Remodeling -- I Admit It, I Painted Brick

I recently purchased a small home in Pooler, Ga. to remodel then put on the market. I do this from time to time because I love the process of re-building – negotiating a good price, pricing out the job, doing what I can like painting, flooring and some carpentry work, working with sub-contractors on things I can’t do, then watching the house transform, THEN marveling over the outcome. I get a sense of accomplishment, and it helps me do something physical – I can’t explain it but it’s a satisfying feeling.

I probably wouldn’t want to do any of these jobs working for someone else, because I really love my real estate profession, but from time to time I truly enjoy it.

A few things I’ve found that are critically important are:

1. Make sure I know what improvements are necessary and how much it’s going to cost.

2. Knowing the market so that I don’t price myself out of the market with all the improvements.

3. Finding dependable sub-contractors who will do a quality job.

4. Doing it right.

Too many times I see re-modeling jobs that skimp on the extra stuff that needs to be done to make the home a quality re-modeling job. My sense of pride in what I do prevents me from skimping.

On this particular job I am doing all the necessary improvements, but one esthetic concern I had was the brick siding. Now, most people who love brick homes are horrified if anyone suggests painting the brick. For the most part, I agree, but this home had brick that was chipped and discolored with age. I decided to paint it.

So, what I am saying to remodeling nuts like myself, don’t recoil at the prospect of painting brick - I painted the brick today with a light brown, earthy color and it makes the home look 100% better.

The rule should be: MOST of the time it’s unwise to paint brick -, but, I promise you, brick can be improved.

(P.S. The house in the picture is NOT the house I bought.)

Later,

Mike from Savannah