New theory about home ownership

[PurpleFloyd]

I can't imagine not being able to do it yourself and what the costs would be to hire everything out. The more you can do for yourself the better your return on invetment.

I'm fortunate my dad taught me this. He was a carpenter his whole life and I got into cabinetmaking as my career choice. Five years ago I built my own house. The only things I subbed out was the concrete, plumbing, electrical,hvac and the taping of the drywall. People said I was nuts for building when the housing market was in the tank but this timing allowed me to sub out the needed work at a lesser cost because the subs were hungry and fighting to get any work. Myself, my dad and some very helpful family and friends did all of the rest of the work ourselves. We did everything from the framing to insulating, roofing, drywall, painting, cabinetry, landscaping, and even my paver sidewalks. This did come at some expense as this was my life for a year and a half. Nights and weekends were spent working on nothing but the house. The return on investment is huge though. While many houses were either forclosing or upside down on their mortgage I can sell anytime for a healthy profit. In a day when young people stay away from getting into the building trades as a career choice and favoring sitting behind a computer it's too bad because I know people that can barley get a ladder out to change a lightbulb. Bottom line is as stated previously you can dramatically lower the cost of home ownership by doing things yourself. The internet is a great tool for this. Example is 10 years ago I would have hired an apliance repair guy to replace the seal on my front load washer. I can now easily find the parts and videos on the internet (I know because I did this last week) that allow me to do the repair myself thus reducing the "cost of home ownership".

Welcome to the brotherhood.

[hanson]

I've been a new home owner for about 4 years now. Bought a foreclosure that needed some work and upgrading and have been picking off the jobs 1 at a time. House is really starting to look good now!

I had helped my dad out with odds and ends growing up but never really did the skilled work myself like plumbing, pipe sweating, electrical, etc. I've been learning as I go and taking my time. Sure I make mistakes and jobs take 2-3 times longer than hiring it out by its really satisfying to know I did it, not to mention the money saved to get that result.

Biggest job I've done is a full kitchen remodel. I totaly gutted the kitchen down to the subfloor. All the kitchen cabinets were stripped, sanded, and refinished. Added new countertops. Plumbed and wired for a new dishwasher I still have to buy. Added a Microwave/Range Hood (wiring and venting myself). I still have to install the flooring which will happen soon. Going to put in-floor electric heat in the kitchen and then slate over that. It will be sweet! Problem with this project was I did all my cooking on a camp stove and the grille for 3 months and dish washing in the bathroom sink. LOL! Sacrifices you have to make.

I've gotten pretty good and refinishing things, electrical work (adding outlets, switches, lights, etc), plumbing (sinks, undersink plumbing, pipe sweating, etc), hanging drywall and taping.

Few upcoming jobs are adding recessed can light fixturs to my living room, a bathroom exhaust fan, and finishing the kitchen floor.

Longer term projects are installing egress windows in the basement and totally finishing the basement off. I think I can accomplish all of these things. I do work for a general contractor (although I'm a designer) so it helps to have access to special tools - gas powered concrete saw, hammer drills, tile saw, etc... And have relationships with subcontractors that I can talk into doing side jobs for me.

My advice is do your research (books, internet, etc), plan it out on paper, do a materials list and price the job out. Once you have your game plan, just jump right in. It also helps to have the right tools for the job, acquiring them is just part of the cost of doing business IMO. New job = buying new tools! LOL! I just bought a Makita drywall cutout tool this week, how did I ever live without this thing! LOL!

[SkunkedAgain]

When I was 16 and driving in my first snow, I slid off the road and blew a tire. I got my car into the driveway and my dad called AAA to put on the spare.

Fast forward to last Tuesday. My 70-ish year old parents were driving to NC when they got a flat. They waited 80 minutes somewhere in Indiana for AAA. The spare then kept sending signals that the tire pressure was low. They kept stopping to put in air. Finally figured that it had enough. I eventually realized that the spare wasn't sending a "signal" so the low pressure light was automatically on. They never actually checked the tire pressure, just kept seeing the light and adding air.

After I moved out of the home, I ran into all kinds of friends that knew how to work on cars, houses, etc. I was a sponge. I offered to help anybody and everybody that had a project: brake repairs, carb rebuilds, replace a roof, install a new toilet, etc.... After all these years I can do these things and more, but because I was willing to learn. We don't all have dads that can teach you the basics. We just have to be willing and interested in learning and figuring it out ourselves.

Some people do, some people don't.