So you bought a Fixer Upper.........Now what?
My husband and I made the big move this past summer: we sold our "big" house on 4 acres of land to downsize to a smaller rancher on a half acre in the same basic neighborhood. Great idea - it made us think, organize, de-clutter, plan, dream, cry, and did I mention, de-clutter?
Though our new house is just what we said we wanted, it has taken some adjustment, and we have a list a mile long of projects. Just read this great blog by colleague Teri Barton that gives some great advice and information that I thought I'd share...
Although I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, I have spent 10 years in Scottsdale, Arizona and 5 years in the Seattle, Washington area before moving to Pasadena 2 years ago. While I was away the Real Estate market went crazy all over the place but the Los Angeles area decided to go off the charts! Both the Scottsdale and Seattle areas where I lived were beautiful places but the cost of a home was nowhere near the prices of homes in the City of Angels.
When my husband's company asked us to move back to the Los Angeles area 2 years ago we were happy to be back amongst family but the cost of living was something to get used to. Even though everyone kept telling us what a great time it was to buy in the Los Angeles area due to the economic downturn it was hard to swallow the fact that we sold our 1999 home in a wonderful new community for half of what we had to pay for our 1950's complete fixer upper. However, I no longer have to wipe my dog's wet, muddy paws EVERYTIME she comes back into the house and the only time I really use my umbrella is at my daughter's soccer games to shield myself from the sun. There are definite benefits to living back in Southern California and there are definite benefits to buying a fixer upper. (Sometimes I have to keep telling myself this as I look around my home and see all the things to do!)
The one thing I love about Pasadena is the diversity and individuality of a person's home. Even though I loved the feeling of our neighborhood in the Seattle area, along with my neighbors, the monthly block parties, Bunco games and Poker nights, I hated having a home that was so cookie cutter and so close to your neighbor's home that you could practically sit down at their dinner table while still being in your own home.
Here in Pasadena, the houses each seem to have their own character. They might be in the same architectural style, ex. Craftsman or Ranch, but each house stands on its own. When you purchase a fixer upper, like so many of us have to do, you have the opportunity to make that house reflect your own personal style and taste. For the past year, that is what my husband and I have been doing. We have been putting our stamp on our home...and we are still married!
So where do you start? First and foremost you need a plan and you need to know what you like. If you go into a project without either of these you are going to be overwhelmed and finding yourself making so many changes midway through that you will cost yourself time, money, patience and perhaps contractors. Oh, and you might lose some of your sanity. My husband and I made a binder where we would keep pages from magazines reflecting styles and designs that we liked. (Two of our favorite magazines are Sunset magazine and Dwell magazine.) When we were interviewing landscape designers we showed them our book. All of them found this extremely helpful in understanding exactly what it was we liked and what we were looking for. It can also save you time and money in the design process. When you are paying a designer per hour or paying for design revisions, you want to get it right as soon as possible. Time is money. It can also be helpful showing it to sales people at home improvement stores, design stores, paint stores etc...
Another great resource is, of course, the internet. Here are some sites that we really liked and continue to look at for inspiration. If you have an iPhone, these sites also have apps to download.
•· www.hgtv.com
After you get a clear idea, or as clear as possible, of what you would like to do it is time to get realistic. What can you afford to do? Make your budget and be honest. What elements can you afford and what elements can you live without? Make a list of priorities and a timeline. After you have done that, add to both of them because there will be unexpected delays and hidden costs. If you aren't sure of certain projects and are concerned about your return on investment check out http://www.remodeling.hw.net/ This site will give you data on remodeling costs and trends, along with a boat load of other information, including a Cost Vs. Value guide.
I recently finished a complete remodel of our 1950's kitchen. Before starting, I heard horror stories from other people who have gone through this process. I kept hearing 6 months to a year! No thank you. My best advice is to really take your time in the planning. In my remodel everything was gutted and a structural wall came down. Before any construction was started, I had the cabinets, appliances, lighting, tile, counter, flooring all selected, ordered and scheduled. There were some changes, due to unforeseen delays, but they were minor because the bulk of the planning had already been done. I planned for 6 weeks from the first day a construction worker was in my house to the last day a construction worker would be there. I ended up with an 8 week timeframe.
Finally, this is your house, your project and YOUR investment. Check references of the people you hire, make sure they are currently licensed and insured and get your bids in writing with DETAILS of all it includes and what it doesn't include. Don't just settle for a vague work description. Taking the time up front can and will save you time and money in the long run.
And my last piece of advice is to roll with the punches.
Good Luck!
Claudine M
Navigating your Real Estate Move with Integrity Experience and Reslts.
I love servicing your referrals...Give me a Call
Teri Barton
626-695-9179
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