Hands On

[gecho1]

Just a quick question for forumite's.

I have read about alot of ppl here expanding their wisdom, in all facets of property investment.
So i thought i'd start a little poll in regards to the reno side of property.

How many ppl on this forum either

a) Enjoy renovating and getting their hands dirty
b) Would love to renovate, but have limited experience
c) Enjoy the project management side but not the hands on stuff
d) None of the above

Let us know why too.

Myself, (I'm now a tradie-Chippy), i started on building sites when i was 12 y/o as during the recession, it was the only time i would see my dad, as he would work weekends and holidays. I slowly learnt every trade as he was a hands on builder, and now i enjoy all aspects of renovating, and now specialise in renovations.

 

[BoatBoy]

C for me.

Why? I have a trade background and have been on the managment side of thing's as well.

I have sweated my gut's out and sat behind a desk.

While I feel that I am more than capable of doing reno's,and have done, I feel my time is now more productive and profitable organizing deal's and tradie's .

I don't mind doing grunt work if it is something I want to do, but these day's I do get a lot of satisfaction from drinking cold beer on a hot day watching others work.

I happily cheer them on and offer encouragment as required from a comfortable vantage point...

Dave

 

[sunshine]

a and c for me

I love the demolition stage - ripping up, tearing out and knocking down.

Then I get the tradies to make it all better

Sunshine

 

[alexlee]

D. I can't even find the right end of the hammer to hold. My strength is in saving money, making a decent salary and understanding legals, finance and tax. Renos is something I want to try, but I'm thinking about starting with an old unit and just getting something cosmetic done.
Alex

 

[our obsession]

We can do a bit of everything...as long as it's legal.

Partner is very capable and clever; I make a wonderful laborer/assistant and love painting (and landscaping).

Having said that we have only worked on a few IP's...nothing really major, definitely the serious stuff goes to those qualified; and the others were constructions.

We have built our own stables and day yards and do our own fencing etc...it's good fun, great sense of achievement, creating and learning...we both enjoy getting down and dirty and work well together.

 

[BlackSpider]

C for me too.

I could do pretty much anything but electrical and some plumbing, but just can't be bothered.
Would rather just pay someone elso to do it so I can enjoy the limited amount of spare time I get away from work.


Spider

 

[sailor]

A and C for me. Still learning how to hammer a nail in straight and use the drill for inserting screws...but I'm a demon with a crobar...can't even spell it! I do what I'm capable of, and then get the tradies to do the rest. I can tile in small spaces and paint ...but it takes me 10 times as long as the tradies to get the same effect. I do enjoy the end result...looking at my handy work and thinking I've made a contribution and saved a few dollars.

 

[lizzie]

c for us now - after 6 reno's in 9 years we're all a bit over it. i used to love renovating, but i must be getting old(er) and really just can't be bothered doing something for 3 weeks that takes a tradie 4 days.

 

[LynnH]

C for us now, too. I agree with lizzie - too many renos + getting 'too old'. Why do something yourself when a tradie does it quicker.

Cheers
LynnH

 

[wish-ga]

How many ppl on this forum either

a) Enjoy renovating and getting their hands dirty
I love what I have achieved but aware of my limitations. Don't want to try something to save a buck and pay even more to get my goof fixed properly.

b) Would love to renovate, but have limited experience
Dat's me!... subject to change!

c) Enjoy the project management side but not the hands on stuff
Actually, I've found sourcing, coordinating and negotiation extremely stressful to be honest ........... feel that I am being taken advantage of and have been told after the fact what I *should* have done but noone helps me when I need a bit of support. It is very intimidating despite due diligence.

 

[wylie]

I sat down one day with my mother and we counted up the number of "make-overs" we have done on our own houses, our IPs (past and present) and we stopped counting at 30. I think we missed a few and we will do one in a couple of months.

These "make-overs" range from simply painting (though we drew the line at external painting a long time ago) to gutting kitchens and bathrooms, removing walls, adding decks, landscaping etc etc. Some houses have been painted several times. The one we will be doing next will be the third time we have "tidied up" this house.

I have really enjoyed some of them, and really hated some. It all depends on the personalities involved. I remember one reno when my mother and father were not talking to each other and my husband and oldest son were butting heads. That was really not a good memory. Others we have all pitched in and it is (funnily enough) good for bonding with each other.

It is funny how instant coffee can taste so good when you are renovating .... luxury.

I love seeing a sow's ear turn in to a silk purse and hubby loves getting away from a desk job and doing physical work for a change.

Wylie

 

[BoatBoy]

and hubby loves getting away from a desk job and doing physical work for a change.

Wylie

Have I got a job for you.

Just a little bit of sanding and a lick of paint.

Dave

 

[sailor]

Have I got a job for you.

Just a little bit of sanding and a lick of paint.

Dave

Good grief! What an understatement!

 

[wylie]

Actually, I'd much rather paint your boat than the outside of a house. I HATE painting windows and fiddly bits. That big stretch of flat(ish) rolling looks a breeze.

Lick o' paint, lick o' paint, couple of hours....

Wylie

 

[BoatBoy]

Actually, I'd much rather paint your boat than the outside of a house. I HATE painting windows and fiddly bits. That big stretch of flat(ish) rolling looks a breeze.

Lick o' paint, lick o' paint, couple of hours....

Wylie

Oh if only it was that simple,

80 litres of 2 pack epoxy primer to date and about another 80 to go ,all sprayed.

A few month's of sanding by hand.

About 100 litres of 2 pack urethane to finish, all sprayed.

This stuff will kill you, but sure look's purdy when done right.

[Pic of our last cat]

Give me a house any day

Dave

 

[bronwynt]

a) for me.

Hubby and I love to do almost everything ourselves on our reno's, we only get tradies in when we have to, electrician/plumber, brickies sometimes.
He knows how to do almost everything and I am slowly convincing him that he should keep teaching me more as I love learning new trades, it is always a matter of needing to get a job done quickly and him not having the time or patience to show me properly.

Bronwyn.

 

[gecho1]

Hi Boat Boy, love your project, had to look twice as i thought i was on the "Other" forum, but then realised that. nope this was the somersoft forum haha.
I feel your pain, i regularly 2 pack joinry myself, and as you said, dangerous stuff but jeez it looks good.
Have also fitted out a few trawlers in my time, even converting one into a "Home". I got to say, give me a house anyday, at least you can use a bubble stick im a house and get things on an even keel (Scuse the pun)
still looks gr8.
To everyone else who has answered this post, cheers- give me a bit of an insight, as i love to teach "Non Trades" and take them through the process of turning "Pigs@%t into strawberry jam"

cheers all

Ade