I should have worn a hazmat suit. The moment I stepped into the condo, my hand started itching—a subtle biological warning I completely ignored. By the time we finished ripping up the original carpet, I looked like I’d gone twelve rounds with a bag of nickels. I was so swollen I was actually scaring the DIY-ers at Home Depot.
With Prednisone as my only friend, we pushed forward. My dad stepped in as foreman, and the mission was clear: make it livable, get it rented, and stop the mortgage bleed.
Phase 1: The “Survival” Remodel
To save time and money, we focused on sweat equity rather than a total gut job. We scrubbed the kitchen and bathrooms within an inch of their lives, keeping the original cabinets but refreshing everything else.
- Flooring: I took charge of the living room and two bedrooms, installing a laminate floating floor.The “No-Measure” Hack: I skipped the tape measure—just flip the plank, mark the opposite side, and cut.Tip: Buy a miter saw and a proper flooring kit. Your sanity (and your knees) will thank you.
- Plumbing & Fixtures: My brother Daniel handled the bathroom hardware. Naturally, I spent the entire time belting out Elton John’s Daniel at him. He hated it; I found it essential to the process.
The Mandatory Disaster: It wasn’t a “real” renovation until something collapsed. While painting, the ceiling above the sliding door gave way, revealing a dry-rotted ledge leaking water from the 2nd floor. After a quick pivot to replacing the ledge, fixing the drywall and heavy caulking, we crossed the finish line.
The Result: Four weeks of work, and it was rented within a month.
Phase 2: Eleven Years Later
Once the property had proven its worth, we decided to give it the “forever” treatment. We didn’t just scrub—we completed the transformation.
- The Great Open: Opened up the kitchen wall to create an open-concept flow.
- The Upgrades: Installed custom kitchen cabinets (actually done after 4 years) and modern bathroom vanities.
- The Foundation: Replaced the laminate with high-end porcelain flooring throughout the common areas and bathrooms
The only thing that remains of the first remodel is the laminate flooring in the bedrooms. When the time comes, if ever, we will likely use luxury vinyl flooring — unless of course, something better comes around.
And- one of my favorite upgrades was using the porcelain flooring for the baseboards. Looks great!!! Check it out.
