This is a cautionary tale for you adventurers who have chosen to dive into the deep end of the pool. Many of you bring little to no applicable experience to the game. That did not stop you. There is no easy formula to determine what you should have done differently or should be doing now. Much of the math is hidden behind Victorian wallpaper, under mosaic tile and deep within your ability to adapt and adjust. In short there are many unknowns and how they play out is similar to snowflakes. No two will be the same.

You fell in love with a quaint historic home in a magically old section of town. It was impossible not to be enamored with the wrap around porch, stain glass windows and period woodwork. You envision your rambunctious protégé squealing with delight as they race from room to room on Christmas Day. The state of bliss you imagine precipitates the big smile you have plaster on your face.

You move in and reality wipes that smile off your face. You haven’t spoken more than two words to your partner in days, or slept much for that matter. Money is tight as you sit in the middle of a plaster covered disaster zone. The hot water tank shit the bed the night you moved in. 13 calls and no one is interested in providing assistance with the developing, smelly grey water issue occupying more and more of the basement. The furnace is putting out air slightly warmer than the windy 10 degrees outside and your electrician uncovered something nasty called Knob and Tube. What started out as a Disney adventure ride has deteriorated into an out-of-control roller coaster ride you cannot get off.

Uncontrollable tears well up as you and your partner tip the mostly empty box of cheap wine to share the last drop. There are serious thoughts of making sure your homeowners’ policy is paid up, packing a bag, turning on the stove, getting in the car, and driving away without looking back. Perhaps this is some version of your life at the moment

I personally relate to the anguish you are experiencing. My first century old home was in central Denver and our renovation frustration boiled over when I threw a pot thru the full glass front door so I didn’t need to open it as I made my escape. To make a long story short, over the years, my family has lived thru 7 such renovations and as a specializing general contractor have completed hundreds more for subsequent customers. Some projects were easier than others but over the years none were a stroll thru a rose garden. Those many years ago I didn’t know what I didn’t know and the learning curve was demanding and unforgiving.

These older homes tend to be in established, walk-able villages and neighborhoods with a sense of hardwired community. It is impossible to duplicate such an environment in a brand new housing complex carved out of repurposed farm pastures. Established homes have individual character and style vs. endless lanes and Cul-de-Sacs where slight variations on a base style and paint color differentiate your home from your neighbors. Older homes seem to have spirits that call to us with a sirens song. It is easy to see why you chose old vs. new.

In many cases these homes are more affordable due to the out-of-date nature of the home and issues you will need to contend with going forward. It is easy to diminish the required resources needed and over estimate our ability to cope. How do you deal with the cascading scope of work and seemingly endless list of projects? First it is good to know you are not alone. Many have taken the same path. The trail is littered with casualties as well as success stories. You need to choose which you will be. Keep in mind restoration/renovation is a marathon and as a first time homeowner it is not for the faint of heart. Your goal, as a homeowner, is come out the other side proud of your accomplishment.

Any journey has a first step and to the best of your ability yours is to define/quantify the current state of the house and apply some realistic speculation to the unknown. Professionals, and those you trust, can help put this picture together. The next step is to create a “Needs” vs. your “Wants” list. A media room would be great but is easily trumped by a functioning toilet. This is where a realistic budget comes into play and how your available dollars fit into your “Needs” category. For this you need a big picture plan from what you know you need and what you can guess will come into play.

Initially it will not be a complete picture but as you gain more input the plan details will become clearer. The next step will require you putting your team together. Who is doing what and in what order. Sequencing matters. Create obtainable objectives while maintaining a sense of urgency but not panic. This is a subtle but important element for success.

The final stage is implementing your plan. As a note there are some facts of renovation you should keep in mind. It is very important your chosen family is on board and realistic expectations are well defined and communicated. It is much easier to cope when you know upfront you will be showering at the YMCA for 3 weeks vs. every night coming home from work only to find the new bathroom is still not available. If you want perfection, in a well seasoned home, it is going to cost. Your home has spent 100+ years getting comfortable, not becoming pristine. Renovation is not as straight forward as new construction. Home finishes need to go backwards multiple steps before you can move forward even one. Financially give yourself room. There is nothing worse than running out of money even if it means you will need to delay renovation elements.

There will be ups and downs with the process and it will be stressful even if you are hiring everything out and deep pockets. Try to ride easy in the saddle. It is normal to second-guess yourself and feel depressed about the state of affairs. Embrace any element of progress. This will become your lifeline when you feel like you are drowning. It may seem an irrational concept but in the future your most traumatic process experiences will become, some of our most endearing memories. Hopefully telecontractors.com can be there for you in this process, even if it is a shoulder to cry on. We know the process. Follow future blogs as we go into more detail on many of the topics mentioned above.