When Buying a Fixer-Upper, Where Should You Draw the Line?

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Posted: 22 Mar 2019 10:00 AM PDT

When you find a great fixer-upper, it can be difficult to determine if you should put an offer on it. You want to restore the home to its natural beauty — especially if it comes at a good price. However, you need to weigh the good, the bad and the ugly before making a decision.

Weigh the pros and cons of purchasing a fixer-upper. Image: Hero Images/Getty Images

"Fixer-upper, remodeling and design shows have attracted large audiences and have romanticized the process to the point that buyers and homeowners believe that it is not a big deal to create their dream home," says Karen Kostiw of Warburg Realty in New York, NY. However, she says these reality shows don't provide the guidance you need to decide if you can take on a fixer-upper. If you’re transforming your basement, adding rooms and making other changes to the home’s footprint, there’s a lot to consider.

The advantages

You can create the home of your dreams with a fixer-upper. Image: zazamaza/Getty Images

"One of the most important factors when considering a fixer-upper is whether you can customize the home to your design aesthetic and functionality needs at a lower purchase price than an already-renovated home," Kostiw says. "Typically, you can purchase a larger home with the same purchase budget, and that home can be purchased in a more desirable neighborhood due to lower cost," she adds. In addition, Kostiw says that today's buyers are more likely to want new or updated homes. There's less competition if you want to buy a fixer-upper.

The ability to create the home you want in a desirable neighborhood can't be overstated. "The homeowner has control over the entire process. As long as it's planned ahead, much of the home can be customized to the exact needs of the homeowner, from adding architectural details to custom cabinets and flooring to an open floor plan," says Brad Little, President of Case Design/Remodeling in Charlotte, NC. And while it may initially seem like a daunting task, he says it really isn't. "A remodeling firm or contractor can help you plan your whole house remodel from blueprints to final presentation."

The price factor

Assume that you’ll go over budget. Image: Hanohiki/Shutterstock

When buying a fixer-upper, you're competing in a different arena. "Fixer-upper purchasers must compete with builders and investors, which will drive up the purchase price," Kostiw explains. And she says you may need to be a cash purchaser since some lenders will not approve a fixer-upper property.

Kostiw also says you should prepare to spend at least 20 percent over budget during the renovation. That's why you need to create a fixed budget before work begins. "Be firm on the final cost you're willing to invest before renovations begin or the project can quickly get out of control," Little warns.

He also recommends knowing and prioritizing your needs. "Remodel for your must-haves first, and then your maybes," Little says. "In a fixer-upper, it's tempting to want to do everything immediately. But starting with the must-haves will give you a better idea of what you could do without." For example, your heart may be set on a farmhouse sink. But, according to Sara Cannon at House Heroes, you may not be able to preserve the existing cabinets with this type of sink since it requires a cutout.

And when the renovation is over, there are other long-term expenses to consider. "Fixer-upper purchasers often do not consider that their real estate taxes will increase based upon newly-assessed, post-renovation value, shocking their all-in monthly budget,” Kostiw says.

The time/money/inconvenience factor

Delays are inconvenient and costly. Image: skynesher/Getty Images

Depending on how extensive the renovations are, it could take a while. So consider the time factor in your decision. "The purchaser must be prepared for long and expensive renovations and longer timelines than originally planned," Kostiw warns. "Often, if a large amount of work is required on a home, a purchaser may not be able to move in until work is complete, which could take six months or longer," she says. Would you have somewhere to stay if the home is uninhabitable? Would you be able to juggle two mortgages, or a mortgage and rent payment? What about living with your parents or in-laws for several months?

The fixer-upper shows fit projects into 30-minute or 60-minute time frames, so they don't cover everything that goes into renovating a house. "Many of the shows do not highlight the permit process or the reality of workers not showing up, which delays a project timeline," Kostiw says. And these delays create a ripple effect. "The expense of labor and labor delays, product changes due to construction materials out of stock or a serious unexpected issue that arose on the job site could contribute to costing more than buying a new or already renovated home," she says.

Your home may be uninhabitable during the reno. Image: Hero Images/Getty Images

Remodeling on your own

And if you plan on remodeling without the help of contractors or a remodeling firm, Little says it can be almost overwhelming. "Signing on the dotted line is just the beginning since all of the labor and project management responsibilities fall on the homeowner," he says. "If any surprises come up that weren't found in the inspection, the homeowner is responsible for addressing them, either personally or through a contractor/remodeling firm."

There are other inconveniences that could prove to be costly. "If there’s a lot of drywall work involved, there will be drywall dust everywhere," says Shawn Breyer, owner of Breyer Home Buyers in Atlanta, GA. If you or your family members have asthma or allergies, you might not be able to stay in the home.

“Also, renovating the bathrooms will leave you using the bathroom across the house or without a usable bathroom for a few days," Breyer adds. "Rewiring the house can leave you without power in portions of your house for weeks. So make sure that you're prepared to live in a construction zone or have plans for living somewhere else.”

Knowing When to Draw the Line

Don’t over-improve for your neighborhood. Image: Ceneri/Getty Images

The key to successfully renovating a fixer-upper lies in the ability to envision the end result before you start, according to Associate Broker Amber Ketchum at the Get Happy at Home team of Coldwell Banker Bain. "You must weigh the pros and cons before deciding if something is worth it or not," she says.

For example, if you have to move walls or do a complete add-on, this will dramatically increase the cost, according to Chelsea Allard, VP of Design at Case Design/Remodeling in Charlotte, NC.

"Plumbing can also create large snags in the cost or process, so it is essential to find out where the plumbing already is and know where you want to add plumbing," Allard says. For example, if you want to add a bathroom with a soaking tub on the second floor — but on the opposite side of the house — she warns that this will increase your reno costs.

Also, you don’t want to over-improve a home. "If the home is renovated and it is over and above the value of the neighboring properties, you will never get its true value,” says Ralph DiBugnara, president of Home Qualified. "It would be best to look at the homes you like in the area and stick to some parameters when improving your home. You do not want to own a White Elephant."

Before and after photos of a kitchen reno. Image courtesy of Case Design/Remodeling.

Making it all worthwhile

However, the end result of renovating a fixer-upper can be rewarding, as you can see in the before and after photos above. "This project was a waterfront lake house that the couple bought for the lot. When they purchased it, the previous owners had gone overboard with a DIY Tuscan theme,” explains Allard. "The clients were slowly redoing the entire house bit by bit to match it with their contemporary design style.” Allard says the company helped the homeowners to renovate the kitchen, powder room and bar.

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The Beginner’s Guide to Removable Wallpaper

Posted: 22 Mar 2019 04:00 AM PDT

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You may have heard about the removable wallpaper trend and be curious about it. What is it? How does it work? Is it a good fit for my home? These are all common questions that we hear about this product. To that end, we created the beginner’s guide to removable wallpaper. Read on to learn more about this product and how to tell if it’s a good fit for you.

These days, removable wallpaper is also known as wall decals. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

What is removable wallpaper?

Removable wallpaper is a growing trend in the world of interior design. Renters no longer have to worry about losing their security deposit because they customized the unit to their personal tastes. Nor do homeowners have to worry about keeping up with changing trends. Removable wallpaper is the temporary decorating option that allows you to bring a touch of personality to your walls without making any permanent commitments.

As the name suggests, removable wallpaper is a piece of decor that adheres to your wall, Yet you can also easily remove it when you’re done with it. You may know this product under another name: wall decals. However, today’s company’s are working hard to ensure that their designs look as modern as possible and fit in with today’s trends.

Removable wallpaper simply sticks onto the wall. Image: Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock

How removable wallpaper works

The easiest way to describe how removable wallpaper works is to compare it to a sticker. Most companies use a low-tack adhesive paired with a sheet of backing that allows you to use the peel-and-stick method for installation. You can adhere removable wallpaper to the walls of your home in much the same way you would a sticker or any other kind of adhesive material.

One thing that’s important to note here is the condition of your walls will play a big role in how your end product looks. If your walls have holes in them or are otherwise pock-marked — think popcorn ceilings — those imperfections are visible underneath the wallpaper. Your best bet is to use this product on smoothly painted surfaces.

There are a few things to consider when using this material. Image: Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock

Removable wallpaper considerations

Now that you know a little more about removable wallpaper and how it works, it’s important to focus on using it the right way. Here are a few crucial considerations to keep in mind as you shop for wallpaper to install in your home.

Don’t skimp on aesthetics

With removable wallpaper, aesthetics are a priority. In addition to choosing a print you love, you should also double-check to make sure that the size of the print fits with the size of the room. Also, check that the colors used in the print match your color scheme as a whole.

There’s also the quality of the paper itself to consider. Ideally, you want to choose a product that is textured so it looks and feels like real wallpaper. Since most removable wallpaper companies are online and it can be hard to get a sense of texture through a computer screen, we recommend asking for a sample of the paper to be sent to you before you buy.

Take measurements twice

Like traditional wallpaper, removable wallpaper is often sold in panels. You will need to know both the measurements of the room and the panels themselves in order to know how much paper you’ll need for your project. Tread carefully when taking your measurements and do them twice so you can be sure that you’ve gotten the right result.

As always, we suggest ordering slightly more than you think you’ll need to account for any mistakes during the installation process.

Have a second pair of hands (and eyes) for the install

Yes, the peel-and-stick method seems easy. However, the reality is that removable wallpaper is much bigger than a traditional sticker and is also much more unwieldy. It can be helpful to have more than one person on hand during the installation process. We suggest having one person place the panel on its spot on the wall while the other pulls the end of the panel taut and smooths down.

In addition to providing an extra pair of hands, a second person will also be helpful in verifying that the panels line up correctly with one and other. If you’re ever unsure of how your final product will end up looking, take a step back and take in the project from afar. Sometimes all you need is a little distance to give you perspective.

Carefully make adjustments if needed

Nobody’s perfect, so it’s safe to assume that a mistake will occur at some point during the installation process. The advantage of removable wallpaper is that it makes these issues easy to fix. Often, all it takes to correct a mistake is to carefully peel the decal away from the wall. From there, you can either replace the panel or shift it into the correct position.

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