How Do We Set Realistic Remodeling Expectations? Good Question

Q: Normally, we turn to readers for questions, but this one comes straight from the author. As apartment dwellers, my fiance and I haven't ever had much leeway when it comes to "fixing up" an apartment because of strict management. Collectively, we've never painted a wall or taken doors off cabinets, let alone replaced carpet or laid tile…

...Now, we may be moving into a place that could use a little work. So we need your help: how can we set realistic expectations for our D-I-Y skills in a fixer-upper situation?

We're sure many of you know the drill: you move in to a place, you assess the damage, you set goals, and then you begin to tackle them. We want to be green and save green with our sure-to-come projects, and we know that there are plenty of resources out there for doing just that.

There are cosmetic things we know we can do (i.e., sanding and painting cabinets) and others we're not so sure of (installing flooring). So we're wondering how to find our comfort level with D-I-Y, before moving into a fixer-upper that needs a total overhaul versus moving into a place that needs some cosmetic updating.

For those of you who don't think twice about bringing down a wall to create an open living space: how do you gain that confidence? And for those of you who laid the flooring a little crooked, would you do it again?

We're sure to make mistakes along the way, but we're hoping to give ourselves the chance to succeed by setting realistic expectations. Bring on the advice—we could use it!

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(Image: Stock.xchng member icekitty37, licensed under guidelines)

Comments (7)

While this answer may not bear directly on the question of DIY, when it comes to renovations, expectations come in three categories:
1. time expectation - when do you want/need the reno done?
2. quality expectation - what level of finish/quality to you want?
3. cost expectation - how much are you willing to spend on your reno?

Establishing the answers to these three questions may help you determine what you would consider to be DIY-able. You also might want to considering going to some free workshops at a home reno centre and seeing what DIY projects appeal to you. Good luck.

Much to my own disbelief, I'll be 60 in a few days. I've probably spent 53 of those years tearing things apart (e.g. my first bike) and painting. My DIY outlook came from my parents. The one thing that held me back (e.g. putting that bike back together) was perfectionism. My advice is: Don't let it perfectionism cripple you. My young granddaughter told me, "Practice makes progress," and, almost daily, I give myself little pep rallies w/similar affirmations. Two other thoughts: 1) If you haven't already, make an idea board or folder. You have a wonderful resource in Apartment Therapy. 2) Having realistic expectations and knowing your comfort level(s) come from "doing." A good rule of thumb is that a project will take longer and cost more than you hoped! Don't wait until the right timing, right money, right situation, right [whatever]. Start doing now, and all of your experiences (and courage) will be there for you when you're ready for the mega-complicated, mega-expensive projects!

Ripping out carpet & refinishing old wood floors is something i would absolutely do again myself, painting and plastering i do myself, sanding old reclaimed wood (for buthcher block & shelves) is a do, removing popcorn from ceiling is a do, & repainting kitchen cabinets is a do. I load up on resources from the library & ask old timers how they used to do stuff back in the day. If it involves using heavy duty machinery i would pay someone just to do that part. I can't wait to knock down my own wall one day!

You guys above are awesome. I spent the first 5 years after buying our condo living with all its problems because I tried a few things half-assed, they came out half-assed and it discouraged me from trying anything else. In the last year we have started finally changing and fixing all the household issues and it really feels empowering :)

It took 30 minutes to move furniture out of the living room, 1 day to scrape all the nasty, dusty popcorn off our ceiling, and 1 day for 2 coats of paint. Why didn't we do it 3 years ago?? 1 weekend of work and it looks SO MUCH better. (We did have it tested for asbestos first.)

We are having work done in our kitchen by a carpenter at the same time, and looking at the ceiling that we scraped ourselves is a very different feeling than looking at the (excellent) work he has done. I doubt our ceiling looks as nice as if professionals had done the whole job, but it really doesn't bother me, because I did it myself.

I guess my advice would be to start with something you feel confident with, and then move up to things that may or may not work. Also, don't cut corners, especially with the first projects. You want your first DIYs to inspire you to do more :)

Start with painting a wall that's in good condition. This will lead you into patching holes in drywall in a wall that's NOT in good condition. From there it's a small step forward to adding trimwork or installing shelving and before you know it, you're knocking out part of a wall. Just go slow and plan for 5x the time you think and 2x the money.

Example: a can of paint, roller and tray cost $40. But drop cloths, TSP, painters tape and edge brushes cost another $35.

My husband (who still doesn't know what DIY means) agrees painting is a good place to start. He didn't do anything around the house before our marriage, but is now comfortable installing drywall 2 years later! Take it slow, take your time and try to enjoy the process-not just the end result.

It sounds like you're trying to decide how much of a "fixer" to buy - it sounds like you're game for tackling cosmetic fixes. Anything involving structural changes is going to be really expensive - remember that moving a wall usually involves electrical too!

As for doing the cosmetic stuff - just plunge in - plenty of tutorials online, and as Michelle of Montreal suggested, classes at a home reno center. Wear safety gear!

When I was looking to buy a home, I looked exclusively at older homes that needed a little TLC. I realized right away that the stress of taking on a home that was barely livable and needed significant work wasn't worth it. My house definitely needed some work, but was totally livable when I moved in. One of the biggest issues was the kitchen, which was at least 50 years old and gross. I initially thought that I would remodel it myself. But then reality set in: I'm a single woman with a demanding full time job. So I hired a contractor. Part of me felt weird about it, but the other part loved that fact that he was the one who had to deal with the uneven floors, weird plumbing and layers of paint in my 100 year old home. Also, I didn't have to worry about making costly mistakes or compromising my home's resale value by muddling my way through the work on my own. It hurt my pride a little to hire someone else to do the work, but then I got over it. I think that if I had a partner in crime, I might have been more willing to go the DIY route. My advice would be to take on a simple task like painting the walls and see how you feel after spending hours trying to cover hideous bright red paint with layer after layer of white. (BTW- I learned the hard way...prime over the red paint first.)