How much home improvement can I get for $20k?

[MichiganMat]

Im looking at playing a little "This Old House" with an old cottage in downtown San Jose. The basic stats are:

- Build in 1901
- 1100sq/ft
- 3 bed, 2 bath
- Converted into 2 units, doorway has been sealed, small kitchen added

If I were to buy this place, I would like to do:

- Demo of small kitchen
- Fresh carpet in 2 or 3 rooms
- new flooring in the kitchen
- lots of paint inside
- a few small fixes to the bathrooms
- Addition of 2 doorways
- kitchen remodel with appliances, countertops, cabinets
- possibly full painting of house

Im confident I can do a lot of this stuff myself (demo, inside paint, bathrooms, possibly doorways), but the other stuff would need contractors for the carpet and kitchen bits.

Would $25K get me there? Any ideas?

[gchappel]

If you can do the work yourself 25k may get everything on your list- except the kitchen.
Gary

[stomachmonkey]

doing the work yourself I think you can get pretty much all of it.

Kitchen will depend on materials you pick for countertops and how hi end the appliances.

Are the cabinets salvageable in terms of simply refacing with new doors and hardware or are all new needed?

[MichiganMat]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

doing the work yourself I think you can get pretty much all of it.

Kitchen will depend on materials you pick for countertops and how hi end the appliances.

Are the cabinets salvageable in terms of simply refacing with new doors and hardware or are all new needed?

Appliances wouldn't be anything high end, modest would be fine.

Lets say the cabinets are salvageable, but I don't like the color and the doors are ugly. Can you just paint them a different color? I would think hand-brushing them would look a bit like crap...

Man, Im getting excited about this place, which is not good for doing business.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by MichiganMat

Appliances wouldn't be anything high end, modest would be fine.

Lets say the cabinets are salvageable, but I don't like the color and the doors are ugly. Can you just paint them a different color? I would think hand-brushing them would look a bit like crap...

Man, Im getting excited about this place, which is not good for doing business.

Well for the cabinets here's an example. Last house we had a fairly large kitchen.

Hated the cabinet doors, replaced them all, lower, upper and center island with new doors for ~$1,500. Was around 22 doors in total.

You can paint them. Do you know what they are made of? You may want to strip and stain them. Or you can do a laminate on the cabinet faces and get doors to match.

Is Milt anywhere near you? I'd PM him for some advice/help.

[vash]

has the plumbing been changed over to copper? what about the electrics..still using the screw in fuses? both of those are high ticket items. they involve utilities. say $5k each

[nut11]

Sounds like a nice find. Price should be right in these times. I've painted cabinet fronts and it's come out very nice. Use to small rollers. Go for it.

87 blk coupe

[MichiganMat]

Originally Posted by vash

has the plumbing been changed over to copper? what about the electrics..still using the screw in fuses? both of those are high ticket items. they involve utilities. say $5k each

Good question. I didn't look unfortunately, but will check it out on my next visit.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by MichiganMat

Lets say the cabinets are salvageable, but I don't like the color and the doors are ugly. Can you just paint them a different color? I would think hand-brushing them would look a bit like crap...

You'd be surprised. LOTS of prep work, but $200-300 very well spent and it's held up really well.







Kitchen cabinets are definitely a "problem" surface for adhesion, so prep work and GREAT primer is key. Roller or brush is a personal preference issue. I really like working with Benjamin Moore oil paint and a good quality sash brush.

[VINMAN]

Nice job Jake. Looks great!

Matt, the biggest factor will be what you want to do with the kitchen. You can take two similar kitchens ( size, configuration, appliances). One can be done for $5000, the other for $35,000 all depends on your choice of materials and level of appliances.

[Dave L]

We did a small make over in the kitchen of our last place.

Painted cabinets, new laminate countertop, new tile backsplash, maple flooring, new sink, faucet, stripped wallpaper and painted the walls. It was a very small kitchen, I did all the work and we did it for about $1000.The improvement really made a big difference.

[dipso]

Originally Posted by MichiganMat

If I were to buy this place, I would like to do:

- Demo of small kitchenWhy demo it? Just take it apart, paint everything the color you want and put it back together with new hardware. $200.00 A good tip is to take it apart, paint the interior cabinets and faces, back of doors. Reassemble with new hardware and then paint door fronts hanging.
- Fresh carpet in 2 or 3 roomsFew hundred bucks. If the house is on a raised foundation it has hardwood floors under the carpet. Have them refinished instead of putting in carpet. Maybe $1500.00
- new flooring in the kitchenDepends on what you get. With a place that small you may just want to have hardwood to match ran through the kitchen. Assuming you have hardwood under the carpet.1500.00
- lots of paint insideDo it yourself $300.00
- a few small fixes to the bathrooms$400.00
- Addition of 2 doorways Do it yourself.Cornerbead, mud, paint tools, 2x4s,$100.00. Do it before the floors are refinished or carpet put in.
- kitchen remodel with appliances, countertops, cabinetsAppliances $3000.00 or less. Countertops $100.00 sq ft or cheaper for granite. Cabinets, new hardware only $200.00
- possibly full painting of house$3000.00 to $4000.00 each, interior and exterior.

Im confident I can do a lot of this stuff myself (demo, inside paint, bathrooms, possibly doorways), but the other stuff would need contractors for the carpet and kitchen bits.

Would $25K get me there? Any ideas?

Piece of cake.

[red-beard]

You may want to consider a membership to Directbuy. For someone planning to spend $20K, you will save way more than the price of the membership.