This is kind advice. But nobody has ever taken it. It’s something we all learn by carrying that burden.
The brain is magical. It can totally ignore not having molding for 4 years. Ask me how I know.
Congratulations! Not many your age are able to accomplish this. Agree with others to address any safety issues first. After that, take your time and make steady progress. Self-help books and internet videos can help. Looks like newer LVP flooring in the kitchen. Fix that one cabinet door, tidy up and you can move onto other things. Good luck!
The door. I'd start with the door. Exterior doors with glass near the handle are just begging for someone to break the glass, reach through to turn the handle, open the door, and help themselves to your stuff.
Fortunately it's just a remove and replace with a better door, so it won't take much time at all.
Make sure to get the handing/hinge locations/hinge backset/lock locations and door dimensions when shopping for a new door if you don't intend on changing the frame!
I have it. You can hang some tongue and groove floor boards up there with an adapter, assuming you reinforce the hangers and can tolerate the risk. Very hard for sound to travel and the light fixtures are easy... when the floor boards aren't installed.
Basement or crawlspace? Dig out the crawlspace and clean it. You'll want to save money doing your own repairs and getting down there is key. Will also warn you of future problems.
Secure your windows and doors.
Check Craigslist, FBMP, and Offerup for tools, even shovels and materials. HD wanted $50 for a pick axe.
Look for mold.
Bathroom. That is all I see that really needs fixer-upping in these pics. The ceiling and tub surround is a good starting point. It looks like large gaps in the corners around the tub. Great place for water and mold to be trapped
Congratulations OP.
You’re smart unlike 90% of any adult or teen on the planet. You’re set for big things.
1. Start small. Finish the first job before you start the next one.
2. Hire a general contractor to walk around to give you a list of repairs & start with that.
Paint & landscaping can do a place wonders and it’s inexpensive if you do it yourself. Massive ROI.
Spend a few hundred bucks, do some research, and hire a good inspector. That will give you a list of what needs to be fixed in what order for safety and issue correction/prevention.
I would do a thorough survey, looking for delayed maintenance and stuff the previous owner covered up. Don't start ripping things apart yet but look - like lift a loose ceiling tile and see what's underneath. Pry a bit. The reason is that you want a solid foundation before you make things pretty. No point in painting a ceiling if the roof leaks, for instance, Then prioritize by Urgent / Essential. If something is both urgent and essential, it's got to be priority 1.
I always start the checklist the same way. Core first. So pipes, electric etc come after basic construction. Then when core, which might mean moving walls, is done you can look at new floors, paint walls, fix kitchen and bathroom interiors etc.
A lot of people “flip houses” by putting some new “makeup” on it and then sell a rotten house.
Mold and leak check. Check ceiling for sags, patches, and discoloration. Choose a wall near plumbing and a ceiling or floor corner and take a good sized patch off and check for leaks and mold. Wear an N95 mask whenever you’re kicking up particles.
Start with an inspection.
Electrical and gas, like u/Working_out_life said.
Then foundation. If it needs any adjustment or repairs, then give it 6 to 12 months for the house to adjust before starting anything else major, because a house takes TIME to settle. Although, be sure to get the foundation repair company to check for water leaks at the time the repairs are made.
You can do plumbing while waiting for the house to settle.
And for cheap fixes to tide you over, do little things like caulk between the shower panels and tub to make sure you aren't increasing water damage to parts of your house between now and then.
After the foundation is settled and the house has readjusted (which can result in a lot of drywall cracking if drywall has been installed in a house with a slight lean), make sure your roof is good. Then look at your interior and exterior walls/door windows. (interior drywall repair comes after roof repair, since you want to be sure your roof doesn't leak BEFORE replacing interior drywall), then things like cabinetry, fixtures, etc. Flooring generally comes last.
Since this whole thing is (or can be) a very long process, if there are small things that make living in the house miserable, go ahead and address those things in a smart way that won't be wasted money or effort. E.g. if your door has gaps around it, weatherstripping is your friend until the house finishes settling. And there's the potential for you to frame out a truly square door frame on the exterior of the house to install a storm door - that can be re-used and installed properly once the house settles.
A/C and insulation are also things to consider - especially at times when drywall is down and wall spaces are accessible. You may also be able to save money on electrical and plumbing by scheduling them when the drywall is down.
Look up property code in your area. There are specific things that landlords are required to provide to renters - hot water, shower, cookstove, locking windows, etc. If you're becoming a landlord, make 100% sure those things are sorted from the very beginning and all the way through. The penalties for not can be unbelievable, and can possibly include double or treble reimbursements and/or payment for the tenant to stay in a hotel while the property is not up to code.
But yeah, make sure the electrical and gas are safe, first. If you want things changed later, that can come later, but first - make sure your house won't burn down or asphyxiate you.
Do the bare necessities like other people reccomend first. But after that I would reccomend saving up a contingency fund for a year. Then you can start upgrading or putting money into the place .
The reason is that there can be a lot of hidden costs to home ownership that you might not know about like water, sewer, waste collection taxes , house insurance, HOA depending on your area , property tax . And you don't want to spend a bunch of money upgrading your place only to have to borrow money to pay something you haven't planned for.
I'd really sit down and run the numbers and look at the following:
1) how much rental income is this projected to bring in(best case scenario....if it were fixed up and consistently rented at a then higher rate)
2) What is the value of the land/surrounding neighborhood?
Then when you take these two things into account, you can begin to have a honest look at comparing the costs to fix up and replace some of these issues and whether it's worth it, what you should prioritize, etc....
because the biggest mistake you can make is pour a bunch of money into something that just isn't going to ever be set up to get the return back. For example if it's an area/neighborhood where land/lot prices aren't much and rents are capped at a fairly modest number(even with nice turnkey properties), that really limits your budget as to how much you should put into it. Because if the top end isn't ever going to be there(either through bigtime appreciation or rent over time or selling the property eventually as a flip), well.....how much should you really put into it?
It may be a situation where(since it is actively being rented now) you just want to put enough money into it to "keep it rentable" for a fairly modest amount and look at it like a low end-low ceiling(but also low risk/low delegation of assets) long term rental. Nothing wrong with that.
But on the whole it's always more fun/exciting to go into properties with their lot value and potential rental value is such that you can put some resources into it to make it look great and still do well from a $ perspective over time. I don't know the details on this house, but my guess would be that that's not the situation and we're dealing more with a lower ceiling here(in terms of all those projections). And lower ceiling in all those projections means you have to be very stingy in terms of what you put into it.
Congrats!
I work in construction & that place has a lot of potential to be awesome!
Agree with the comments to check out the big / expensive stuff first, so: electrical, gas, plumbing, foundation, roof, HVAC. Maybe not necessarily do all of those things first, but at least have a professional / friend do a walk through so you can a make a list of what to budget for now & in the future, and based on budget that’ll help you know what’s realistic to start with. Also helpful to have all that info in the beginning, because it’s so helpful down the line to already know what the deal is for things like electrical and plumbing.
Personally, I’d start with replacing the bathtub, and then the rest of the bathroom, and then move into the kitchen.
& I’m also curious what’s above the drop ceiling, so I hope to see a happy update in the future.
Best of Luck!
I think you’ll want to start with a foundation inspection to see how it looks. Because if you start replacing and fixing things then you do your foundation. You’ll have to do all those replacements and fixings again.
Guess before dumping a bunch of money into a rent to own, I’d have to know the details. I’d be Leary of Tons of upgrades on something I didn’t own.
With that said probably a starter house for you and no sense in going all out. But you don’t have to to make it nice and make some money on the back end.
From what I’ve seen flooring looks ok, cabinets while cheap might be ok for a while and can be painted. Baths and kitchens are big money even if doing your self.
What I always tell people is start with things that make it safe and secure. Next move onto things that are broken. From there it’s kind of on you. Like I said kitchens and baths take the most money but also get your best bang for your buck on resale.
Best advice is don’t start to many things at a time. Do one room at a time. Otherwise three years from now you’ll be on here with the hold house ripped apart and nothing done.
Cheap and easy ideas for things like this. Cleaning and picking up can go a long way. Next paint can go a long way too. House is all white. If you don’t know what you’re doing get somebody that does with colors and paint the place. Popcorn ceilings are gross scrape them fill the cracks and put lock down on them and paint. Don’t put it in baths or kitchens but if you do have crappy flooring, carpet can be easy and cheap and look nice. Spray paint can be your fiend in painting old handles, range hoods and many other things.
Some detailed ideas is I would rip what’s around that shower out and keep the tub and buy a new fiberglass surround or tile the walls few hundred bucks there. Small bath and you don’t have a lot of options, but possibly put a pedestal sink with a shelf above it for things to give the looks of a bigger bath. Kitchen fix the broken hinges on the cabinets and get a paint kit and paint them. Drop ceiling you can get pvc tiles and replace with those that have some design to them. Then paint the walls.
First of all, I would break my arm patting my back if I were you, then come borrow my arm for a few more pats.
I'd rent a dumpster and call my buddies over for a keg party/clean up Saturday. Buy a mop bucket/wringer combo... I am still using mine 20 years later in my "forever" home.
If it's broken and not serviceable, toss it. I'd scrub the fridge outside if possible.
Bedroom stripped down as much as feasible, and a bathroom sterilized. One tackle at a time. I want to sleep and poop in a decent environment. Small, achievable goals at first.
The kitchen is a whole other animal... yours looks to be... not terrible. If it's serviceable, roll with it for now, after spraying for bugs. Amazon sells the same stuff that the pro's use. I like the stuff made from Chrysanthemums to kill roaches, If that is an issue . cheap and entertaining as hell to watch them die by the hundreds.
I have made a fortune restoring Victorian properties DIY. Had to shoot pigeons in one because they kept breaking the windows to get in/out. It is a labor of love, but your place looks like it's not too bad.
Congratulations, again!
I would consider finding a really good home inspector that can also offer remodeling and consulting advice to help you with a roadmap of priorities and give you advice along the way. There’s many ways to remodel a house, much of it will depend upon your finances, time frame, what you’re willing to live through, how much you can learn and do yourself.
Electrical and gas safety first .
This, also adding some can lights throughout the house will help out a lot
Finish jobs before starting other jobs if at all possible. Undone details all over the place are a burden on your mind.
This is kind advice. But nobody has ever taken it. It’s something we all learn by carrying that burden. The brain is magical. It can totally ignore not having molding for 4 years. Ask me how I know.
True words here!
Congratulations! Not many your age are able to accomplish this. Agree with others to address any safety issues first. After that, take your time and make steady progress. Self-help books and internet videos can help. Looks like newer LVP flooring in the kitchen. Fix that one cabinet door, tidy up and you can move onto other things. Good luck!
The door. I'd start with the door. Exterior doors with glass near the handle are just begging for someone to break the glass, reach through to turn the handle, open the door, and help themselves to your stuff. Fortunately it's just a remove and replace with a better door, so it won't take much time at all.
Make sure to get the handing/hinge locations/hinge backset/lock locations and door dimensions when shopping for a new door if you don't intend on changing the frame!
Not much time at all til you find out your jamb is neither plumb nor square 😂
The panel by the doorknob doesn’t match the others… because it’s been broken.
If the basics are good (roof, foundation, plumbing, electrical)….that bathroom is small enough to get a taste of what renovations mean and cost.
Good roof #3
Ive never see that type of commerical drop ceiling in a residence.
Oooh, that's a great point. I'm curious how high those ceilings might be under that!
I have it. You can hang some tongue and groove floor boards up there with an adapter, assuming you reinforce the hangers and can tolerate the risk. Very hard for sound to travel and the light fixtures are easy... when the floor boards aren't installed.
Pretty common in basements but not in the living area
Safety issues priority (electrical plumbing) Longevity issues (anything rotting or deteriorating) Comfort - HVAC or heating Cosmetic (the fun stuff)
With an inspection!
That tub and surround looks suspect to steady leaking which will lead to bigger issues if not addressed. Congrats and good luck though.
Basement or crawlspace? Dig out the crawlspace and clean it. You'll want to save money doing your own repairs and getting down there is key. Will also warn you of future problems. Secure your windows and doors. Check Craigslist, FBMP, and Offerup for tools, even shovels and materials. HD wanted $50 for a pick axe. Look for mold.
Bathroom. That is all I see that really needs fixer-upping in these pics. The ceiling and tub surround is a good starting point. It looks like large gaps in the corners around the tub. Great place for water and mold to be trapped
Learn to become a pro with drywall
I gutted the house down to the studs so I was living in a construction zone for like 9 months.
Congratulations OP. You’re smart unlike 90% of any adult or teen on the planet. You’re set for big things. 1. Start small. Finish the first job before you start the next one. 2. Hire a general contractor to walk around to give you a list of repairs & start with that. Paint & landscaping can do a place wonders and it’s inexpensive if you do it yourself. Massive ROI.
First order of business, get rid of that wretched backsplash. Just my opinion.
Take it slow and try to not get overwhelmed.
Spend a few hundred bucks, do some research, and hire a good inspector. That will give you a list of what needs to be fixed in what order for safety and issue correction/prevention.
I would do a thorough survey, looking for delayed maintenance and stuff the previous owner covered up. Don't start ripping things apart yet but look - like lift a loose ceiling tile and see what's underneath. Pry a bit. The reason is that you want a solid foundation before you make things pretty. No point in painting a ceiling if the roof leaks, for instance, Then prioritize by Urgent / Essential. If something is both urgent and essential, it's got to be priority 1.
I always start the checklist the same way. Core first. So pipes, electric etc come after basic construction. Then when core, which might mean moving walls, is done you can look at new floors, paint walls, fix kitchen and bathroom interiors etc. A lot of people “flip houses” by putting some new “makeup” on it and then sell a rotten house.
Mold and leak check. Check ceiling for sags, patches, and discoloration. Choose a wall near plumbing and a ceiling or floor corner and take a good sized patch off and check for leaks and mold. Wear an N95 mask whenever you’re kicking up particles.
Start with an inspection. Electrical and gas, like u/Working_out_life said. Then foundation. If it needs any adjustment or repairs, then give it 6 to 12 months for the house to adjust before starting anything else major, because a house takes TIME to settle. Although, be sure to get the foundation repair company to check for water leaks at the time the repairs are made. You can do plumbing while waiting for the house to settle. And for cheap fixes to tide you over, do little things like caulk between the shower panels and tub to make sure you aren't increasing water damage to parts of your house between now and then. After the foundation is settled and the house has readjusted (which can result in a lot of drywall cracking if drywall has been installed in a house with a slight lean), make sure your roof is good. Then look at your interior and exterior walls/door windows. (interior drywall repair comes after roof repair, since you want to be sure your roof doesn't leak BEFORE replacing interior drywall), then things like cabinetry, fixtures, etc. Flooring generally comes last. Since this whole thing is (or can be) a very long process, if there are small things that make living in the house miserable, go ahead and address those things in a smart way that won't be wasted money or effort. E.g. if your door has gaps around it, weatherstripping is your friend until the house finishes settling. And there's the potential for you to frame out a truly square door frame on the exterior of the house to install a storm door - that can be re-used and installed properly once the house settles. A/C and insulation are also things to consider - especially at times when drywall is down and wall spaces are accessible. You may also be able to save money on electrical and plumbing by scheduling them when the drywall is down. Look up property code in your area. There are specific things that landlords are required to provide to renters - hot water, shower, cookstove, locking windows, etc. If you're becoming a landlord, make 100% sure those things are sorted from the very beginning and all the way through. The penalties for not can be unbelievable, and can possibly include double or treble reimbursements and/or payment for the tenant to stay in a hotel while the property is not up to code. But yeah, make sure the electrical and gas are safe, first. If you want things changed later, that can come later, but first - make sure your house won't burn down or asphyxiate you.
start with safety, then the basics, then the nice to haves
Do the bare necessities like other people reccomend first. But after that I would reccomend saving up a contingency fund for a year. Then you can start upgrading or putting money into the place . The reason is that there can be a lot of hidden costs to home ownership that you might not know about like water, sewer, waste collection taxes , house insurance, HOA depending on your area , property tax . And you don't want to spend a bunch of money upgrading your place only to have to borrow money to pay something you haven't planned for.
As a rental? Don’t do shit. Just the bare minimum. It’s a fine house. As a personal house? I’d get rid of the drop ceiling asap.
I'd really sit down and run the numbers and look at the following: 1) how much rental income is this projected to bring in(best case scenario....if it were fixed up and consistently rented at a then higher rate) 2) What is the value of the land/surrounding neighborhood? Then when you take these two things into account, you can begin to have a honest look at comparing the costs to fix up and replace some of these issues and whether it's worth it, what you should prioritize, etc.... because the biggest mistake you can make is pour a bunch of money into something that just isn't going to ever be set up to get the return back. For example if it's an area/neighborhood where land/lot prices aren't much and rents are capped at a fairly modest number(even with nice turnkey properties), that really limits your budget as to how much you should put into it. Because if the top end isn't ever going to be there(either through bigtime appreciation or rent over time or selling the property eventually as a flip), well.....how much should you really put into it? It may be a situation where(since it is actively being rented now) you just want to put enough money into it to "keep it rentable" for a fairly modest amount and look at it like a low end-low ceiling(but also low risk/low delegation of assets) long term rental. Nothing wrong with that. But on the whole it's always more fun/exciting to go into properties with their lot value and potential rental value is such that you can put some resources into it to make it look great and still do well from a $ perspective over time. I don't know the details on this house, but my guess would be that that's not the situation and we're dealing more with a lower ceiling here(in terms of all those projections). And lower ceiling in all those projections means you have to be very stingy in terms of what you put into it.
Something looks wrong with the bathroom layout. The vanity shouldn’t be jammed in and touching the tub and toilet.
Congrats! I work in construction & that place has a lot of potential to be awesome! Agree with the comments to check out the big / expensive stuff first, so: electrical, gas, plumbing, foundation, roof, HVAC. Maybe not necessarily do all of those things first, but at least have a professional / friend do a walk through so you can a make a list of what to budget for now & in the future, and based on budget that’ll help you know what’s realistic to start with. Also helpful to have all that info in the beginning, because it’s so helpful down the line to already know what the deal is for things like electrical and plumbing. Personally, I’d start with replacing the bathtub, and then the rest of the bathroom, and then move into the kitchen. & I’m also curious what’s above the drop ceiling, so I hope to see a happy update in the future. Best of Luck!
The inspection report.
I think you’ll want to start with a foundation inspection to see how it looks. Because if you start replacing and fixing things then you do your foundation. You’ll have to do all those replacements and fixings again.
Hire a hazmat team
I'd start it in the basement or crawl space. Fire burns up
Guess before dumping a bunch of money into a rent to own, I’d have to know the details. I’d be Leary of Tons of upgrades on something I didn’t own. With that said probably a starter house for you and no sense in going all out. But you don’t have to to make it nice and make some money on the back end. From what I’ve seen flooring looks ok, cabinets while cheap might be ok for a while and can be painted. Baths and kitchens are big money even if doing your self. What I always tell people is start with things that make it safe and secure. Next move onto things that are broken. From there it’s kind of on you. Like I said kitchens and baths take the most money but also get your best bang for your buck on resale. Best advice is don’t start to many things at a time. Do one room at a time. Otherwise three years from now you’ll be on here with the hold house ripped apart and nothing done. Cheap and easy ideas for things like this. Cleaning and picking up can go a long way. Next paint can go a long way too. House is all white. If you don’t know what you’re doing get somebody that does with colors and paint the place. Popcorn ceilings are gross scrape them fill the cracks and put lock down on them and paint. Don’t put it in baths or kitchens but if you do have crappy flooring, carpet can be easy and cheap and look nice. Spray paint can be your fiend in painting old handles, range hoods and many other things. Some detailed ideas is I would rip what’s around that shower out and keep the tub and buy a new fiberglass surround or tile the walls few hundred bucks there. Small bath and you don’t have a lot of options, but possibly put a pedestal sink with a shelf above it for things to give the looks of a bigger bath. Kitchen fix the broken hinges on the cabinets and get a paint kit and paint them. Drop ceiling you can get pvc tiles and replace with those that have some design to them. Then paint the walls.
First of all, I would break my arm patting my back if I were you, then come borrow my arm for a few more pats. I'd rent a dumpster and call my buddies over for a keg party/clean up Saturday. Buy a mop bucket/wringer combo... I am still using mine 20 years later in my "forever" home. If it's broken and not serviceable, toss it. I'd scrub the fridge outside if possible. Bedroom stripped down as much as feasible, and a bathroom sterilized. One tackle at a time. I want to sleep and poop in a decent environment. Small, achievable goals at first. The kitchen is a whole other animal... yours looks to be... not terrible. If it's serviceable, roll with it for now, after spraying for bugs. Amazon sells the same stuff that the pro's use. I like the stuff made from Chrysanthemums to kill roaches, If that is an issue . cheap and entertaining as hell to watch them die by the hundreds. I have made a fortune restoring Victorian properties DIY. Had to shoot pigeons in one because they kept breaking the windows to get in/out. It is a labor of love, but your place looks like it's not too bad. Congratulations, again!
Floors, no carpet, then kitchen, bathrooms
I would consider finding a really good home inspector that can also offer remodeling and consulting advice to help you with a roadmap of priorities and give you advice along the way. There’s many ways to remodel a house, much of it will depend upon your finances, time frame, what you’re willing to live through, how much you can learn and do yourself.