How to learn home renovation skills

Question

I am a recently married 23 year old. My wife is about to graduate college and I really want to get into real estate investing. I listen to podcasts and watch videos between classes and work (and basically every free second I have). When my wife graduates in December we will be moving from Utah to Texas (to move in with my parents for a few months to save money). We plan to buy a house to start renting out (thinking a duplex or something like that) within a year from now. I plan on rental properties being my full time job in the future but I know it will be a journey to get there. Because we are poor college students and because I enjoy working with my hands, I plan on doing pretty much all the renovations for the houses we purchase by myself. I have been wanting to line up a residential construction or renovation job for when we move but everything I have seen so far requires years of experience. How should I go about this? Do I just jump into the renovations on our first place and learn from trial and error or is there some "handyman school" I need to go to land one of these jobs. If anyone renovates their own properties how did you learn the skills you have today?

Cherie Orellana · Answer

First off I think YouTube is an amazing resource and you can definitely learn a lot there. I think it’s a combination of jump in and learn things by trial and error, checking YouTube if you need help, and being around people doing it.  I am sure you could hang out with a handyman or contractor and watch and help.  Places like floor and decor and Home Depot have tiling classes on Saturday’s. Another thing I do is take a picture of what I’m working on and take it to the home improvement store and ask what I need and the best way to do it. Especially with plumbing and sprinkler systems they have always been helpful to me. I have even FaceTimed people who know how to fix something to help me.  There are also illustrated books you can buy for basic plumbing, tiling, landscape, handyman that could be helpful as well.

I don’t think there is any one way to learn handyman and contracting skills.  I would use a combination of all of them.

Even if you learn all of these skills you will also learn sometimes it’s worth paying a professional to do it. For example You may know how to install carpet but it is easier and more cost effective to have someone that installs carpet for a living do it.

Any major plumbing and electrical should be hired out as well in my opinion.

I think you have a great plan and I love to hear the drive to learn that you have.  I Wish you the best my friend.

Nicole Heasley Beitenman · Answer

Perhaps there's an apprenticeship program out there you could look into?