-did-you-do#post-2822857 Wed, 16 May 2018 11:49:31 +0000 Mrs D 2822857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: The first quote we got was 6 mos for the job...this guy (who I like better ALL around) suggested 3-4 mos was more realistic but qualified it saying he was telling me the time he thinks it will take barring any issues...which we all know will come up. He just said he doesnt believe in buffering - he's more of a just tell them the truth and if issues come up communicate that too. Which I appreciate.</p> <p>Since we arent moving the location of the kitchen, we will likely be without a kitchen for 1.5-2 months minimum, which may be tough! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/major-renovation-what-did-you-do#post-2822855 Wed, 16 May 2018 11:44:07 +0000 josina 2822855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: No, I wouldn't have moved out, it was relatively painless since we pretty much always had a working kitchen; they didn't demo the old one until the new one was operational. And it was during the summer so we could grill out if we needed to and spent a lot of time outside anyways.</p> <p>That said, if you can borrow your dad's house, I'd go for it! I would've loved to have moved out and then come back to see it all done, instead of watching the transformation ;)</p> <p>Ours was supposed to be a 3 to 4 month project and it ended up being closer to 6, but that's what we get for hiring the cheapest contractor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/major-renovation-what-did-you-do#post-2822843 Wed, 16 May 2018 10:52:13 +0000 jape14 2822843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We finished out our attic (including adding a bathroom and bedroom), so less of a major renovation but still fairly large in scope. It was roughed-in for plumbing but not framed or anything to start. Start to finish it took about 8 weeks (?), and we finished up about 10 days before my second was born. (Thankfully she was late!!)</p> <p>1) Did you move out for all or part of the Reno? If so how did that work? We didn't because it was finishing space we didn't use. We did have to use a storage pod because our attic is our main storage space in the house. </p> <p>2) Did you pay cash? Borrow? Or some combination? We paid cash. Luckily my husband's job is the type that comes with a large yearly bonus so we were able to plan once he knew he'd hit the hours needed to get the bonus. </p> <p>3) Did you use a project manager in addition to a GC? Nope. Our GC managed all of the subs, etc. </p> <p>4) Did you use an interior decorator/designer? Nope but I'm design obsessed and love picking all of the finishes. Our house was a new build when we bought it so I have picked 99% of everything in the house. In another life I would totally love to be an interior decorator! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/major-renovation-what-did-you-do#post-2822828 Wed, 16 May 2018 10:10:40 +0000 Mrs D 2822828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are aiming for Fall 2019 or Spring 2020 for our project, which means my girls will be 6 &amp; 3, or 6 &amp; 4...Our contractor suggested that not having the kitchen would be the biggest hurdle, but that he could work the project to keep us in our kitchen as long as possible. Lots of the initial work will be in Non Living space anyways (back hall/garage) so he said he can prep all that, then get the foundation going without much disruption...If we can plan that to be like late fall then sit through December, and tear the rest up in January it would be ideal. We could take a 2 week trip to Florida, and come back to my dads for 2 weeks. Give them a solid 4 weeks to beat the crap out of the place without us onsite.</p> <p>I was telling DH we either suffer through and live there...accepting we'll be ordering out a TON...OR temporarily move. Which is probably cheaper since our move out option is free. </p> <p>Jealous of you guys with handy husbands and design backgrounds. My mom is incredible with design, I'd like to use her for my PM and designer - she's retired and would love it. Only problem is she gets anxiety making choices for me with my money...so we'd need to have a real come to jesus! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/major-renovation-what-did-you-do#post-2822827 Wed, 16 May 2018 09:58:48 +0000 Mommy Finger 2822827@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents gutted their first floor a year after they bought their house about 10 years ago. They did not move out and just made it work. This meant that they had their fridge in a hallway and had a makeshift kitchen of a microwave and hot plate on a folding table. For some reason, the house they bought had an oven in the basement. They used a tupperware bin to bring all of the dishes downstairs to the basement laundry room to wash. They lived on the 2nd floor otherwise. Obviously they didn't have small children and I have no idea how they paid for it. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/major-renovation-what-did-you-do#post-2822826 Wed, 16 May 2018 09:51:37 +0000 Portboston 2822826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’ve done some Reno’s (kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel, closet addition) but nothing major like additions. I do have a friend who added a master suite (bedroom and bathroom) onto their home so I’ll give you her answers. </p> <p>1) Did you move out for all or part of the Reno? If so how did that work?<br /> •they did not move out and ended up having their baby 8 weeks early. So they had a nicu baby then a newborn during the Reno. It was a nightmare. They were able to still use the kitchen, one bathroom and bedroom. It was very dusty and uncomfortable. I don’t think they wished they would have moved because she needed to keep an eye on the project. Their whole situation was just not ideal. </p> <p>2) Did you pay cash? Borrow? Or some combination?<br /> • they did a cash out refi. Their payment only went up about $100 a month. </p> <p>3) Did you use a project manager in addition to a GC?<br /> •no project manager. Her husband is handy and she was off work so they managed it together. </p> <p>4) Did you use an interior decorator/designer?<br /> •no designer/decorator. She is very good at decor so she did it all herself! </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/major-renovation-what-did-you-do#post-2822824 Wed, 16 May 2018 09:46:26 +0000 lioneyes 2822824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Gut renovated (down to the studs) our home when we bought i last year. We did not do any additions or move rooms, but we did expand one powder room to a full bath.</p> <p>We stayed in our old place for 3 months of the Renovation (took 5 months total). There were some non negotiables that had to be done for us to move in, but we lived without a kitchen for about 6 weeks. It was rough but doable.</p> <p>Combo of cash from the sale of our old<br /> Place and a HELOC to get us started before we made settlement on the old place. </p> <p>I was the PM, and the designer. We hired a surveyor to give us full correct plans of the home to work off of, then my husband (who isn’t trained as a designer) and I (background in interior design) did it all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/major-renovation-what-did-you-do#post-2822823 Wed, 16 May 2018 09:28:42 +0000 Mrs D 2822823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: Thank you for the feedback. I remember you giving me input on a previous thread! Is there any part of you that wishes you would have moved out? The GC we are talking to most seriously has said its a 3-4 mos project; and that 2 mos of it would be the most uncomfortable. We are hoping we can schedule some longer vacations in that time frame, and if it works out to do it during the winter months (at least a part of it) we COULD move into my dads house while he is in Florida. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/major-renovation-what-did-you-do#post-2822821 Wed, 16 May 2018 09:16:22 +0000 josina 2822821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We put a 20x20 addition on the front of our house, (brand new kitchen with garage underneath). That included new siding, all new windows, new roof, new flooring/paint/walls in living room, and a new deck.</p> <p>1) Did you move out for all or part of the Reno? If so how did that work?<br /> We did not move out, we were able to live in the 'original' part of our house and use that kitchen until the new kitchen was functional. It was a MESS for awhile, but livable. We actually finished the night before DS was born.</p> <p>2) Did you pay cash? Borrow? Or some combination?<br /> Construction loan that was rolled into our house loan once complete.</p> <p>3) Did you use a project manager in addition to a GC? No. My DH did a lot of the work to save on costs, and our GC was a past employer.</p> <p>4) Did you use an interior decorator/designer? No, but it would've been nice! Making those decisions on cabinets and flooring and paint color is tough! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/major-renovation-what-did-you-do#post-2822816 Wed, 16 May 2018 09:03:32 +0000 Mrs D 2822816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So - we are walking further down the path of doing a major renovation to our house. Looking for some input from Bees who have been down that path...</p> <p>(project scope: extend back wall for 2/3 of the house - pushing it 15', completely re-do kitchen, master bath &amp; back hall/mud room, add 3rd stall garage &amp; raise garage roof line for second floor living space including roughed in plumbing for a bath)</p> <p>My questions are:</p> <p>1) Did you move out for all or part of the Reno? If so how did that work?<br /> 2) Did you pay cash? Borrow? Or some combination?<br /> 3) Did you use a project manager in addition to a GC?<br /> 4) Did you use an interior decorator/designer?</p> <p>TIA! </p>