From fixer upper to cosy home – 10 practical tips

Fixer upper to cosy home, or better, how to purchase an old, inexpensive, run-down house and turn it into a gorgeous property everybody loves.

It doesn’t matter if you are planning to purchase a fixer upper to turn it into a home for yourself or if you are planning to make some money in the resale afterwards – you will definitely benefit from the following tips to get you through this challenging mission.

Fixer Upper to Cosy Home

The idea is simple, you buy an old building in need of repairs for a great price and a few buckets of paint later it has become a dream home. There are so many tv shows out there where exactly that happens. Of course, it all looks so easy. In reality it is not as simple as it looks. To turn your renovation project into a success lets look at a few areas that need to be considered.

1 Buying the right house

It all starts with picking the right building to start with. The biggest or cheapest real estate is not necessarily the best choice. You have to consider several factors here, especially if you are thinking to sell it after you’re done with it. What are the prices in this location for a home in a good condition? How much will the renovation cost? Is there a lot of demand for houses in this location with this size? To answer these questions, you might need to make a bit of an investigation and talk to a few people. After making all your maths you will see beforehand if it is actually worth it to jump into this venture.

Getting the right project for YOU is the key here. A house that fits in your budget and skills. This is not only the first but the most important decision you need to do.

2 Getting professional help

Unless you are a professional yourself it is always worth it to have some expert by your side to help or to guide you. If you don’t want to get a contractor for the whole job to save some money, you might be able to use him just for some stuff that you find more difficult. This will take some pressure out of you and you can be sure it’ll be a job well done. While you leave those difficult parts to someone else you can concentrate more in the other things that need doing. One thing is for sure, there is always more to do!

A lot of renovation works are not that complicated. It is amazing how quickly one can learn the basics by watching some YouTube tutorials.

3 Planning and Research

With careful planning and some research, you can guide your project in the right direction. This is of course, if you like to make changes to the layout of the house. Best would be to consult with a realtor to see what the clients usually like or dislike. Find out what they have on their wish list and think about a wow-factor you can add to your home. This can make a huge difference in the end.

Just as an example. If your project is in a hot climate, homebuyers might really love to have a pool in their backyard. If you are able to add one for, let’s say 10,000, but in the end, it will make your real estate be worth 20,000 more because of that, it’s totally worth it.

4 Get your hands dirty

You can save a lot of cash if you are working on your own house. There are so many things that are easy enough to do, even if you are not a handy person.

If you belong to this rare specie that can’t even put a nail in the wall, still there are many things you can do. For example, there is always cleaning up to do and often workers can tell you how you can prepare some works for them. This will make their jobs easier and as a result save you some money.

5 Shop around

When it comes to using the right materials for your renovation project it is always worth to shop around for special offers or to find out if the DIY shop offers discounts if you buy a certain amount.

6 Don’t hide – be open about your plans

Keeping an open communication with the neighbours and passers-by is a great way to find a buyer or tenant. Don’t underestimate the power of the word of mouth.

A construction project usually triggers a lot of interest with the neighbours. They all like to know what’s happening and who is going to move there. They might just know the right person who wants to live in your house once its finished.

7 Decorate wisely

When it comes to choose the right colours and decoration it is always good to get a few opinions. Especial value those of people who are usually dealing a lot with home buyers and tenants. Often it is a good choice to keep it simple/neutral and just set a few highlights.

8 Set a budget

When it comes to your budget, be realistic. Doing your maths is one of the biggest challenges and nearly impossible to get it 100% right. Therefore, don’t plan to spend your last penny, always keep a buffer for unexpected costs.

9 Time

When it comes to time, I never met anyone who could stick to a certain time frame when doing his own renovations – except in tv shows. I believe usually time is estimated very optimistic. Therefore, don’t be disappointed if you can’t finish in a certain time frame. Depending on the scale of you project it is always good to give a few days or weeks extra in case something takes more time than expected.

10 Stay positive

Yes, sometimes a positive attitude can make all the difference. Keeping your spirits up can give you the motivation you need to get the job done: turning your fixer upper into a cosy home.

How My House Project Helped Me to Escape the COVID Insanity

While social distancing is strongly encouraged—and you should stay home if you can—you have the time of your life. Or haven’t you?

Articles about how wonderful this time at home is, are popping up like mushrooms in autumn. You hear how you can find new passions and hobbies like painting, reading, baking, cooking etc. It all sounds really lovely, just like great holidays at home. How cool is that!

Expectation vs Reality

Reality sometimes paints a very different picture. While others become master chefs, you might not even have any appetite. Or while others are proud how they have parties in zoom with family and friends you may just wish to be left alone finding this peace you so desperately long for. Seeing all this happy people at home made me wonder, why is it so damn hard for me?

Although I would generally consider myself mentally healthy with a stable family life, I found the new situation very challenging. This was for many different reasons. And that’s it really. Everybody of us is different and copes with this new situation during COVID in a different way.

Keep Yourself Busy with the Right Thing for YOU

One factor for me was that I had not much to do at home where I could really find my inner peace. Being at home with all the family all the time can get on your nerves a little, especially if you weren’t used to it. This is even worst if you have no space to escape to. For example, if you have just one bedroom—of course shared with your spouse—that functions also as office for both of you.

What saved me was something I noticed even before the COVID. It has to do with retired men in my region who worked in construction. Strangely enough, after they retired, they keep seeking work for themselves. They even offer their services at a very low price. I could never understand why—after a life of hard labour—you still want to work more. But now I do.

I have a thing in common with those retired men. I love to work and I always enjoyed working with my hands. Working in construction gives me the feeling that I create something lasting. Also, physical activity is proven to be very beneficial for your mental health.

Physical Activity Is Good for Your Mental Health

When you hear “Physical Activity” the first thing that comes to mind is doing some sport—working out in a gym. But working in construction gives a fair amount of exercise too. Fact is, working hard makes me happy. This gave me an idea. 

My House Project

Fortunately, I live in an area with a number of uninhabited run-down houses in the neighbourhood. Therefore, it was easy to find a cheap house for sale. I was able to buy one for me that I can renovate now in my own time, all by myself. Not only is this incredible rewarding but I can also go there whenever I need some alone time. It has given me a completely new feeling of freedom—something I lost during the COVID.

My house project also helped me to learn lots of new things. Before doing something fresh in the house I always watch some “How to” movies on YouTube. It’s incredible how creative people are. This is definitely contagious.

Not Only a Personal Achievement

My House Project hasn’t gone unnoticed in the neighbourhood. I got a lot of positive feedback from the neighbours. As much as my house project has benefited me personally in this critical time, I’m still looking forward to profit from it financially. Once finished I’m sure I can sell it for a good price.

Looking for your own House Project? Find it on www.all-real-estate.com

Images: (1) Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay (2) Image by 272447 from Pixabay