I just wanted to pop in here and say my husband and I have renovated our entire house from your videos, and we cannot express enough how helpful you have been. It's been a long year of reno, and we still have about 2-3 months of work left, but we couldnt have done it without you! Thank you for this channel and for investing your time to help others!
Do you have videos of your Reno? Been studying his videos to get ideas for our kitchen and bathroom would be nice to see someone else go through the process
This is so encouraging to hear! Our offer was just accepted on a home and we're planning many projects. So excited to dive into this channel to learn and make it our dream home!
0:00 #1 You don't know your home - Live in it first! 4:08 #2 Don't renovate everything at once! 7:10 #3 Stop making changes along the way. 7:55 #4 Homeowners don't hire designers 9:35 #5 Everybody is exicited about the kitchen and bathroom 12:35 #6 Buying cheap materials 14:12 #7 Buying exepnsive doors and windows 16:56 #8 Not doing rough-in work (details) properly 19:18 #9 Buying retail 23:00 #10 Trying to reinvent existing systems/solutions
I'm just a casual watcher, but if anyone is serious about renovating I think this guy knows his stuff. Seems like no BS honest information. Good job mate
He is - as an Investor/landlord I have learned a lot from Jeff. And if anyone wants to donate to his cause to keep the cameras on, please do. In fact cancel HGTV and subscribe to Home Renovision.
The best part of this channel is it deals with real life realities. Its not like the HGTV and DIYTV BS shows that they spend 50k on a tiny kitchen with fake crisis's.
For those looking for timestamps here are the top 9 mistakes. Yeah, I only counted 9. I think Jeff missed one! Oh well, he has claimed to be not the most organized person! All in all, still love the content. 0:55 You don't know your home. Live in your house for one full year before tackling a project. 4:03 Tackling the whole house all at once. 7:08 Making changes and not sticking to a plan . 9:32 Not doing the outside first . 12:32 Buying cheap materials. 14:11 Buying into the salesman's jargon (e.g. unnecessarily expensive doors and windows) . 16:54 Not having your appliance and fixture specs first. 19:17 Buying retail (box stores). 22:51 Being an inventor and reinventing the wheel.
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY "see the end from the beginning" .... you can sell an idea and have the experience to make it a reality. you do a great job and wacky enough to make it interesting. thanks man always
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY Thanks Jeff. I'm in the beginning stages of doing a basement renovation. While I don't plan on hiring a designer, I'm watching dozens of youtube videos to get great knowledge on both proper technique and design ideas. Actually, I'm compiling two separate playlists for both categories. What I like from your videos is that I can gather both proper technique and design ideas from both your teaching skills and seeing your finished product for design ideas. I have to admit, most of the videos I'm watching are being sourced from Canadians! I don't know what it is up there in the Great White North but you all are doing a great service for those of us getting into the DIY game. Keep doing what you're doing! Stay on youtube! It's the best medium for teachers like you and students like us! I can go on with much more effusive praise, but already this comment is getting a bit long, so I'll just leave it at that. Perhaps I'll add more in future comments. With that said, I'll just conclude with a heartfelt thank you.
Home RenoVision DIY if you can't afford a designer, and if you happen to be able to envisage the finished product, you still do need to go through the design process as if you were consulting a designer.
Every tip here is pure gold. Been there, done that. The only time I invented things was when we finished an off-grid boat-access cabin. Otherwise I read all the literature, manuals, and watch Jeff’s videos. Thank you!
2 weeks until closing. All of my plans just changed. Thank you ottawa dude for saving the hell I was about to face with my ADD and diy background. I was about to go after the kitchen first thing. Now I'll wait
I bought a house three days ago & have already watched over ten hours of content, can't wait to take your knowledge to my home. Don't worry, I got the laser level 😎💥💯
I can’t thank this man enough for ALL of huge information and knowledge in his videos and his straight up genuine personality. THANK YOU JEFF, you have taught me soool much!!!
Jeff and crew, I am no stranger to DYI however I found myself with a project I had never done. Upstairs shower leaking to downstairs kitchen. I found your channel by accident and when I heard the Canadian accent I was hooked. I live in NE Ohio USA and the weather plays a big part in any renovation. You had great advice, both time consuming and monetary. I wanted to thank you for sharing your experience and give a shout out to your son who made the comment (at the same time as me watching your video) "Now show them how to do it without 35 years experience".
Jeff you will never know how much I appreciate your DIY advice. I consider you an absolute genius in DIY I believe if you write a book on DIY it will be a best-seller. You take so much pride in your work and so positive and upbeat and passionate about what you do. You deserve to be a massive success. You have helped so many people. I will be the first to buy your book. God Bless your good work Kind Regards Kathleen
I absolutely love this guy. Getting ready to gut and remo our master bath in a home built in 1896 and Jeff’s content is absolute gold! I actually created a spreadsheet for all of my material costs and a step by step plan. I’m handy and have done a lot of work already but this is big diy project. Very thankful for your content, Jeff!
I love your comment: “so we don’t die” Thank you for making this channel. It not only helps the DIYers but also those who want to know what contractors do to make sure they do the right thing during a renovation.
So I needed to hear this message 9 mos ago. 🤦🏼♀️ I planned and kept to it - but my electrical panel died with the hurricane and didn’t leave myself a contingency plan because all the materials were prebought. Ugh Now I can’t paint the house til next year. And I was so nervous about electric I called in an electrician. I love love love this channel. Thank you for your wisdom. Cheers.
This video must be seen first.Jeff by the grace of God you have become a leader in DIY world. The best part is to live in then try outside then do it in sections. I have done in a span of 10 years… it’s fun and good learning. Involve your family especially kids if they are big enough otherwise let them watch… it’s good. Bless you 🙏
I'm cheap, I don't sign up for these kind of video developers, but I'm seriously considering becoming a member of yours. That is the best compliment I have ever given. You should be proud.!!!
Putting it out there that I am handy and quick to learn...and had never painted a room. Jeff's vids had me walking into hardware asking about hawks because I'm not putting lipstick on a pig. I walked into a paint store with specific questions and could make educated decisions quickly and with confidence based on knowledge I've gotten from his vids. THANK YOU.
We are on our 3rd home and live in them while we renovate. You hit the nail on the head with every point. Have a plan, do one room at a time (finish the work before you move on) prepare, and execute. Thanks for all your help along the way!
I am so glad how you started this video. Nothing frustrates a worker more than a new homeowner pissing 50 grand away in the interior when they have a lot of exterior problems. Good call on waiting a year or too before major renos.
I'd just like to take a moment to say thank you Jeff for all that you teach on this channel. Without your help I'd never be able to do the things I've already done to my house.
Hi Jeff, By the grace of God the only thing that this pandemic has disrupted is my social life. I still have my job, and I'm continuing to renovate my house. I have seen that some things I've wanted are on back order, but I just get on the notify me when it's in list and then work around it. I've been in my house for 3 years and I'm on the last two rooms (bathrooms). Your videos are so helpful and I love that you put a little humor in them. Most of the DIY videos are so dry but yours keep my attention. Kudos!
Well done Erica. We just sold our farmhouse and will be posting a video about all the costs and how much we sold it for this weekend. Happy new year , I hope it encourages you!
I was a condo owner for 15 years. But just bought an old brick house in chicago. So much work to do. At first I wanted to gut the whole thing, but then started living in it. So now backed off and doing one room at a time. Goal is to finish first floor, before moving outside. Next the garage. Then to the basement. Then to the second floor. Getting quotes for windows, adding AC, gutters, and so on. Watching you everyday now. thanks for the content
My wife and I moved to a different state and bought a house built in 1947. I scheduled a 30yd dumpster to show up day one when we got keys. With moving across country we show the listing and the house on the day of inspection. We have leaved in the house for a little over a year now but in the first 4 months we completely gutted the basement, re-wired and insulated it. Also major reno of the large garage and completely replaced the heating and cooling units. After about 6 months we slowed down. If there are things that need to be done and you know what you are doing, it’s not bad to jump in.
I was so glad to finally hear ya say "get to know your home!" I bought a very old fixer-upper almost three years ago and I've been making a list ever since! The plan has evolved and changed and I'm finally ready to start with the roof this spring and work my way down. Love the channel Jeff! Al from Cape Breton
Just wanted to say that your awesome. I am currently renovating a commercial space and some of your contractor tips have saved so much time and have prevented the use of Tylenol in many situations I got myself in.
I was one of those " gut it all" people. granted my home is a trailer. I was not living in it during the renovation so it was ok. But I am on a time table too. But as I started the kitchen I realized I was not ready for that kind of renovation yet. So I pulled back and did what you recommended. Make sure there are no leaks, no air ( good luck with a trailer from 1982") and no bugs. I took an extra week going back over my work in repair of my window seals and the roof and gutters, etc. I am glad I did. Had I replaced the inside water damage right away. I would have missed leaks I over looked that would have ruined all my work probably within the year. Working Outside top down, inside top down ( unless you have foundation issues) is a good way to make sure you do not miss something along the way. Love your episodes. Editing out the interruptions I think is a great idea.
Pamela Molina 110% agree with this. Your house magically looks larger and less old if it is clean and not cluttered. We went to view a house with our exact same floor plan. The owner was somewhat of a hoarder. The house was clean but every single room looked smaller than our house.
Wonderful advice...especially No1. We just purchased our home and even though there is a lot to change, we committed to 1yr to see how it is living in the house first. Thank you for all your great videos.
Mistake no 11...... thinking you can do the same renovating at 60 years old that you did at 30. 😬 And at some point you are going to be renovating to add value to your quality of life instead of your house, because this is probably your last house.
That’s exactly what we decided to do rather than downsize. We’re making our dream place after 37 years of living here and raising a family. 10, 15 years from now, heck we’ll have enjoyed it. Starting one room at a time as Jeff suggests, taking it easy too.
@@brykit1972 A lot of elderly are getting waterproof laminate all over their house and installing wall hoses throughout their home. At any given point, they can stop what they're doing and hose themselves down. With the built-in drain system that goes under the furnature, it makes elderly washing a breeze
Jeff, your videos gave me the knowledge and confidence to proceed with my bathroom renovation. However, by no means was I an expert, and I learned painful lessons along the way. My biggest mistake was one you mentioned: I didn't have everything planned out in advance, and didn't have everything purchased and decided on. For example, my new shower: I had to cut into the back side of one of my shower walls to add blocking to hang my heavy glass shower door! Then patched up the drywall, which took time. I didn't have a clear vision for some other parts of the bathroom which ended up requiring me to redo some work I'd done. Everyone else, LISTEN TO THESE TIPS! They will save you a lot of time, effort, and grief!!
I'm working on my second renovation. Im fairly handy and had friends who were plumbers and electricians to guide me. So true, know your house. I was fortunate with my first home, tons of remodeling, gutting and rewire. I was able to flip it 6 years later... when I had it as good as I wanted it lol for double what I paid and put into it. Totally agree stick to your plan and don't deviate. My current home (renovation in progress) was gutted 75 percent by me. I sit for a few hours in an area sipping some wine seeing how it should function. No complaints getting to know the house. I did prematurely take out the bathroom vanity.... take time on deciding the gut. Great video.
I've got a house that my wife likes (the area it is in actually) so I had to Reno the entire thing. Scrapped it all out and left only foundation, framing, stucco (partially), roof and entry door with garage doors. The rest had to be gone. Glad the house is for parents and we have place to live. 9 month passed. All my weekends in there. Have left kitchen and bathrooms. Minor thingies :D. Thanks for making these amazing tutorials. God bless you.
lived in my house for 9 years before i even had the money to totally gut it. in those 9 years i have slowly restored the outside and garden. Now gutting the house has advantages. Like totally renew plumbing and electricals w/o obstacles :) floor heating etc.. But yes these tips are all true andd i learned even with some good prep the hard way!
I have redone multiple rooms in my house and currently doing my kitchen. My biggest failure is the amount of time and the total cost. I always get those wrong buy multiples. Cost is generally x2 and time is generally x10 😪
Stay on same plan! My dads bathroom was a key example of this every 5 steps he changed his mind and didn't have all the material to start with either. Its been a massive mess and so many issues. Your channel has help me stay sane on it.
I subscribed a while ago.... I’m a transplant patient and was on dialysis when we bought the house that was livable but needed work. It’s 6 years later and we’ve refinished floors and done a kitchen. Yes we hired someone to plan the kitchen and install cabinets. We did tear out back to studs and brought up to code. Three years in we had 4 storms in 4 weeks and lost 7 trees in last storm and took out a fence and shed..... their went that summer. Started a bath this winter and boom..... virus. Flooring, shower base, doors, fixtures, flooring toilet....purchased. Still need to shop for tile and we’ll I don’t go anywhere...lol. Thank god it’s a two bath!
I really enjoyed all the information. Especially, since I renovated my 1976 two story house (2900 sq ft.). It took almost a year by myself after work and on weekends. As you stated, I started room by room and finished all projects and when I placed house for sale end of January 2020 it sold by valentines day. I had watched several of your videos to complete all renovations and as first time DIY it worked out great. It felt like going to school but it was worth it to watch. Great videos and information!
i am so glad i discovered you your like the Gordan Ramsey of home repair. I am about to buy my first house and you have given me so much more confidence to work on it. coincidentally its from 1880 just like yours.
As the one doing all the work (lol) I am glad to hear backup on the "one room at a time" rule. I finished a basement apartment off right after we bought the house and am so burnt out from it. My wife wants to do everything now of course, but I'm ready for a break haha.
Your first point is spot on, situations change. Two years ago we were redoing a house we had bought. Mostly cosmetic, fixing the plaster and repainting the walls after removing the wallpaper that was falling down in every room of the house. But we were in the middle of renovating the 1969 kitchen (complete with cabinets made of paneling), and laundry room that was stripped to the studs. Total gut. Just me and the wife. And I got pneumonia. Slowed me way down for 4 months then put me in the hospital for 2 weeks and out of work for another 6 weeks. So, we had a gutted kitchen/laundry, with all the appliances, cabinets, and counters sitting in the front room. Negative cash flow (no work and bills for 2 homes). And the contractor (me) on medical leave. Took us 6 months longer than planned, and I ended up taking a loan against my 401k to finish everything so we could move in before winter. Thankfully, we were still living in our old house and not trying to live in the one being renovated. Several items on our want list got pushed back but I was really glad we hadn't already spent the money for them. Still have a few things from that list that still need done when more money becomes available.
This is why everyone needs disability & critical illness insurance. Imagine how much different that experience would have been if all you had to do was rest and delay the work, not worry about how to pay the bills.
Outstanding advice. Catch 22. Working in oil industry, WORKING, but have been stuck out of the states for 7 months now. Doing better but planning a major renovation on master bathroom.
Ok. I’m not even through this yet and I have to show my support. I have watched a lot of your videos. And their great. Now, add the level of contained frustration you feel for these mistakes, the tape bandaid, the beer you had to move and then drank and I gotta say, I love this channel...keep it up!
Another piece of advice piggy backing off of your first tip: If you're new to a house and planning to reno a finished basement, gut it and leave it for a year. Different seasons bring on different water penetration issues. It's a heck of a lot easier to fix basement water penetration issues when everything's opened up.
We're doing exactly this right now. The basement finish was 40 years old and moldy. Gutted it and had cracks injection sealed. It's 90% better, but heavy rains still find their way in in a couple spots. I'm not finishing the space until I trust it.
I got layed off due to covid 3 months ago, just after I finished plans for my kitchen reno. Perfect timing for me to renovate, especially since the wife still works!
These videos are awesome and great info. Is there one for landlords? I own a two family I live in one unit and rent the other. It was a fixer upper. I did the kitchen and flooring painted etc for the rental. Now I have to fix my unit out so I can move on to another home. Any video on this concept for buying and renting a house/apartments? Thanks for sharing all your knowledge!
I started a master bath remodel right before all this craziness started. Luckily I am still working and we had already refi’d so we already had the funds set aside. Also, I phased the bathroom as I did just the shower then demo’d the rest. So far so good for my first bathroom. You’re videos have been a huge help, thank you.
I appreciate all the tips you give!! Excellent work. Now PLEASE protect yourself from drywall dust and MDF dust. Both are lethal after enough exposure.
Jeff. With your videos, I think I'm gonna do a lot my self, like demolition, basic plumbing, flooring, and will hire someone to do electrical, drainage and help me frame. We renovated through the pandemic and some things took a long time to wait. We made sure we have the money first before starting
thanks a ton! and cheers! just starting super small in my free time with changing my bedroom from old carpet to some sort of floating floor cause of pets and everything is already good. especialy just taking tyhings slow for my self really makes sense
The gut the house huge project renovation is ok if you are not living in it. I did that but made the mistake of not having a reasonable time table. I allowed 6 months when I should have been expecting a full year of doing it myself. Thanks Jeff. Great video, great advice.
know your home - i've spent like a year knowing and understanding how everything is built in the fixerupper i bought and live in. the first time u do it it'll take a lot of effort but oh so very enriching.
to add, an architect once told me you have to know how you want to live in a house before redoing it. it really stayed with me. just like you say, it'll affect how you renovate it. you could over do it with bells and whistles ull never use or make errors that make everyday life bothersome if you don't take the time to figure out how life flows in the house. great video :)
Great tips. When I bought my house I redid the spare bedroom and didn't realize the roof leaks when it pours.. ha. Good times. Another good point I really want to redo my kitchen floor cause it looks bad. Almost tore it all up then realized for as busy as I am in the shop it will stay looking bad till I had time to finish it and save for materials. Kinda learned my lesson when I did my cupboards after looking at them stripped down almost a year. Love your channel Jeff. Always learning!
Great advice. The wife and I bought a home about a month ago and just finished the upstairs renovation and ... man.. I did not realize how hard it can be. Renovating is certainly an art. Good thing I'm handy...... Thanks for all the quality videos. A++
One key point mentioned was to live in the home for at least a year prior to doing any major renovations. So damn true. Not that I knew, but due to our finances we didn’t do any changes (for the exception of painting before moving in) for at least 2 years or when something failed. Sun exposure? Very important. How sunny/shady are the outdoor areas in all seasons? Can an area be more useable? Can we eliminate a muddy area with a deck or pavers? Type of plants? So true about fixing structural issues too. Do these first! If they come up later, fix them ASAP! Very true about the prices at big box stores.
Thanks for this video. I'm a first-time homeowner who is hopefully closing in a few weeks. Though there are some overall changes I would make, I have long decided to wait a bit and see if it is sound to do so. There may be a reason why the flow of the home is that way. I do plan on taking the wallpaper down and pulling up the carpet in the LR but those are cosmetic changes and hope doesn't unveil something terrible. Eventually, the kitchen as to be redone but it is livable and not needed right now, etc. LR wallpaper and carpet need to go and the 2nd thing my focus will be is reworking the garden area and perhaps placing a seating area with firepit. So I'm on board with ya.
""It's why we own a home. So we don't die." Preach it, brother. Speaking some unspoken truths there. That was a laugh-out-loud moment. I was definitely outside helping my dad scrape paint before I was learning to do drywall.
That was me Jajajaj, I try to do all at ones, kitchen, stairs-case, floors with tile and many things, took me allot of time, I learned from my mistakes, thanks for the heads up, great tips, may the LORD JESUS CHRIST bless you and family 🙏🏻
I’m about to replace carpet to a floating floor on the 2nd floor of my house. We’re talking 2k sq feet. I will do one room at a time and buy what I need as I go. thanks for the videos
We just bought a condo few months back (couldn't beat the rates!) and I'm glad we broke into real estate with something more manageable. I have helped friends on all facets of remodeling over the years who got into some bigger houses and I never realized the amount of work required to remodel as DIY'er. Fortunately we have rented for 3 years prior to buying so I'm familiar with the ins and outs and seasonal changes like you mentioned. Found your channel when I was getting fed up prepping and painting walls. Thanks to you I'm cutting in like a boss haha and that pole sander is a goddamn life saver! Just spent the last 2 hours watching videos (subscribed) and just wanted to show some love and and respect from the state of Massachusetts. Solid delivery with a common sense approach. Keep the content coming. I can't wait to wake up tomorrow and get back at it. Cheers mate!
Brilliant advice here, one room at a time is key, don’t right off the whole house with DIY projects! Also very important to know your own skill level and to don’t take on jobs that are way out of your own scope. I learned “the hard way” about 20 years ago with jobs and thankfully I can manage about 80% of jobs now with experience gained over the years. Love the channel and hello from Northern Ireland 👍
If you have ever worked on an older home (done many) then "usually" goes out of the window....and cannot wait for the shopping video. I have invested time and money at my local hardware firm and get some great deals. And the building code is a "minimum" standard. It stops your house falling down. However there are many engineering ideas and practices that cannot be applied due to the building codes.
Yes...this all makes so much sense but who said we have that when it comes to buying a new home...there,s a cloudy moment when one is just happy to have a new home....taken from my own experience 3 times, and i made many mistakes so i appreciate your video lessons and knowledge...
I appreciate your list. We just bought a 1940 colonial. Our list has grown a lot in the past month. We just hired a company to replace all of the windows because it just didn't seem like a job we should be doing ourselves. I am very handy and feel comfortable with framing walls, hanging drywall, electrical and plumbing, but windows seemed like an area I shouldn't do. I feel like we are paying waaaay to much for them to do it, but I also knew that the only alternative was for me to do it myself and that was unlikely to happen. What you said about replacing them yourself makes sense, but when it comes keeping the outside out and the inside in, I felt it best to leave it to a professional and just accept the cost. That aside, everything else in this video I agree with and appreciate you reinforcing because I just want to "get it all done" now and then just live, but living in the house first makes sense. I am going to slow down!
Great video. Very good tip about being creative enough to visualize the final product. An expansion on that idea is to visualize your overall final product, then go into detail in your mind, the more you practice increasing levels of detail the better, strip layers away, get overlaps and material details right then build to your finished product again. Apparently, there are a good number of people out there that when they close their eyes, they only see the back of their eyelids and cannot actually visualize anything... That blows my mind.
We bought a 1963 farm house in 2018 and those older homes def have some quirks. Plus it has had an addition and other renovations from previous owners that half a$$ed most of the jobs. It really makes a difference living in the house and figuring out the flow. We're posting a video of our laundry room renovation next week.
Just wanted to add that big box stores also have the cheapest wire due to the sheer amount they buy for whomever needs wire. I used to work for one of those smaller electrical supply stores as a pricing analyst.
I'm a first time home buyer and eager to start projects on the house. I have to say, I'm glad I found this video and your channel. New subscriber for you sir.
I totally agree with the window point....had a bad experience with window guy...felt like I was buying a car...plus was quoted 32K for 16 windows (black outside, noise reduction, white inside).
Im renovating my childhood home which is reaching its 30 year age. I began in the master bedroom and im just learning things as i go, all the while watching! My small budget is $500 a month !
I’ve been watching your video’s for a while now. This could be your best to date. I retired a week ago at age 65. I plan to renovate our home that we’ve had for 10 years. I’ve learned a lot from you and will contiue to relay on your DIY advise through this process. Thank you so much for sharing and for your spot on advice. You are very much admired and appreciated by DIY’ers everywhere.
We bought our new house in Montreal. And we are moving in in December. The roof needs work but hey can't really work outside during the winter here. So even if the exterior is priority number one I will do the interior first during the winter time and I'll do the exterior during spring/summer. Depending on the location you have to work with the weather too...
My wife's uncle is like an encyclopedia for diy mechanics. Listening to you feels like that but for building. In Puerto Rico we'd call your teaching style "bruto-proof".
Amen about knowing the home before renovating. I got into it and found the floor joists were 4’ apart and a couple were broken. Replaced those and I lost a couple more. Nightmare! I was happy to dump it, break even and run!
Thanks for asking: I'm a first time home owner and... it's well. Still have our jobs, money is regular: but I wouldn't start a renovation of any sort unless it was fully funded by savings.
Research - so great! Living in my old home after 5 years there are issues that presented themselves that needed to be taken care of first - before any aesthetic 'fun stuff' 🙂
The biggest mental damage I had is when I just bought the house and I am making it look even worse by ripping it off trying to fix it. It's really deviating and discouraging. Day by day you just see that you didn't do it better. Will you be able to fix it after??? Your vids did help 1000%
We have ours planned for 5 phases. However, some phases depend on others. For example, the kitchen plumbing will require removing the basement ceiling drywall. The bath remodel does the same for another section of the basement. Oh well.
I am a contractor, and an authorized Gentek distributer. Good quality and great customer service if something does go wrong. I also absolutely hate those mesh backed tiles. I have, many times, considered selling "Brutus", my saw (I did not name it, ZEP the manufacturer did).
I am renovating an old home (1940) by myself. I found inside house renovation work is significantly easier than exterior work which involve concreate work, foundation, framing, climbing on roof etc and need more heavier equipment (like jack hammer). Inside house work can be done with hand tools and light power tools mostly and I do that first to build confidance to do the outside work.
Amazing advice that I wish I listened to and had before we did 2 rounds of renovations. Seriously - live in the house for a bit before you start gutting it. There was definitely money spent on things we never even see or use. And things we should have spent money on that we "skipped" and still bug me.
thanks for the tip about the stove and other appliances ! ( I confess , we do have Marvin integrity windows in most of the house - we put vinyl ones in a sun room and the basement but the marvin ones were installed by the contractor) 0
Just bought a house a month ago, and the whole house is currently under Reno. Smaller stuff like electrical, walls &floors, some plumbing. I wish I would have seen this before we got started, cause not only is it a lot of time and money upfront and but it’s also overwhelming. Definitely should have went one room at a time!
I’m happy that I’ve implicitly followed your advices even before watching this video:) I’ve started with the no-brainers, which are also easy to do as DIY: attic insulation and building a fence. I did those because it’s hard to do damage with them, worst case I have to redo. And I still did a ton of research for those (that’s how I got to this channel), and unintentionally found many materials about all kind of projects. So by now, I have a basic understanding of how a house look like. Now I have a confidence to do a deck. After that, I might know enough to do a kitchen, or remove a wall, which is more risky, as I can do damage with those.
@@honeybadgerisme I’m over it since, and that was the only step I didn’t even consider doing myself, as I knew it is load bearing. I still did as much myself as possible. Removed the old drywall, prepared the room, and then called the pro to install the beam which was only a day. And then I did all the finishing work again (drywall, painting). Anything which may result in an expensive failure (other than just redoing the job) goes to experts.
Been there done it! Which is why he says to work within your comfort zone. But by failing, you learn things. It will cost you! But mistakes learned are very valuable.
I just wanted to pop in here and say my husband and I have renovated our entire house from your videos, and we cannot express enough how helpful you have been. It's been a long year of reno, and we still have about 2-3 months of work left, but we couldnt have done it without you! Thank you for this channel and for investing your time to help others!
Create a UA-cam channel and showcase your journey if possible.
Do you have videos of your Reno? Been studying his videos to get ideas for our kitchen and bathroom would be nice to see someone else go through the process
@@kc9843 we don't :/ but everything did turn out nice!!!
@@harshadsonaje will do soon just got the dji om4 and the gopro hero 9. better to timelapse or step by step ?
This is so encouraging to hear! Our offer was just accepted on a home and we're planning many projects. So excited to dive into this channel to learn and make it our dream home!
0:00 #1 You don't know your home - Live in it first!
4:08 #2 Don't renovate everything at once!
7:10 #3 Stop making changes along the way.
7:55 #4 Homeowners don't hire designers
9:35 #5 Everybody is exicited about the kitchen and bathroom
12:35 #6 Buying cheap materials
14:12 #7 Buying exepnsive doors and windows
16:56 #8 Not doing rough-in work (details) properly
19:18 #9 Buying retail
23:00 #10 Trying to reinvent existing systems/solutions
It says exicited you may want to edit that! 😆
Thank you for the time stamps!!
I'm just a casual watcher, but if anyone is serious about renovating I think this guy knows his stuff. Seems like no BS honest information. Good job mate
Cheers to that!
He is - as an Investor/landlord I have learned a lot from Jeff. And if anyone wants to donate to his cause to keep the cameras on, please do. In fact cancel HGTV and subscribe to Home Renovision.
Just remember...WWJD.
What Would Jeff Do!
The best part of this channel is it deals with real life realities. Its not like the HGTV and DIYTV BS shows that they spend 50k on a tiny kitchen with fake crisis's.
For those looking for timestamps here are the top 9 mistakes. Yeah, I only counted 9. I think Jeff missed one! Oh well, he has claimed to be not the most organized person! All in all, still love the content.
0:55 You don't know your home. Live in your house for one full year before tackling a project.
4:03 Tackling the whole house all at once.
7:08 Making changes and not sticking to a plan
.
9:32 Not doing the outside first
.
12:32 Buying cheap materials.
14:11 Buying into the salesman's jargon (e.g. unnecessarily expensive doors and windows)
.
16:54 Not having your appliance and fixture specs first.
19:17 Buying retail (box stores).
22:51 Being an inventor and reinventing the wheel.
Missing: Not hiring a designer (It was between "Making changes ¬ doing the outside" from the live; did not looked at the edited version. )
number 10 was get a designer so you can see the end from the beginning.
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY "see the end from the beginning" .... you can sell an idea and have the experience to make it a reality. you do a great job and wacky enough to make it interesting. thanks man always
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY Thanks Jeff. I'm in the beginning stages of doing a basement renovation. While I don't plan on hiring a designer, I'm watching dozens of youtube videos to get great knowledge on both proper technique and design ideas. Actually, I'm compiling two separate playlists for both categories. What I like from your videos is that I can gather both proper technique and design ideas from both your teaching skills and seeing your finished product for design ideas. I have to admit, most of the videos I'm watching are being sourced from Canadians! I don't know what it is up there in the Great White North but you all are doing a great service for those of us getting into the DIY game. Keep doing what you're doing! Stay on youtube! It's the best medium for teachers like you and students like us! I can go on with much more effusive praise, but already this comment is getting a bit long, so I'll just leave it at that. Perhaps I'll add more in future comments. With that said, I'll just conclude with a heartfelt thank you.
Home RenoVision DIY if you can't afford a designer, and if you happen to be able to envisage the finished product, you still do need to go through the design process as if you were consulting a designer.
Every tip here is pure gold. Been there, done that. The only time I invented things was when we finished an off-grid boat-access cabin. Otherwise I read all the literature, manuals, and watch Jeff’s videos. Thank you!
2 weeks until closing. All of my plans just changed. Thank you ottawa dude for saving the hell I was about to face with my ADD and diy background. I was about to go after the kitchen first thing. Now I'll wait
I bought a house three days ago & have already watched over ten hours of content, can't wait to take your knowledge to my home. Don't worry, I got the laser level 😎💥💯
That is awesome! Cheers!
"I can't give everything away for free". Damn right! You deserve every penny. I can't believe how much value you provide for free!
I can’t thank this man enough for ALL of huge information and knowledge in his videos and his straight up genuine personality. THANK YOU JEFF, you have taught me soool much!!!
Jeff and crew, I am no stranger to DYI however I found myself with a project I had never done. Upstairs shower leaking to downstairs kitchen. I found your channel by accident and when I heard the Canadian accent I was hooked. I live in NE Ohio USA and the weather plays a big part in any renovation. You had great advice, both time consuming and monetary. I wanted to thank you for sharing your experience and give a shout out to your son who made the comment (at the same time as me watching your video) "Now show them how to do it without 35 years experience".
Jeff you will never know how much I appreciate your DIY advice. I consider you an absolute genius in DIY
I believe if you write a book on DIY it will be a best-seller. You take so much pride in your work and so positive and upbeat and passionate about what you do. You deserve to be a massive success. You have helped so many people. I will be the first to buy your book. God Bless your good work
Kind Regards
Kathleen
I absolutely love this guy. Getting ready to gut and remo our master bath in a home built in 1896 and Jeff’s content is absolute gold! I actually created a spreadsheet for all of my material costs and a step by step plan. I’m handy and have done a lot of work already but this is big diy project. Very thankful for your content, Jeff!
I love your comment: “so we don’t die” Thank you for making this channel. It not only helps the DIYers but also those who want to know what contractors do to make sure they do the right thing during a renovation.
So I needed to hear this message 9 mos ago. 🤦🏼♀️ I planned and kept to it - but my electrical panel died with the hurricane and didn’t leave myself a contingency plan because all the materials were prebought. Ugh Now I can’t paint the house til next year. And I was so nervous about electric I called in an electrician. I love love love this channel. Thank you for your wisdom. Cheers.
This video must be seen first.Jeff by the grace of God you have become a leader in DIY world. The best part is to live in then try outside then do it in sections. I have done in a span of 10 years… it’s fun and good learning. Involve your family especially kids if they are big enough otherwise let them watch… it’s good. Bless you 🙏
I'm cheap, I don't sign up for these kind of video developers, but I'm seriously considering becoming a member of yours. That is the best compliment I have ever given. You should be proud.!!!
Putting it out there that I am handy and quick to learn...and had never painted a room. Jeff's vids had me walking into hardware asking about hawks because I'm not putting lipstick on a pig. I walked into a paint store with specific questions and could make educated decisions quickly and with confidence based on knowledge I've gotten from his vids. THANK YOU.
We are on our 3rd home and live in them while we renovate. You hit the nail on the head with every point. Have a plan, do one room at a time (finish the work before you move on) prepare, and execute. Thanks for all your help along the way!
I am so glad how you started this video. Nothing frustrates a worker more than a new homeowner pissing 50 grand away in the interior when they have a lot of exterior problems. Good call on waiting a year or too before major renos.
Just trying to help! Cheers
This is spot on. I see this time and time again with new home owners.
Currently redoing my kitchen, and changing mid process hit me in the heart. We have changed about 6 times and cost so much more money.
I'd just like to take a moment to say thank you Jeff for all that you teach on this channel. Without your help I'd never be able to do the things I've already done to my house.
I appreciate that! Cheers Michael!
Hi Jeff, By the grace of God the only thing that this pandemic has disrupted is my social life. I still have my job, and I'm continuing to renovate my house. I have seen that some things I've wanted are on back order, but I just get on the notify me when it's in list and then work around it.
I've been in my house for 3 years and I'm on the last two rooms (bathrooms). Your videos are so helpful and I love that you put a little humor in them. Most of the DIY videos are so dry but yours keep my attention. Kudos!
Well done Erica. We just sold our farmhouse and will be posting a video about all the costs and how much we sold it for this weekend. Happy new year , I hope it encourages you!
I was a condo owner for 15 years. But just bought an old brick house in chicago. So much work to do. At first I wanted to gut the whole thing, but then started living in it. So now backed off and doing one room at a time. Goal is to finish first floor, before moving outside. Next the garage. Then to the basement. Then to the second floor. Getting quotes for windows, adding AC, gutters, and so on.
Watching you everyday now. thanks for the content
My wife and I moved to a different state and bought a house built in 1947. I scheduled a 30yd dumpster to show up day one when we got keys. With moving across country we show the listing and the house on the day of inspection. We have leaved in the house for a little over a year now but in the first 4 months we completely gutted the basement, re-wired and insulated it. Also major reno of the large garage and completely replaced the heating and cooling units. After about 6 months we slowed down. If there are things that need to be done and you know what you are doing, it’s not bad to jump in.
I was so glad to finally hear ya say "get to know your home!" I bought a very old fixer-upper almost three years ago and I've been making a list ever since! The plan has evolved and changed and I'm finally ready to start with the roof this spring and work my way down. Love the channel Jeff! Al from Cape Breton
Just wanted to say that your awesome. I am currently renovating a commercial space and some of your contractor tips have saved so much time and have prevented the use of Tylenol in many situations I got myself in.
I was one of those " gut it all" people. granted my home is a trailer. I was not living in it during the renovation so it was ok. But I am on a time table too. But as I started the kitchen I realized I was not ready for that kind of renovation yet. So I pulled back and did what you recommended. Make sure there are no leaks, no air ( good luck with a trailer from 1982") and no bugs. I took an extra week going back over my work in repair of my window seals and the roof and gutters, etc. I am glad I did. Had I replaced the inside water damage right away. I would have missed leaks I over looked that would have ruined all my work probably within the year. Working Outside top down, inside top down ( unless you have foundation issues) is a good way to make sure you do not miss something along the way. Love your episodes. Editing out the interruptions I think is a great idea.
Cheers Sophia, I appreciate that!
100 yr old house. I know it inside and out. I can't turn anyone loose and trust them,they damage 1000 times more than they fix.
Best return? Clean clean clean everything, declutter, and fresh clean paint is a great return on investment
Pamela Molina 110% agree with this. Your house magically looks larger and less old if it is clean and not cluttered. We went to view a house with our exact same floor plan. The owner was somewhat of a hoarder. The house was clean but every single room looked smaller than our house.
Pamela Molina This. Nothing else matters.
Wonderful advice...especially No1. We just purchased our home and even though there is a lot to change, we committed to 1yr to see how it is living in the house first. Thank you for all your great videos.
Mistake no 11...... thinking you can do the same renovating at 60 years old that you did at 30. 😬
And at some point you are going to be renovating to add value to your quality of life instead of your house, because this is probably your last house.
Right. Think about getting a tub/shower that's easier to operate and get in and out of.
That’s exactly what we decided to do rather than downsize. We’re making our dream place after 37 years of living here and raising a family. 10, 15 years from now, heck we’ll have enjoyed it. Starting one room at a time as Jeff suggests, taking it easy too.
@@brykit1972 A lot of elderly are getting waterproof laminate all over their house and installing wall hoses throughout their home. At any given point, they can stop what they're doing and hose themselves down. With the built-in drain system that goes under the furnature, it makes elderly washing a breeze
Jeff, your videos gave me the knowledge and confidence to proceed with my bathroom renovation. However, by no means was I an expert, and I learned painful lessons along the way. My biggest mistake was one you mentioned: I didn't have everything planned out in advance, and didn't have everything purchased and decided on. For example, my new shower: I had to cut into the back side of one of my shower walls to add blocking to hang my heavy glass shower door! Then patched up the drywall, which took time. I didn't have a clear vision for some other parts of the bathroom which ended up requiring me to redo some work I'd done.
Everyone else, LISTEN TO THESE TIPS! They will save you a lot of time, effort, and grief!!
not sure if I should have done this first or taught folks how to renovate. Cheers!
I'm working on my second renovation. Im fairly handy and had friends who were plumbers and electricians to guide me. So true, know your house. I was fortunate with my first home, tons of remodeling, gutting and rewire. I was able to flip it 6 years later... when I had it as good as I wanted it lol for double what I paid and put into it. Totally agree stick to your plan and don't deviate. My current home (renovation in progress) was gutted 75 percent by me. I sit for a few hours in an area sipping some wine seeing how it should function. No complaints getting to know the house. I did prematurely take out the bathroom vanity.... take time on deciding the gut. Great video.
I've got a house that my wife likes (the area it is in actually) so I had to Reno the entire thing. Scrapped it all out and left only foundation, framing, stucco (partially), roof and entry door with garage doors. The rest had to be gone. Glad the house is for parents and we have place to live. 9 month passed. All my weekends in there. Have left kitchen and bathrooms. Minor thingies :D. Thanks for making these amazing tutorials. God bless you.
lived in my house for 9 years before i even had the money to totally gut it. in those 9 years i have slowly restored the outside and garden. Now gutting the house has advantages. Like totally renew plumbing and electricals w/o obstacles :) floor heating etc.. But yes these tips are all true andd i learned even with some good prep the hard way!
I have redone multiple rooms in my house and currently doing my kitchen. My biggest failure is the amount of time and the total cost. I always get those wrong buy multiples. Cost is generally x2 and time is generally x10 😪
Stay on same plan! My dads bathroom was a key example of this every 5 steps he changed his mind and didn't have all the material to start with either. Its been a massive mess and so many issues. Your channel has help me stay sane on it.
I have that problem too. Get 90% done and move on to the next project. Come back to it in 6 months
I subscribed a while ago.... I’m a transplant patient and was on dialysis when we bought the house that was livable but needed work. It’s 6 years later and we’ve refinished floors and done a kitchen. Yes we hired someone to plan the kitchen and install cabinets. We did tear out back to studs and brought up to code. Three years in we had 4 storms in 4 weeks and lost 7 trees in last storm and took out a fence and shed..... their went that summer. Started a bath this winter and boom..... virus. Flooring, shower base, doors, fixtures, flooring toilet....purchased. Still need to shop for tile and we’ll I don’t go anywhere...lol. Thank god it’s a two bath!
I really enjoyed all the information. Especially, since I renovated my 1976 two story house (2900 sq ft.). It took almost a year by myself after work and on weekends. As you stated, I started room by room and finished all projects and when I placed house for sale end of January 2020 it sold by valentines day. I had watched several of your videos to complete all renovations and as first time DIY it worked out great. It felt like going to school but it was worth it to watch. Great videos and information!
i am so glad i discovered you your like the Gordan Ramsey of home repair. I am about to buy my first house and you have given me so much more confidence to work on it. coincidentally its from 1880 just like yours.
Wonderful!
As the one doing all the work (lol) I am glad to hear backup on the "one room at a time" rule. I finished a basement apartment off right after we bought the house and am so burnt out from it. My wife wants to do everything now of course, but I'm ready for a break haha.
I was going home when I bought my house, but I had amateur pace of Reno, you run out of steam, want to have a life.
Your first point is spot on, situations change.
Two years ago we were redoing a house we had bought. Mostly cosmetic, fixing the plaster and repainting the walls after removing the wallpaper that was falling down in every room of the house. But we were in the middle of renovating the 1969 kitchen (complete with cabinets made of paneling), and laundry room that was stripped to the studs. Total gut. Just me and the wife.
And I got pneumonia. Slowed me way down for 4 months then put me in the hospital for 2 weeks and out of work for another 6 weeks. So, we had a gutted kitchen/laundry, with all the appliances, cabinets, and counters sitting in the front room. Negative cash flow (no work and bills for 2 homes). And the contractor (me) on medical leave.
Took us 6 months longer than planned, and I ended up taking a loan against my 401k to finish everything so we could move in before winter.
Thankfully, we were still living in our old house and not trying to live in the one being renovated.
Several items on our want list got pushed back but I was really glad we hadn't already spent the money for them.
Still have a few things from that list that still need done when more money becomes available.
Always consider the factor of LIFE HAPPENS. but in all things no risk no reward. Cheers ! Glad to hear you recovered!
This is why everyone needs disability & critical illness insurance. Imagine how much different that experience would have been if all you had to do was rest and delay the work, not worry about how to pay the bills.
Outstanding advice. Catch 22. Working in oil industry, WORKING, but have been stuck out of the states for 7 months now. Doing better but planning a major renovation on master bathroom.
Ok. I’m not even through this yet and I have to show my support. I have watched a lot of your videos. And their great. Now, add the level of contained frustration you feel for these mistakes, the tape bandaid, the beer you had to move and then drank and I gotta say, I love this channel...keep it up!
Another piece of advice piggy backing off of your first tip: If you're new to a house and planning to reno a finished basement, gut it and leave it for a year. Different seasons bring on different water penetration issues. It's a heck of a lot easier to fix basement water penetration issues when everything's opened up.
great advice. Cheers!
We're doing exactly this right now. The basement finish was 40 years old and moldy. Gutted it and had cracks injection sealed. It's 90% better, but heavy rains still find their way in in a couple spots. I'm not finishing the space until I trust it.
I have a basement apartment w/ external entrance and I agree with this. Wish I had known beforehand! PITA
Coder1024 great piece of knowledge
Man this is the most education I've had in 30 years. Every few mins is a learning experience for me. I'm hundreds of hours in lol. Thank you
Glad to help
I got layed off due to covid 3 months ago, just after I finished plans for my kitchen reno. Perfect timing for me to renovate, especially since the wife still works!
These videos are awesome and great info. Is there one for landlords? I own a two family I live in one unit and rent the other. It was a fixer upper. I did the kitchen and flooring painted etc for the rental. Now I have to fix my unit out so I can move on to another home. Any video on this concept for buying and renting a house/apartments? Thanks for sharing all your knowledge!
I started a master bath remodel right before all this craziness started. Luckily I am still working and we had already refi’d so we already had the funds set aside. Also, I phased the bathroom as I did just the shower then demo’d the rest. So far so good for my first bathroom. You’re videos have been a huge help, thank you.
I love the way you explain things so thoroughly, in every detail.
I appreciate all the tips you give!! Excellent work. Now PLEASE protect yourself from drywall dust and MDF dust. Both are lethal after enough exposure.
Jeff. With your videos, I think I'm gonna do a lot my self, like demolition, basic plumbing, flooring, and will hire someone to do electrical, drainage and help me frame.
We renovated through the pandemic and some things took a long time to wait. We made sure we have the money first before starting
thanks a ton! and cheers! just starting super small in my free time with changing my bedroom from old carpet to some sort of floating floor cause of pets and everything is already good. especialy just taking tyhings slow for my self really makes sense
The gut the house huge project renovation is ok if you are not living in it. I did that but made the mistake of not having a reasonable time table. I allowed 6 months when I should have been expecting a full year of doing it myself.
Thanks Jeff. Great video, great advice.
know your home - i've spent like a year knowing and understanding how everything is built in the fixerupper i bought and live in. the first time u do it it'll take a lot of effort but oh so very enriching.
to add, an architect once told me you have to know how you want to live in a house before redoing it. it really stayed with me. just like you say, it'll affect how you renovate it. you could over do it with bells and whistles ull never use or make errors that make everyday life bothersome if you don't take the time to figure out how life flows in the house. great video :)
Exactly! Cheers!
Great tips. When I bought my house I redid the spare bedroom and didn't realize the roof leaks when it pours.. ha. Good times. Another good point I really want to redo my kitchen floor cause it looks bad. Almost tore it all up then realized for as busy as I am in the shop it will stay looking bad till I had time to finish it and save for materials. Kinda learned my lesson when I did my cupboards after looking at them stripped down almost a year. Love your channel Jeff. Always learning!
Great advice. The wife and I bought a home about a month ago and just finished the upstairs renovation and ... man.. I did not realize how hard it can be. Renovating is certainly an art. Good thing I'm handy...... Thanks for all the quality videos. A++
The good news is that there is always something to learn so it is never boring. Cheers!
One key point mentioned was to live in the home for at least a year prior to doing any major renovations. So damn true.
Not that I knew, but due to our finances we didn’t do any changes (for the exception of painting before moving in) for at least 2 years or when something failed.
Sun exposure? Very important. How sunny/shady are the outdoor areas in all seasons? Can an area be more useable? Can we eliminate a muddy area with a deck or pavers? Type of plants?
So true about fixing structural issues too. Do these first! If they come up later, fix them ASAP!
Very true about the prices at big box stores.
LIKE YOU SAY RESEARCH IS BEST KNOW WHAT YOU ARE WORKING WITH. LOVE IT
Thanks for this video. I'm a first-time homeowner who is hopefully closing in a few weeks. Though there are some overall changes I would make, I have long decided to wait a bit and see if it is sound to do so. There may be a reason why the flow of the home is that way. I do plan on taking the wallpaper down and pulling up the carpet in the LR but those are cosmetic changes and hope doesn't unveil something terrible. Eventually, the kitchen as to be redone but it is livable and not needed right now, etc.
LR wallpaper and carpet need to go and the 2nd thing my focus will be is reworking the garden area and perhaps placing a seating area with firepit.
So I'm on board with ya.
""It's why we own a home. So we don't die." Preach it, brother. Speaking some unspoken truths there. That was a laugh-out-loud moment. I was definitely outside helping my dad scrape paint before I was learning to do drywall.
That was me Jajajaj, I try to do all at ones, kitchen, stairs-case, floors with tile and many things, took me allot of time, I learned from my mistakes, thanks for the heads up, great tips, may the LORD JESUS CHRIST bless you and family 🙏🏻
I’m about to replace carpet to a floating floor on the 2nd floor of my house. We’re talking 2k sq feet. I will do one room at a time and buy what I need as I go.
thanks for the videos
We just bought a condo few months back (couldn't beat the rates!) and I'm glad we broke into real estate with something more manageable. I have helped friends on all facets of remodeling over the years who got into some bigger houses and I never realized the amount of work required to remodel as DIY'er. Fortunately we have rented for 3 years prior to buying so I'm familiar with the ins and outs and seasonal changes like you mentioned. Found your channel when I was getting fed up prepping and painting walls. Thanks to you I'm cutting in like a boss haha and that pole sander is a goddamn life saver! Just spent the last 2 hours watching videos (subscribed) and just wanted to show some love and and respect from the state of Massachusetts. Solid delivery with a common sense approach. Keep the content coming. I can't wait to wake up tomorrow and get back at it. Cheers mate!
Brilliant advice here, one room at a time is key, don’t right off the whole house with DIY projects! Also very important to know your own skill level and to don’t take on jobs that are way out of your own scope. I learned “the hard way” about 20 years ago with jobs and thankfully I can manage about 80% of jobs now with experience gained over the years. Love the channel and hello from Northern Ireland 👍
If you have ever worked on an older home (done many) then "usually" goes out of the window....and cannot wait for the shopping video. I have invested time and money at my local hardware firm and get some great deals. And the building code is a "minimum" standard. It stops your house falling down. However there are many engineering ideas and practices that cannot be applied due to the building codes.
Yes...this all makes so much sense but who said we have that when it comes to buying a new home...there,s a cloudy moment when one is just happy to have a new home....taken from my own experience 3 times, and i made many mistakes so i appreciate your video lessons and knowledge...
I appreciate your list. We just bought a 1940 colonial. Our list has grown a lot in the past month. We just hired a company to replace all of the windows because it just didn't seem like a job we should be doing ourselves. I am very handy and feel comfortable with framing walls, hanging drywall, electrical and plumbing, but windows seemed like an area I shouldn't do. I feel like we are paying waaaay to much for them to do it, but I also knew that the only alternative was for me to do it myself and that was unlikely to happen. What you said about replacing them yourself makes sense, but when it comes keeping the outside out and the inside in, I felt it best to leave it to a professional and just accept the cost. That aside, everything else in this video I agree with and appreciate you reinforcing because I just want to "get it all done" now and then just live, but living in the house first makes sense. I am going to slow down!
Thank you for what you do
real teachers of my life told me about their mistakes, and this way made me learn better. Thank you ^^
Great video. Very good tip about being creative enough to visualize the final product. An expansion on that idea is to visualize your overall final product, then go into detail in your mind, the more you practice increasing levels of detail the better, strip layers away, get overlaps and material details right then build to your finished product again. Apparently, there are a good number of people out there that when they close their eyes, they only see the back of their eyelids and cannot actually visualize anything... That blows my mind.
We bought a 1963 farm house in 2018 and those older homes def have some quirks. Plus it has had an addition and other renovations from previous owners that half a$$ed most of the jobs. It really makes a difference living in the house and figuring out the flow. We're posting a video of our laundry room renovation next week.
Just wanted to add that big box stores also have the cheapest wire due to the sheer amount they buy for whomever needs wire. I used to work for one of those smaller electrical supply stores as a pricing analyst.
I'm a first time home buyer and eager to start projects on the house. I have to say, I'm glad I found this video and your channel. New subscriber for you sir.
All very good, practical advice, with good examples from someone who truly enjoys sharing his knowledge with others.
I totally agree with the window point....had a bad experience with window guy...felt like I was buying a car...plus was quoted 32K for 16 windows (black outside, noise reduction, white inside).
Im renovating my childhood home which is reaching its 30 year age. I began in the master bedroom and im just learning things as i go, all the while watching! My small budget is $500 a month !
Feel so lucky that this valuable video is 100% free.
Much appreciated 🙏from Australia
I’m watching from Australia as well.
I’ve been watching your video’s for a while now. This could be your best to date. I retired a week ago at age 65. I plan to renovate our home that we’ve had for 10 years. I’ve learned a lot from you and will contiue to relay on your DIY advise through this process. Thank you so much for sharing and for your spot on advice. You are very much admired and appreciated by DIY’ers everywhere.
Thanks for that! Cheers!
Congratulations on your retirement!! Enjoy your renovation!
I agree except I’m flooring one at a time because no choice and it is extremely difficult and reliant on some luck,leveling the floors specifically
We bought our new house in Montreal. And we are moving in in December. The roof needs work but hey can't really work outside during the winter here. So even if the exterior is priority number one I will do the interior first during the winter time and I'll do the exterior during spring/summer. Depending on the location you have to work with the weather too...
My wife's uncle is like an encyclopedia for diy mechanics. Listening to you feels like that but for building. In Puerto Rico we'd call your teaching style "bruto-proof".
Thank you for being so helpful. That last tip about mosaic tiles is gold!
Amen about knowing the home before renovating. I got into it and found the floor joists were 4’ apart and a couple were broken. Replaced those and I lost a couple more. Nightmare! I was happy to dump it, break even and run!
Thanks for asking: I'm a first time home owner and... it's well. Still have our jobs, money is regular: but I wouldn't start a renovation of any sort unless it was fully funded by savings.
Research - so great! Living in my old home after 5 years there are issues that presented themselves that needed to be taken care of first - before any aesthetic 'fun stuff' 🙂
Thx Jef been following you for 3+ years now. Im at a renovation myself so these came at a good time. Thx
we just bought a fixer upper and are nurses but are doing one at a time with foundation and needs first
The biggest mental damage I had is when I just bought the house and I am making it look even worse by ripping it off trying to fix it. It's really deviating and discouraging. Day by day you just see that you didn't do it better. Will you be able to fix it after??? Your vids did help 1000%
We have ours planned for 5 phases. However, some phases depend on others. For example, the kitchen plumbing will require removing the basement ceiling drywall. The bath remodel does the same for another section of the basement.
Oh well.
I am a contractor, and an authorized Gentek distributer. Good quality and great customer service if something does go wrong. I also absolutely hate those mesh backed tiles. I have, many times, considered selling "Brutus", my saw (I did not name it, ZEP the manufacturer did).
I am renovating an old home (1940) by myself. I found inside house renovation work is significantly easier than exterior work which involve concreate work, foundation, framing, climbing on roof etc and need more heavier equipment (like jack hammer). Inside house work can be done with hand tools and light power tools mostly and I do that first to build confidance to do the outside work.
Amazing advice that I wish I listened to and had before we did 2 rounds of renovations. Seriously - live in the house for a bit before you start gutting it. There was definitely money spent on things we never even see or use. And things we should have spent money on that we "skipped" and still bug me.
thanks for the tip about the stove and other appliances ! ( I confess , we do have Marvin integrity windows in most of the house - we put vinyl ones in a sun room and the basement but the marvin ones were installed by the contractor)
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Just bought a house a month ago, and the whole house is currently under Reno. Smaller stuff like electrical, walls &floors, some plumbing. I wish I would have seen this before we got started, cause not only is it a lot of time and money upfront and but it’s also overwhelming. Definitely should have went one room at a time!
I’m happy that I’ve implicitly followed your advices even before watching this video:)
I’ve started with the no-brainers, which are also easy to do as DIY: attic insulation and building a fence. I did those because it’s hard to do damage with them, worst case I have to redo.
And I still did a ton of research for those (that’s how I got to this channel), and unintentionally found many materials about all kind of projects. So by now, I have a basic understanding of how a house look like.
Now I have a confidence to do a deck. After that, I might know enough to do a kitchen, or remove a wall, which is more risky, as I can do damage with those.
If you want to remove a wall, even pros Always get a structural engineer's advice. Worth every penny.
@@honeybadgerisme I’m over it since, and that was the only step I didn’t even consider doing myself, as I knew it is load bearing.
I still did as much myself as possible. Removed the old drywall, prepared the room, and then called the pro to install the beam which was only a day. And then I did all the finishing work again (drywall, painting).
Anything which may result in an expensive failure (other than just redoing the job) goes to experts.
@@juzoli Wow! You did so much! Good job! O-and smart not to mess with load bearing. What pain!
00:26 Don't forget dignity, i've lost plenty of that trying to do stuff myself
MoLottes lol I think we all have. I have had many days where it has ended with me having my tail in between my legs.
MoLottes lol Same here. Every time I try to fix some thing I break five more things…
Been there done it! Which is why he says to work within your comfort zone. But by failing, you learn things. It will cost you! But mistakes learned are very valuable.
I,m finally trying to get on the right track for these renovations...
Every piece of advice you give is gold!!