Retirement North Carolina Remodel Project – the Journey of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

I guess you can say I have been obsessed with HGTV- specifically with Chip and Joanna Gaines and their wildly successful ‘Fixer Upper’ show.  Waco, Texas and dozens of home owners in the local Waco area have benefited from the Gaines’s home remodels, various businesses and retail enterprises around Waco. Then there are the millions of viewers such as I, who have viewed the majority of those renovations. Not only was I inspired by how lives of people were changed due to the Gaines’s talent and magic touch, but inspired to think I could tackle such a project myself.  Like Nike, I actually became empowered that I could ‘Do It’ and manage a team on a fixer upper of my own.

In April of 2017 I retired after 46 years of employment as a public relations practitioner. The bucket list was full and I was in “ready, set, go” mode for the next journey in my life. This blog reflects my journey through my first home remodel in Asheville, North Carolina. Yes, I was empowered by HGTV and the Gaines but my lessons went well beyond the transformation of the house itself.  Enjoy the journey with me to remodel the Woody Lane house!

The Journey Begins

It was the month of February 2015- one of the coldest winters on record in North Carolina.  The ice, snow, wind and low temperatures were relentless. I found myself moving to the condo I purchased in the most horrendous conditions. My husband passed away unexpectedly five months prior. As empty nesters living in Florida for over 35 years, we purchased our mountain “retreat’ home which was larger than what we were looking for in square footage, but we loved the house, the views, the golf course, the community and immediately made the house our own. We were officially “half-backs” making a work-lifestyle transition to western North Carolina.

That September of 2014, now a widow maneuvering life as a single, it didn’t take long to realize I had to divest myself of the Airstream 22’ trailer we had purchased 6 months prior, the Chevy Tahoe and the retreat home. The Airstream and Tahoe sold within 24 hours of an online posting, and it took only two weeks to sell the house.  Then I needed to find a place to live quickly.  There were two attached condos built in the mid-90s that were available in the same development on the opposite side of the beautiful mountain view golf course.  Running on intuition and not a lot of thoughtful planning I selected the one needing the least amount of work done to it.  The condo was nestled in a cul-de-sac, bright and cheery-  move in ready. Square footage was only 500 sq. ft. less than the retreat house and on three levels- built on the side of a hill, very similar to my previous house. This was not a good move with a downsizing goal but I loved the condo and made it my own.

After 2 ½ years in the condo and after spending the better part of two years grappling with business issues and estate matters related to my husband, it was time to take a moment and breathe. I had been in a daily, full time work routine for over 40 years. After all I had been through and after getting the blessing from my financial advisor, I was ready to take what I called a ‘career break’ – a nice work for retirement at the age of 68.  

A fixed income gives you a true wake up call. Time to reflect on what is important. Time to contemplate your living arrangement, expenses, the reality of what you really need. Do I want my kids and grandkids to all have comfortable rooms to sleep in and their own bathrooms? Not important to me now.

Time was also on my side. Without having the luxury of time, the next journey of selling and buying a new home would not be possible. 

The One- Half Rule

I took on the mantra of the “one-half” rule. Reduce my space by at least one half, reduce my taxes by one half, reduce my utility bills by one half and NO HOA dues! 

Now it was time to take action.

You Just Know

One thing I’ve learned in my experiences of buying the last three homes in North Carolina – two on my own as a single woman.  Usually the “search” tends to end when you walk into the prospective house (understanding you’re already in the ballpark of your price range). You just know “it’s the one. “The house will speak to you. Flaws and all. You’ll see yourself there and you’ll know what you could do to make it your own.

The house will speak to you. Well, after searching many options, all in my price range and meeting the smaller, basic one level with basement criteria, this one on Woody Lane spoke to me. I had been looking at a lot of different places. But it took one walk through- flaws and all, to envision myself there.

That being said, the house needed a lot of work.  Was a true “fixer upper” in my vision? Not so much but it didn’t concern me. After all Chip and Joanna Gaines do this all of the time.  If they can do, I can do it. No problem.

The same day I saw the house with my agent, the offer went in. By next day we stuck the deal. I took a deep breath as I did in my retirement decision and I was on my way.

Begin at the beginning

Here was my choice- BR “before renovation’     

What Spoke to Me about this Property

I liked the vibe neighborhood, the flow of the property, private backyard space, the fact I could lace up the running shoes and get in a nice run within the immediate neighborhood without getting in my car and driving to a flat, safe running spot. Close proximity to important services and the main interstate into Asheville was a huge draw, plus the fact the area is unincorporated county which means only county tax versus a double tax of both county plus city tax.  I started to plan my new house adventure.

Main floor square footage was 1532 sq. ft. An unheated, unfinished basement gave me an additional 765 sq. ft for the activity/playroom, workout space/TV /game room space I desired.  Main level had everything I needed to live EXCEPT the laundry room which was addressed in a satisfactory fashion in my plan. There were two outside patios off the main living area and kitchen creating a nice traffic flow around the house. Perfect for sitting and eating outside and even space for a nice fire pit near the house.

 Preliminary Planning During Due Diligence

I stayed busy during the due diligence period measuring, and making notes. I started to more critically review inside, outside, all around. What rooms needs paint, what needs sketches and visualization photos?

To implement the vision, I needed to compile my “fixer upper team” –  house and yard ‘handymen,’ contractor, HVAC, plumber, electrician, roof & gutter, landscape designer, closet and cabinet organizer and a propane vendor to drop a tank and bring a more fuel-efficient energy to the house. All vendors came into place nicely. The basement remodel and master bath shower renovation required a contractor. After interviewing, receiving quotes and recommendations I decided not to engage a GC (general contractor) but just a qualified contractor. This would come back to bite me big time, but more on that later.

Setting and Budget and Building the Vision Book

My all-in budget for the remodel was $40,000. The basement gutting and remodel was by far the largest expense although due to rookie mistakes and areas of need that reared their ugly head along the way, the budget blossomed with unexpected, unplanned expenses beyond my budget.

My Remodel Vision Book was my ‘bible’. I added to it regularly, referred to it daily and carried it everywhere. Everything regarding the remodel project stemmed from the book and my vision.

• I scoured through Pinterest on a daily basis once the house was under contract
• I took photos of the current house and each room as a start. I also took photos of the yard – front, back and outside living space
• I took measurements of every space
• I then started to match up my vision of colors, repairs and fixes contemplated, new add-ons and finishing work with the current room
• Color swatches, Sherman William color palates were added. I even stopped at a complete stranger’s house during a run and asked the color of their house. It was the perfect green! was looking for. They were very accomodating, pulling out the paint can, and allowed me take pictures of their house
• I then organized each room into a “job” with components to each: paint or cosmetic changes only; demolish and rebuild, and so forth. Exterior also had job components and yard debris clean
• I then started matching the trades and vendors with each job. Job quotes and interviews were completed

The Back Breaking Beginning

I bought the house in May. Rains (some very heavy) showed the drainage issues on the property Immediately. Add gutter and rainwater systems to the vendor list (unbudgeted but necessary to me to fix) Outside landscaping, enhancements to the outside living space also got their own vision boards. Inside out- 100% of the property had a plan from the beginning.

I scoured through Pinterest and starting making vision boards for each room, the house exterior, outside space and yard. Walls, flooring, appliances, cabinets, bathrooms, laundry area, living area and a what the basement activity room, stairs and bathroom might look like.   

A good deal of the exterior would be simply a cosmetic change as well as the outside yard.  The front entrance screamed out for some ‘curb appeal.’

The lawn and yard was in major need of clean and attention. I did most of the clean- up myself and a yard handyman shouldered the backbreaking job of carting away years of debris, leaves and tree branches from the property perimeter.

The lawn had patches of concrete that was never cleaned up when the back patio was installed. The same yard handyman broke up the patches and then I was able to bring in dirt and re-sod. I sank a propane tank and line which disrupted the back lawn so it was convenient to do these projects together allowing the summer rains and warm weather grow new grass very quickly. 

The Transformation – Getting Ideas