Best Strategy To Improve Renovation Skills?

Question

I own a duplex in good condition and am wanting to upgrade the interiors of my units.

How does one effectively go about learning how to tile, install drywall, build cabinets, etc., with no previous experience?

...please lay out the process you personally took to amass renovation skill sets, thanks!!

Brian Ellis · Answer

Trial an error. I have a big ego when it comes to doing my own renovations, but that shrinks as time goes on. I just finished doing a room in crown molding. I couldn't stop looking at the gaps this morning, so ill tear it down and try again. The best way to learn is hands on experience, and seeing a professional do it. You get to learn all the tricks. YouTube and google can point you in the right direction, but there is still a huge learning curve.

Jim K. · Answer

The book you need as an encyclopedic high-level overview is Renovation, by Michael W. Litchfield, now in its 4th edition and published by The Taunton Press. Also buy used home improvement books in the Stanley and the Black and Decker specialized series, as well as other books from The Taunton Press. You can get them cheap on Amazon.

After you've got through stuff on what you need vetted and published by proven sources, go to the Internet, go to YouTube. But don't start there...anybody can say and try to do anything on YouTube. Doesn't mean they know what they're talking about.

That's the path I usually take now for new skills that I can't have someone model for me. The process is never easy and pretty unless you're doing it wrong. There's always mess, there's always lost time, there's always a need to force yourself to submit to the learning curve and set reachable goals.

Kyle Smith · Answer

@Brian Ellis thanks! Then I ask myself, what type of pain do I want? The pain of learning contractor skills? Or the pain of learning to hire and manage contractors? hmm..

Kyle Smith · Answer

@Dutch Langley great reply Dutch! I'm of your mindset as well - run the business of real estate (hiring the contractor and manage them) rather than do it yourself. But we're young once with limited capital and lots of energy, so learning the skills will still ROI overtime. Appreciate you!

Kyle Smith · Answer

@Jim K. thanks for the reply! Indeed just dig in lad and get it done.

The question becomes should I spend the time to learn the skill myself or should I hire a contractor like you to do it? Which implies I understand the value of my time and how best to use it.

Kyle Smith · Answer

@David Robertson thanks for your reply! My apologies on the late response I'm forcing myself to engage more on the BP site. I see you're in Kansas City, nice! I've looked at the market fundamentals and have begun analyzing deals in this market, my money can buy MANY more here than my local NoCo market.

Dutch Langley · Answer

I tackled my first renovation in 1986...no you tube then.  Would ask people how to do something, try it, screw it up, try it again...rinse repeat...until I got it right.  Now with technology, there is so much info to at least show you visually how to do something.  Fair warning...seeing it is not the same as doing it.  Lots of investment in tools and materials.  Now many years later I still know how to do it, but I prefer to pay someone else to, but at least I know now if they are doing it correctly or not.

David Robertson · Answer

You don't need to amass all of your renovation skills at once, but you will learn your skills over time.

There are three things you need to successfully renovate houses:

• Knowledge - Basic knowledge and understanding of construction means and methods.
• Skill/Ability - Physical skill and ability to put your knowledge into practice.
• Tools - Tools that help you perform certain trades/tasks & repairs more efficiently.

Knowledge

I would say YouTube is going to be the most valuable resource to look up 'How To' videos and learn about renovating houses.

Home Depot sometimes has workshops on the weekend where you can learn how to tile and do other projects, which might be worth checking out as well.

Skill/Ability

Once you have a basic knowledge and understanding of 'How', you can put your learned skills to the test.

Nothing beats real life experience & working on your own duplex will be the best way to learn.

You can't expect to just pick up a hammer and be Bob Villa overnight.  Skill, ability and craftsmanship is learned over time just like with sports or playing the piano.

Tools

Half the battle is having the right tool for the job.  The other half is knowing how to use the tool.  Over time and as you work on certain projects you will need to acquire certain tools to help you perform certain repairs. (hammer, drill, miter saw, tile saw, sawzall, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc etc).

Best Strategy To Improve Renovation Skills?

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