7 tips for building and renovating your own home — and making sure you can finish the project, according to people who have done it themselves

Amanda GohDec 29, 2022, 07:11 IST

Maxine Sharples — one of the homeowners I spoke to this year — painting her tables.Maxine Sharples

I interviewed more than 10 people this year who have renovated their own homes.
They reflected on their experiences and shared with me what they learned on their journey.

I interviewed over 10 people this year who have either built or renovated their own houses.

Pepe and Eugenia standing outside the completed cabin.Modern House Cabin

1. Take the time to assess the amount of work required before diving into a project.

Kat O'Sullivan is one of the homeowners I spoke to this year. In this picture, she's painting the exterior of her Hudson Valley home.Kat O’Sullivan/Katwise

2. Draw out all floor plans before you start the work, and don't forget about details like electrical outlets and light fixtures.

In this photo, Stefanie Fisher, another homeowner I spoke to, is putting up the walls of her wagon.Stefanie Fisher/My Tiny Wagon

3. Reuse old materials to reduce costs.

Katy Krebs, a Texas homeowner I spoke to earlier this year, managed to reuse an old door for her tiny home.Katy Krebs

4. Maximize the use of space with multi-purpose furniture.

Pepe Romero and Eugenia Diaz built a tiny cabin in Portugal and opted for a retractable dining table in order to maximize the use of the little space they had.Modern House Cabin

5. Choose materials that will last a long time, even if they cost more upfront.

Laura Genevieve, the owner of the Spanish bungalow in LA, standing beside a shelf.Chris Saldivar of Tea Tree Productions.

6. Remember that it's not the end of the world if you make mistakes — they can usually be corrected.

Whit Scott spent 10 months converting a bus into a tiny home Airbnb.Whit Scott

7. Budget and track your finances closely.

Maxine Sharples — one of the homeowners I spoke to this year — learned bricklaying and joinery work as she was unable to find contractors within her budget.Maxine Sharples

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7 tips for building and renovating your own home &mdash; and making sure you can finish the project, according to people who have done it themselves