Renovating and repairing old home... suggestions??

[Freedom]

So much to do. Expensive too. Sigh. Part of me wonders why I stopped renting . I miss having things fixed for me by the landlord, lol.

As LH says, it all builds your equity If you haven't already, make sure you set up a file folder and place ALL the receipts for every single renovation in that folder. Some day in the far future when you sell, you will need all that info!

I keep a folder for each job, so I can get the warranty, phone numbers, and so forth, easily if something develops. Then I photocopy the receipt or cancelled check or credit card bill with the payment and put THAT in the equity folder. However you do it, doing it on an ongoing basis will simply things when you sell.

[catnapper]

Oh Jenny do I know what you're saying!

We have many of the same issues.... I think we're living in the same house!!! I can take a hot bath, but if I want hot water from the sink, which is a whole 2 inches away, forget about it! And if the washer is running, we get a trickle coming from any other faucets.

Last week, we had no heat. None. The utility guy came out to fix it. He said he fixed the furnace this time, but we'd need a new one soon, maybe stretch til next year if we're lucky. Thats an easy $3,000 It might as well a million right now because we can't get that kind of money.

We also need a new roof soon.... talk about a chunk of money there!!!

[jennielynn1970]

Kim, your house reminds me soooo much of mine... looks and all!! They've gotta be the same era. Mine was built in 1904. I'm in the semi-historic district (they're working on getting this area/block included with the area across Hamilton Street). So much work. So much money, which I definitely don't have. I can't budget to save my life, and have someone working with me on refinancing my 1st, 2nd and 3rd mortgages/lines of credit. Why they gave me the last one as a VISA card, I'll never know. Way too easy to use the money, and I should have used the majority of it for repairs, which I intended to, but then other things in life got involved. I'm 37.. I should be better at budgeting and stuff at this point.

[gini]

I would love to see some pictures of your house.

My house was built in 1912-1913 - it was rented for years so nothing much was done to it. When I bought it the repairs began - and have never stopped.

I have read through this thread with all of the excellent advice you have been given - (I just love Pet Talk).................

The best advice I could give you is to decide which is the most important project - your water pipes? and concentrate on that one thing.

Otherwise you go nuts - have no money - and nothing is finished.

I wish you the best of luck - everything you do to this home will only increase your equity and having the work done can be so gratifying!

[Edwina's Secretary]

In Chicago we had a "vintage" house. We did tear up the carpet and redo some floors ourselves (one thing I learned....do NOT sit in furniture stripper...it hurts.)

We converted the fireplaces from wood burning to gas. We felt cleaner, safer, and less work. We had a plumber do it.

We replaced all the windows (many non-standard...that was probably the biggest expense but what a difference!)

We also redid the kitchen and bathroom. I asked people I knew had used a contractor - especially on vintage houses, we visited different firms, we had a few estimates.

We really liked the guy we used. Had him back for the second (kitchen) project. But it always takes longer and costs more than you expect. The wiring was frighteningly not up to code, pipes, etc, etc, etc!

But, despite all that...I loved the whole experience...and the outcome!

[Rachel]

As to getting a general contractor, you might want to consider doing all the projects you can dealing with the individual subcontractors (plumber, electrician, carpenter, etc.) yourself, as your general will be marking up whatever their cost is. What a general contractor is good for is making sure that things are done in the correct order so that what one sub does will not need to be undone by what the next one does.

Also consider the fact that as you are interviewing these individuals, they are interviewing you. Ever had a guy come out to look at a job and then never call you back with an estimate. He probably has decided your job wasn't worth his time. Don't divulge too much information, i.e. *I'm getting three other bids.* He may decide he doesn't want to get involved in *competitive bidding*. Be sure to ask about whether he carries liability and workman's compensation insurance and ask to see his certificate of insurance. Some trademen who do the work themselves might not carry the workman's comp. but at least you should know that and what risks it involves.