Dumb Question: Any remodeling guys on this board?

[ChiefsFanatic]

My wife and I are think about putting a bid on a repo house. It has a nice deck in back that needs to be refinished, and a nice size inground pool in the back. However, the people trashed it when they were being evicted. All the flooring needs to be replaced (they had put laminate flooring over carpet in a large section of the house) it needs to be repainted inside, the basement is partially finished (the walls) but needs the ceiling finished and a wall they had built knocked down to make way for a pool table. Maybe some updating to the kitchen and bathrooms.

My question is, how much do things like that normally cost? Does anyone give free estimates? If you do the work, can you get materials at a discounted price?

Really, I have no experience with things like this, so any help would be appreciated.

[el borracho]

* deck that needs to be refinished- refinished sounds like simple work (sanding, staining and sealing) that anyone can do inexpensively. You will need a sander to do this.

* flooring needs to be replaced- this one can be quite expensive, depending on what you have, what you want and how much you can do yourself. Be aware that, no matter what you want to install, you will need special tools to do this job.

* needs to be repainted inside- simple and inexpensive

* basement needs the ceiling finished- depends on square footage, really. Most anyone can do drywall without fancy tools but not everyone can do it well and some tools are very helpful.

* a wall they had built knocked down to make way for a pool table- I'm not sure I understand you. Are you wanting to remove a non-structural wall (easy and cheap) or needing to replace a wall that was removed?

* Maybe some updating to the kitchen and bathrooms- updating kitchens and bathrooms can cost tens of thousands, depending on how involved the project is and which finishes you choose.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Phobia

You'd be surprised what that monster gets per gallon. It does a lot better than a lot of SUV's currently on the market.

10 feet?

Seriously, I'm guessing it gets 10-12 MPG or so...

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

10 feet?

Seriously, I'm guessing it gets 10-12 MPG or so...

With a trailer attached.

It gets 16+ highway without trailer.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Phobia

With a trailer attached. It gets 16+ highway.

I kinda assumed you had a trailer attached during the workweek - or does the crew lug a trailer when needed?

Anyway - 16 on the highway is great for that rig.

The trailer is only attached at the beginning and end of a project. Many of our jobs don't even require the trailer.

[Earthling]

Originally Posted by Phobia

Start getting to know them. I charge for estimates now that gas is $4+. I can't afford not to.

I guess thats a difference of geography. The place I live in is small enough to get to most places without worry about the gas..Btw Phobia, how much do you charge to go to a bid site..if you don't mind my asking..?

Originally Posted by Earthling

I guess thats a difference of geography. The place I live in is small enough to get to most places without worry about the gas..Btw Phobia, how much do you charge to go to a bid site..if you don't mind my asking..?

I charge $50 within 15 miles which is then rolled into a credit if my bid is accepted. It's $75 for 16-25 miles. I try not to go out any further than that. It's mostly to discourage tire kicking. If somebody is invested into me for $50 they're going to be more likely to work hard at developing a relationship that can work and become quality clients. If they have no investment then it's easy to walk away if they get cold feet or a lowball bid. This is a new thing for me and it's 75% contingent on fuel prices.

[ChiefsFanatic]

Originally Posted by el borracho

* deck that needs to be refinished- refinished sounds like simple work (sanding, staining and sealing) that anyone can do inexpensively. You will need a sander to do this.

* flooring needs to be replaced- this one can be quite expensive, depending on what you have, what you want and how much you can do yourself. Be aware that, no matter what you want to install, you will need special tools to do this job.

* needs to be repainted inside- simple and inexpensive

* basement needs the ceiling finished- depends on square footage, really. Most anyone can do drywall without fancy tools but not everyone can do it well and some tools are very helpful.

* a wall they had built knocked down to make way for a pool table- I'm not sure I understand you. Are you wanting to remove a non-structural wall (easy and cheap) or needing to replace a wall that was removed?

* Maybe some updating to the kitchen and bathrooms- updating kitchens and bathrooms can cost tens of thousands, depending on how involved the project is and which finishes you choose.

On the flooring, we wanted to go with some hardwood laminate, but if carpet were significantly cheaper, that could be an option.

In the basement, the previous owner finished the walls, and then blocked off the water heater etc, with a wall, but I would want it knocked down, and moved back about 10 feet. Then I would want the ceiling done, and possibly the floor.

The kitchen and bathrooms could use updated fixtures, flooring, etc.

[HMc]

Originally Posted by Phobia

I charge $50 within 15 miles which is then rolled into a credit if my bid is accepted. It's $75 for 16-25 miles. I try not to go out any further than that. It's mostly to discourage tire kicking. If somebody is invested into me for $50 they're going to be more likely to work hard at developing a relationship that can work and become quality clients. If they have no investment then it's easy to walk away if they get cold feet or a lowball bid. This is a new thing for me and it's 75% contingent on fuel prices.

Is it really your experience that $50 is a motivator of that magnitude?

Im guessing your quotes are in the thousands, presumably in the 5-10 range? Seems to me 50 bucks is a real small amount in that context.

Originally Posted by HMc

Is it really your experience that $50 is a motivator of that magnitude?

Im guessing your quotes are in the thousands, presumably in the 5-10 range? Seems to me 50 bucks is a real small amount in that context.

I don't know yet. I haven't been doing it long enough yet. For me, $50 would be a motivator even if it was peanuts in the grand scheme. I wouldn't put $50 down on a car unless I was very serious about purchasing it.

[el borracho]

Originally Posted by ChiefsFanatic

On the flooring, we wanted to go with some hardwood laminate, but if carpet were significantly cheaper, that could be an option.

In the basement, the previous owner finished the walls, and then blocked off the water heater etc, with a wall, but I would want it knocked down, and moved back about 10 feet. Then I would want the ceiling done, and possibly the floor.

The kitchen and bathrooms could use updated fixtures, flooring, etc.

Hardwood laminates start at about $3 per square foot and go up from there and then you have the cost of installation or you can rent the nailer and do it yourself. It isn't terribly difficult but you will need to prep the floor and you will need the nailer and a chop saw. I can't tell you carpet prices because I always tear out carpet and put in wood or tile.

You can knock down a wall in no time, assuming it isn't a supporting wall. All you need is a small sledge and a claw hammer (although a reciprocating saw makes the job faster and easier). If you do it yourself, be careful of any electrical, plumbing or gas lines which may be hidden and try not to play in the insulation.

Not sure what flooring you might want in your basement. I assume it is a cement slab? If you put in carpet you will need to lay a carpet pad. If you put in tile you can go directly on the cement. If you put in wood you will need to lay a wood subfloor (about $50 per 4x8 sheet).

To put in a wall you will need a chop saw and/ or a skill saw and you will need an impact drill (to set some bolts into the foundation through the bottom plate). A screwgun is helpful for putting up the sheetrock, but you can do it the old-fashioned way (nail it) if that makes more sense to you.

Your kitchen fixtures cost whatever you want them to cost. Spend an afternoon shopping about and decide what you want.

Kitchen flooring again depends on your taste and budget. Tile is usually between $3 and $5 per square foot, not including installation. You can do it yourself (again, not too difficult) but you will need a mixing blade for your drill, a wetsaw to cut the tile and some miscellaneous, inexpensive hand tools (square, trowel, float, sponge). Linoleum is obviously cheaper (and easier) than tile but I don't like linoleum so I've never priced it nor installed it.

[ChiefsFanatic]

Originally Posted by el borracho

Hardwood laminates start at about $3 per square foot and go up from there and then you have the cost of installation or you can rent the nailer and do it yourself. It isn't terribly difficult but you will need to prep the floor and you will need the nailer and a chop saw. I can't tell you carpet prices because I always tear out carpet and put in wood or tile.

You can knock down a wall in no time, assuming it isn't a supporting wall. All you need is a small sledge and a claw hammer (although a reciprocating saw makes the job faster and easier). If you do it yourself, be careful of any electrical, plumbing or gas lines which may be hidden and try not to play in the insulation.

Not sure what flooring you might want in your basement. I assume it is a cement slab? If you put in carpet you will need to lay a carpet pad. If you put in tile you can go directly on the cement. If you put in wood you will need to lay a wood subfloor (about $50 per 4x8 sheet).

To put in a wall you will need a chop saw and/ or a skill saw and you will need an impact drill (to set some bolts into the foundation through the bottom plate). A screwgun is helpful for putting up the sheetrock, but you can do it the old-fashioned way (nail it) if that makes more sense to you.

Your kitchen fixtures cost whatever you want them to cost. Spend an afternoon shopping about and decide what you want.

Kitchen flooring again depends on your taste and budget. Tile is usually between $3 and $5 per square foot, not including installation. You can do it yourself (again, not too difficult) but you will need a mixing blade for your drill, a wetsaw to cut the tile and some miscellaneous, inexpensive hand tools (square, trowel, float, sponge). Linoleum is obviously cheaper (and easier) than tile but I don't like linoleum so I've never priced it nor installed it.

Thanks for the advice. I think I could do some of it myself, but if we do buy the house, I want some of the things done before we move in, so I will probably have to pay someone to do at least some of it.

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by Phobia

You know I don't have any comeback for that. I'll just have to own it.

you could have said that was "my job"