[mb812]

Hello all,

I found a house recently in a good area and I think I can ask for much lower price since the owner originally used it for rentals and it's in not a very good condition. With that said, if I ask for 30k lower for the house, I'm wondering if i can do the following renovations within this budget. The house is about 1400sq/ft and was built in 1940s. This is also assuming the house inspection goes well and no other major issues were found.

- Unpainted new kitchen cabinets. Can paint myself.
- Laminate kitchen countertops (not a lot of counter space)
- Add kitchen island
- Change kitchen floor tiles
- Remove all carpet, sand/polish wood floors under carpet.
- Fix some squeaky parts of the floor.
- Remove popcorn walls and ceilings. All walls are popcorn walls.
- Remove 1-2 walls to open up the living room (assuming these are not structural support walls)
- Add 1-2 walls for closets
- Replace crown holding
- Repave front porch concrete (it's cracked and messed up)

I know this isn't a lot of information, but a ball park if it's even possible (realistic) would be helpful. I've done some price estimations myself while googling for various costs and come to about 20-25k. However I see people doing just kitchen renovations that cost that much so I'm really wondering if my googling was accurate.

Any professional opinions would be appreciated, thanks a lot.

 

[Nealtw]

How much are you doing your self?

 

[kimle123]

Kitchen remodel can vary a lot. You can buy IKEA cabinets for super cheap or buy custom made ones for 3x cost.

 

[mb812]

How much are you doing your self?

All cosmetic work like painting walls, sanding walls to get rid of popcorn walls, tear out carpet, install crown molding, etc. Anything like remove walls, install cabinets, etc. will probably have to be done by a professional probably.

 

[kimle123]

Check for lead paint and asbestos popcorn ceiling. If found, then you’re screwed.

 

[Nealtw]

All cosmetic work like painting walls, sanding walls to get rid of popcorn walls, tear out carpet, install crown molding, etc. Anything like remove walls, install cabinets, etc. will probably have to be done by a professional probably.

Houses built in the 40s may contain lots of lead paint, asbestos, very old plumbing and wiring with out ground. As well as plaster instead of drywall.

I am not sure but I think if you remodel a kitchen you may have to bring the electrical up to date and that alone ca kill a budget if you need new meter and breaker panel. Insulation always needs to be looked at

These are the kind of things that you want an inspectors report to include.

 

[mb812]

Houses built in the 40s may contain lots of lead paint, asbestos, very old plumbing and wiring with out ground. As well as plaster instead of drywall.

I am not sure but I think if you remodel a kitchen you may have to bring the electrical up to date and that alone ca kill a budget if you need new meter and breaker panel. Insulation always needs to be looked at

These are the kind of things that you want an inspectors report to include.

Right. I'm currently talking with the owner and trying to get an inspector look at it before I put an offer down. Issues like this and foundation issues will essentially prevent me from pursuing this property.

But assuming the inspection all look fine?

 

[Nealtw]

Right. I'm currently talking with the owner and trying to get an inspector look at it before I put an offer down. Issues like this and foundation issues will essentially prevent me from pursuing this property.

But assuming the inspection all look fine?

I think you have to tighten up the wish list to what needs to be done before you move into it and learn more diy skills and there is lots of help for developing those skills. Things like finding good used cupboards and learning how to install them.

 

[Mystriss]

If you can do the work yourself, possibly with some cheaper materials, I think you could do everything, but the walls if asbestos thing (if you've got asbestos then I think that'll eat the whole budget just to get rid of.)

Cement thing is questionable if you've not done it before, I hear getting it sloped right and smooth is an art. Also drywall finishing (mud and tape, corner beads, etc.) might be something to have a pro do, I can't lay mud for nothing and I'm fairly handy. Laminate counter top usually takes more than one person for the glue up part.

Most of the stuff on your list can be done fairly easily with a few decent tools.

 

[lenaitch]

Keep in mind that a house inspection is only going to be able to report on what they see. They won't tell you whether or how much asbestos is present, load bearing walls, state of the plumbing and wiring, etc. They might have an opinion on such things but that's all it will be.

 

[Nealtw]

If you can do the work yourself, possibly with some cheaper materials, I think you could do everything, but the walls if asbestos thing (if you've got asbestos then I think that'll eat the whole budget just to get rid of.)

Cement thing is questionable if you've not done it before, I hear getting it sloped right and smooth is an art. Also drywall finishing (mud and tape, corner beads, etc.) might be something to have a pro do, I can't lay mud for nothing and I'm fairly handy. Laminate counter top usually takes more than one person for the glue up part.

Most of the stuff on your list can be done fairly easily with a few decent tools.

I agree on the concrete work, a bad job is hard to hide. :wink2: