Where to start when thinking about renovation in Brooklyn

5 years ago

We are first time home buyers and just bought our house last October. I'm really at a loss as to where to start when thinking about renovating it. The house is 100 years old but in pretty solid condition and well kept. We have some smaller and larger ideas for renovation and I'm not really sure where to start or where to look first. There are so many websites to look at and the real challenge in NYC is finding reliable people who will do a solid job (and not overpay for it). Any tips on where to start or anyone who has gone through this in Brooklyn specifically? Thanks!

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User
5 years ago

Start with reading all of the below. Twice. Then hire a good Kitchen Designer with good industry contacts. And have a realistic budget for your want list. And learn to ruthlesd in separating wants from needs.

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/10-tests-for-you-and-your-contractors-first-meeting-dsvw-vd~5332686?n=90[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/10-tests-for-you-and-your-contractors-first-meeting-dsvw-vd~5332686?n=90)

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2018/

https://nkba.org/info/why-hire-a-designer

http://starcraftcustombuilders.com/kitchen.design.rules.htm#.WvYPH_9OnYX

https://www.curbed.com/2018/3/7/17087588/home-renovation-unnecessary-mcmansion-hell-wagner

https://www.ceramictilefoundation.org/homeowners-guide-to-hiring-qualified-tile-installer
aprilneverends
5 years ago
Not Brooklyn, but OC, CA (also HCOLA, and it's very busy in construction right now)

I'd start with estimating what I want to be done, what needs to be done, and whether what I want might have potential needs come to light and be addressed. (the more you dig into older house the more such issues you'll find.) Determine the scope, so to say, and know what it means in terms of time and money..well as much as one can know in advance.

I'd read a lot(starting with Sophie's list, but not stopping there), think of direction -I want my place to be such and such..does it fit the house, in terms of style and function? does it fit my family, in terms of style and function?..I'd make appointment with pros(in my case we met with builders, it was a very big remodel), and get even a vague opinion/s on costs involving different scopes. What if I do only X, X and Y, or X and Y and Z. They won't give you anything detailed at this point, detailed quote takes much more time in preparing, and can be a separate charge, and some won't get involved in it unless you're committed to the point of them drafting plans, and it'd be several K (or was here). But at this point you're still not looking into anything definitife yet, you're determining your scope, see who you click with so to say-and they're meeting you while deciding whether they click with you.

Current codes are strict and should be met anytime you touch walls/openings, plumbing, electricity..it slipped my mind what else, but every state will have its own code anyway. It's hard to educate yourself on all(just the electrical code here was 900 pages in print..)), but whoever you decide to work with-he should know what takes to meet your local codes.

Now, you're being in a loss where to start is kinda normal..we were in shock, first couple months for sure, and just looked at the house, at each other, and besides being in shock did nothing)) Then we started drawing on the napkings and such..

then we went on Angie's list, read many reviews, started calling..

I'd compare it to how one often starts writing an essay, a long and complex one, you know.

All my literature teachers in school knew I'll stare at that blank piece of paper for maybe twenty, maybe forty minutes. Everyone would be writing already-I'd still be staring. They weren't worried about me loosing time though. They knew that how it goes when I'm about to write something good:)
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Where to start when thinking about renovation in Brooklyn

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aprilneverends

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