DIY Archives - Houses for Sale in Charlotte NC

Should I Buy an Imperfect Home?

The real estate market remains hot, and that means fewer homes and more buyers. But, fixer-upper houses are often overlooked by homebuyers needing to move quickly. There are plenty of bargains to be found, but you should know what you’re getting into before you jump headfirst into a world of never-ending renovations.

A little TLC

Many homes listed as needing repairs simply have cosmetic issues that the current owner doesn’t want to deal with. Even if there are structural issues, they may not be urgent, and can be fixed down the road. Foundation problems, for example, may be something as simple as a single support column needing replaced or uneven settling on an older home. Cosmetic issues, which Sonoma County Mortgages describes as things like paint, carpet, and baseboards, are simple to fix without spending the extra money on a contractor.

Too small?

Modern homes are built to modern standards, meaning they are bigger than those built by our grandparents. But a small home, even one that needs a little bit of work, may not actually be as limiting as you might think. If you have the right amount of bedrooms and plan to stay in the home for many years, building a garage can increase your usable space while pulling double duty as a place to safely store your vehicle. This is not, however, a DIY project. Use a contractor with experience who is willing to use the best materials and will give you a full quote up front. For a freestanding garage, a steel building is best, and can withstand Mother Nature on even her worst days. This interactive diagram can help you identify the different elements of a steel building and the benefits of each.

The big issues

Two of the most expensive home repairs are replacing the plumbing and electrical systems. If your home is more than 100 years old, it may be time to swap out the supply pipes and drain lines, and that can get prohibitively expensive. Houselogic estimates that a 1,500-square foot home with two bathrooms can run as high as $10,000 to replace the plumbing work. This does not include faucets and fixtures in the kitchen, bath, and outdoors.

Electrical renovations, including changing the fuse box, switches, outlets, and internal wiring, can easily top $15,000. While there are a few electrical projects you can tackle on your own to save money, even one missed wire can literally burn down the house. Unless the home is priced well below its value, you don’t have to move in immediately, and have the extra funds to complete these projects, it may be best to leave homes with electrical and plumbing issues to the investors.

Other issues to consider

A home is made up of many parts, not just the electrical and plumbing. Talk to your home inspector about the HVAC system, appliances, insulation, and hot water tank. Your home inspector won’t check for some issues, such as radon, so if you are serious about the property, have these issues checked as well. Finally, listen to your senses, and pay attention to how you feel inside the home – and how it smells. Weird smells may be a sign of water damage, pest infestation, or mold.

If you do make the decision to buy a home that needs work, don’t just pick the first contractor that shows up for a quote. Double check to make sure they are licensed, insured, and bonded, and also specialize in the type of project for which they are quoting. Ask specifically who will be doing the work; some companies utilize subcontractors, who may not be as experienced as you are led to believe. Popular Mechanics offers more insight on how to pick the perfect contractor.

Just because the house doesn’t have enough space or needs repairs doesn’t mean it can’t become home, but don’t get blindsided by price and location. Enter the process with rational expectations, and consider all of your options before committing to the purchase.

Many thanks to guest writer, Eugene Williams
http://diydad.info/

*Should I Buy an Imperfect Home?

Thinking of buying a fixer-upper in Charlotte? Let’s talk! Call or text (704) 491-3310.

How to Remodel Your Bathroom on a Budget

When it comes to remodeling a bathroom, you want to plan appropriately. Things can get expensive quickly, so you want to keep your budget tight and ensure that you have the best ROI for the projects chosen. If you’re planning to redo your home’s bathrooms, here is what you need to know to get the most from your money.

Think About ROI

One of the big rooms to remodel before putting the house on the market is the bathroom. While building a new bathroom may not give the best return, adding additions and renovating can. Painting, especially a calming color like blue, can show an increase in sale price by over $5,000. It’s inexpensive, and you can do it yourself well. If you get a contractor to redo a bathroom, it may cost almost $20,000, but you’ll see, on average, a 70 percent return. It’s worth doing the bathroom well, but to avoid that hefty price tag, you want to do it smart. Create a budget and stick to it by deciding what you can do by yourself and what you need a professional to manage. A good idea of how to establish the absolute maximum you should spend is to determine the value of your house and divide it by the number of rooms you have. This figure should be no more than the value of a single room.

Make It Efficient

There is almost never enough room for storage in bathrooms. Between chemical storage, shampoos and soaps, and the many towels, we end up needing to be creative. Having additional storage options can see a good ROI, and it doesn’t take much effort to make it happen. You can add or create pullout shelving in your existing cabinets for extra storage. More complex projects could be done to make the room appear larger and offer more space to move about it. A corner sink takes up less room and can allow for further development, such as putting in a towel hamper or a new shelf. You can do other easy installs yourself, such as adding towel bars on the back of the bathroom door to maximize room. Bars and shelving aren’t expensive, especially if you install them yourself to save the cost of additional labor.

What to Do Yourself

Determining what you can do yourself depends on how adventurous you are and your level of experience. If you have done some projects in the past, you may be able to branch out and update your toilet, replace a sink, or even install a shower door. Make sure you do your research before you begin, as there may be permits you need to acquire for bigger projects. You need to really plan before you start, even down to what color scheme you will be choosing, as you certainly don’t want your tile to clash with the countertop. You may find that things like replacing faucets and shower heads are easier than ripping out and laying down a new floor. Adding shelving is less intensive than adjusting plumbing, so think about what effort you’re willing to put into this remodel. You’ll need basic equipment as well, like a safety mask, gloves, electric tools, buckets, and spackle. This is not something to take on lightly, so compare the price of buying tools and taking time to accomplish the remodel with hiring a contractor.

Hiring a Contractor

When it comes to complicated matters, it really is best if you hire a professional. Not only do they have the tools and experience needed, but you can injure yourself if you fiddle with plumbing and wiring and something goes awry. Things like redoing your shower or tub, installing a lighting fixture, or replacing a toilet should be left to those who have ample experience. Only tackle what you are 100 percent certain you can handle with no risk to yourself.

If you are thinking of remodeling, don’t panic. It will be work, but at the end of the day, it can be greatly worth it. Be sure that you plan to get the best ROI possible, and know when you need to hire a professional to keep things safe.

Many thanks to guest writer, Eugene Williams
http://diydad.info/

*How to Remodel Your Bathroom on a Budget