John Gerard from OurHomeFromScratch.com joins me today to talk about his home improvement experiences, his website and his eBook.  John’s website is a combination of home improvements and woodworking and in this episode, he shares some of the lessons he has learned as a homeowner and the tools and resources he used when he renovated his kitchen.

 

Topics covered in this episode

* The phone call that led John to buy his first house.

* What John recommends you do first if you buy a “fixer-upper.”

* How his choice for the first improvement made in his first house wasn’t necessarily the best choice.  What John recommends you don’t do first when you buy a house.

* How a plumbing emergency led to a DIY failure and a learning opportunity.

* John’s complete kitchen renovation and why and how he (mostly) made his own cabinets himself.

* The tools he used to plan and design his kitchen

* John’s book:  Renovate Your Kitchen the Smart Way

* The four things you need to consider before you renovate your kitchen:  Do you need to renovate?  What is your budget?  What is the scope of the work?  What are the functional requirements?

* The GOAL of John’s website, Our Home From Scratch.

 

Resources mentioned in this episode

Blum Drawer Slides

Western Dovetail:  Custom drawer boxes made to order.

Ikea Planning Tools:  Plan your layout with Ikea products (or products matching Ikea dimensions).

Cabinet Planner:  Software that allows you to design cabinets, render them in 3D,  see them in a floor plan view and create your cut list.

Renovate You Kitchen the Smart Way (affiliate link):  John’s book that walks you through everything you need to know before you start your kitchen renovation.  More project management than “how-to.”

Our Home From Scratch:  John’s website– a combination of home improvements and woodworking.

 

John’s advice

Pull permits.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice.  Lean on the experience of others.