- BiggerPockets Community Manager
- Colorado Springs, CO
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Which renovation project is the worst to DIY?
We’ve all been lost in a Home Depot before, even though we hate to admit it! When wandering around, who else has thought they can be the best Home “do it yourself” Renovator?
Home DIY projects seem to be a complete home run for your investment if done carefully, but can also be a complete disaster if not done correctly.
What has been the hardest/worst DIY project in your Real Estate Investing career?
What project has scared you the most that you need more information on?
all kind of depends on your experience and skill sets.
The right person can make a workmanlike job out of many things.
The wrong person will make a ouch looking job out of many things.
It seems to be to be person specific.
I have seen tile set so beautifully anyone wold be proud to own it, and have seen some atrocious work (by pros who used 1st timer subs unsupervised).
I think it is the person that makes the "Craft" of the project.
The ADU or addition. Unless you are a licensed GC, this is takes a lot of knowledge and base skills that are built over years in the trade to make this build happen. Not only do you have to go to the city with drawings of what you plan to build, you also have to make corrections to the most up to date building codes. These items are of course public knowledge on the building codes and what the standard should be, but to follow that along with creating a structure/addition that will flow properly and functioning.
The next challenge is to be able to a remodel and manage that on when to do what is a little difficult, imagine making sure the foundation to the framing is right before going interior including all the utilities. This is very tough to manage and do it right.
I would have to go with a kitchen remodel. With open concept becoming the standard. Moving electrical, plumbing and load bearing walls requires a good deal of knowledge. Budgeting becomes paramount in this arena and surprises are always around the corner.
#3 Investor Mindset Contributor
- Handyman
- Pittsburgh, PA
Huh. Well, part of this very much depends on what sort of residential construction you're working with. If you're working in Pittsburgh, building a multiroom addition to an existing brick-veneer home built in, say, 1916, is far and away the most difficult. It's not even close.
Of the rest, not botching the finishing of a basement (again, in something like a 1916 brick-veneer Pittsburgh home) is not at all easy.
A tub-to-standing-shower conversion in a bathroom remodel is probably third on that list.
You don't have it listed, but drywall. Personally, all other things are fairly straight forward, but drywall is such an art to do well, and so messy when done like me: overmud, sand it all off, overmud again, sand it all off... repeat until you have a house full of dust and a barely passable finish on the walls.
Anything with the exterior in my opinion. Mainly because of all the extra work you have to do to keep an eye on weather and tarp etc. As long as you have utilities on, you can do a bathroom/kitchen remodel any time of year but the exterior...not my favorite lol
@Noah Bacon This one is easy for me: NONE OF THEM! Although I am not totally un-handy, I learned long ago that unless I find it therapeutic, to stay away from getting involved on the projects. I try to focus on the parts that I enjoy (hunting for the right deal, negotiating, managing, sales, etc.) I try to let the experts do what they do best and I conduct the orchestra.