Skip to main content
Fulltext search
FILTER RESULTS BY:
RECOMMENDED IN RENT
Moving to NYC after college? Here's how to find a rental apartment
RECOMMENDED IN BUY
How buying real estate in NYC is unlike anywhere else
RECOMMENDED IN SELL
A guide to using a no-fee renovation loan from a NYC real estate firm
RECOMMENDED IN IMPROVE
How to make your NYC renovation more pet-friendly
BEST REAL ESTATE WEBSITE!
National Association of Real Estate Editors
BEST REAL ESTATE WEBSITE! National Association of Real Estate Editors
Brick Underground
Social Links
follow:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Flipboard
  • search
Brick Underground
☰ Brick Underground
Brick Underground
Brick Underground
☰
Brick Underground
  • Buy
    • Buy
    • The Market
    • Investing
    • New Construction + Condos
    • Affordable Housing
    • Co-ops
    • Negotiating + Financing
    • How to Buy in NYC Guide
    A rendering of the roofdeck at 55 Broad Street.
    Rent
    Housing lottery launches for 143 apartments in the Financial District
    Aerial panoramic view of Red Hook, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
    Sales Market
    24 NYC neighborhoods where median prices more than doubled in the past decade
    431 West 54th Street is a co-op building that allows subletting.
    Investing
    Want to buy an investment apartment to rent out? Here's what you need to know
  • Rent
    • Rent
    • Affordable Housing
    • Roommates + Landlords
    • The Market
    • The Search
    • How to Rent in NYC Guide
    Young woman using laptop at new apartment, with moving boxes around.
    Roommates + Landlords
    Didn't get your security deposit returned in NYC? A new chatbot can help
    A rendering of the six-story building in Park Slope.
    Affordable Housing
    Housing lottery launches for 45 rent-stabilized units in Park Slope
    Laura and her dog Jack
    Rent
    Why I moved to NYC from Brazil: I relocated for work and reunited with friends I made 15 years ago
  • Sell
    • Sell
    • Staging + Open Houses
    • Negotiations + Closings
    • Getting Ready
    • How to Sell in NYC Guide
    Aerial view of downtown Brooklyn
    Sell
    Median sales price in Brooklyn climbs to $995,000 in the second quarter
    Downtown New York City
    Sell
    Manhattan deals rose to highest level in nearly two years, defying national trends
    new condo building and older co-op buildings in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
    Sell
    Brooklyn median price nears $1 million but the spring market is a question mark
  • Live
    • Live
    • Neighbors
    • Kids + Pets
    • Neighborhood Intel
    • Products + Test-drives
    • Troubleshooting
    FlatRate moving brick underground
    Live
    How to troubleshoot your move in advance
    Sponsored By flatrate
    Distressed woman sitting in her apartment
    Troubleshooting
    Ask Altagracia: My live-in partner is abusive. How can I get out of my lease?
    Sponsored By Outerbridge Law P.C.
    NYC apartment buildings with fire escapes
    Neighborhood Intel
    Can you sit on a fire escape in NYC? 5 things to know
  • Improve
    • Improve
    • Small Spaces
    • Small Projects + DIY
    • Renovations
    • Design + Architecture
    • Products + Services
    • How to Renovate in NYC Guide
    mini splits apartments new york city
    Products + Services
    Yes, you can install central AC in your co-op or condo unit. Here's how
    image
    Products + Services
    Take back your deck! How to win the war with mosquitoes and enjoy outdoor living again
    NYC apartment building with AC units
    Products + Services
    My neighbor's dripping AC is driving me crazy. What can I do?
  • Boards & Buildings
    • Boards & Buildings
    • Boards
    • Finance
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Property Management
    • Structure & Systems
    • Sustainability
    Burned and Boarded Up Windows
    When should your board hire a public adjuster?
    Manhattan GM
    What should we consider when renewing insurance for our building?
    Facade of NYC buildings
    How much is insurance on a NYC co-op or condo building?
  • Advertise
    • Advertise with us
    • Sponsored Content
    • Experts
    FlatRate moving brick underground
    Live
    How to troubleshoot your move in advance
    Sponsored By flatrate
    Distressed woman sitting in her apartment
    Troubleshooting
    Ask Altagracia: My live-in partner is abusive. How can I get out of my lease?
    Sponsored By Outerbridge Law P.C.
    Building facades in New York in winter
    Roommates + Landlords
    Ask Altagracia: I withheld rent due to inadequate heat and I'm being hassled to pay it back. What should I do?
    Sponsored By Outerbridge Law P.C.
  • Brick Report
  • About Us
  • About Us
The subscription service is currently unavailable. Please check again later.
Fulltext search
FILTER RESULTS BY:
New Main menu
  • Buy
    • Buy
    • The Market
    • Investing
    • New Construction + Condos
    • Affordable Housing
    • Co-ops
    • Negotiating + Financing
    • How to Buy in NYC Guide
  • Rent
    • Rent
    • Affordable Housing
    • Roommates + Landlords
    • The Market
    • The Search
    • How to Rent in NYC Guide
  • Sell
    • Sell
    • Staging + Open Houses
    • Negotiations + Closings
    • Getting Ready
    • How to Sell in NYC Guide
  • Live
    • Live
    • Neighbors
    • Kids + Pets
    • Neighborhood Intel
    • Products + Test-drives
    • Troubleshooting
  • Improve
    • Improve
    • Small Spaces
    • Small Projects + DIY
    • Renovations
    • Design + Architecture
    • Products + Services
    • How to Renovate in NYC Guide
  • Boards & Buildings
    • Boards & Buildings
    • Boards
    • Finance
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Property Management
    • Structure & Systems
    • Sustainability
  • Advertise
    • Advertise with us
    • Sponsored Content
    • Experts
  • Brick Report
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Advertise
  • About Us
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER →
Social Links Footer
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Search
NYC Renovation Q's [ SPONSORED ]

A checklist for first-time NYC renovators

By Bolster  | August 22, 2017 - 2:00PM
image

Bolster

SHARE:
Share to Facebook
Share to Twitter
Print
More...

Not everyone has the mettle to renovate in New York City, but for strong-minded homeowners willing to work a bit more to live in the exact home of their dreams (not someone else’s) it can be extraordinarily rewarding. The challenge is extreme, with, in the event of a delay, alternative housing potentially running a few thousand dollars a month. 

“First-time renovators are more vulnerable since they can get a number of close friends and relatives who have already renovated acting as advisors for a project. Everyone has a friend that is or knows an architect,” says Anna Karp, co-founder of Bolster, a New York City company that matches homeowners to reliable contractors and architects, vastly simplifies the bidding process, and financially guarantees that each project is delivered on time, within budget, and to each homeowner's specifications.  

Below, advice from the experts at Bolster that every reno newbie should heed:

1. Have a plan, and enlist help as early as you can

"Timeframes matter," says Anna. "The sooner you get planning, the more prepared you will be for the entire process and the myriad elements beyond your control such as Department of Buildings and landmark codes, regulations and permitting, as well as, if you are in a co-op or condo, the approval process of your individual building. Your architect and contractor can help provide this crucial information, and in the unfortunate event that you discover you cannot do the renovation you hoped, it’s too expensive or too complicated, you will still have the opportunity to renegotiate."

Getting ahead of the process at the start can save you significant money (and grief) on the back end. Closing and moving costs are common expenses overlooked when calculating the cost of a move. But carrying costs—such as paying for two places to live and storage for your belongings when you can’t move in because your renovation is delayed—can be both significant and painful.

Other individuals to reach out to include the building super (whose buy-in will be crucial to making sure your renovation goes smoothly) and other residents in the building. Don’t be afraid to knock on doors and ask to see how others have used and/or adapted the space, as well as any issues they might have had with their own projects.

TOP TIP: Reach out to your board to find out if they allow renovations of all types. Sometimes, building co-ops can halt renovations due to matters that are unforeseen to homeowners.

Living in any space undergoing any kind of major renovation isn’t manageable, so be sure to make arrangements for where you will stay while work is being done.

Finally, says Anna, "One of the smartest things you can do before your renovation begins is make all your decisions—on design, fixtures, etc.—in the pre-construction phase. That way, there are no surprises in price, materials, labor and time. By using Bolster’s Design and Build product  to help plan and manage your renovation project, you can guarantee that your budget determines your design, not the other way around."

image
Caption

Bolster

2. Hire a team, not individuals—and do it simultaneously  

To manage costs and keep your renovation streamlined and efficient, it’s best to hire an architect and a contractor at the same time to work together.

"In a traditional renovation process, it’s common for people to hire architects first, and then a contractor when design is complete—a game plan which can lead to considerable costs and delays," says Anna.

In the regular Design, Bid, Build model, for example, an architect might submit a design for a project for owners that expressed having a a $500,0000 budget, that a series of contractors invited to bid at a later date price out at $800,000 or $900,000. Dealing with a discrepancy like that takes time, and often requires making decisions about what to cut from your initial, ideal design. (Not a pleasant experience.) That cut in scope can then cause a ripple effect on the design, leading to re-designing at a cost for the homeowner.

"Bolster enables the owner, architect and contractor to work together from the outset of a project, with a client’s preferences for a job simultaneously informed by the knowledge, experience and expertise of those professionals," says Anna. "For example, if a contractor is involved with the design process, they can offer real-time pricing, as well as valuable real world experience executing architect’s designs and a cultivated network of suppliers. This dynamic and transparent process not only saves money—an average of $58,000 per project—but also reduces delays."

Bolster’s vetted contractors also price jobs to complete them, not win them. "Our contractors don’t low-ball an estimate just to secure a contract," Anna says. "This means you get detailed, realistic and accurate estimates before work has begun and the risk of change orders during the building process is significantly reduced."

image
Caption

Bolster

3. Learn to speak the language

The more educated you can be about the design and building process, the more time and money (and frustration) you will save yourself.

During the renovation process, you will inevitably need to outsource hundreds of decisions to your professionals. However, for critical decisions such as tiles, appliances, fixtures, etc., it’s important to not only select them yourself, but to go and see them in person. (Even the most savvy online shoppers can be unpleasantly surprised with their choices when they arrive.) Remember: you will have to LIVE with these choices.

By doing so, not only do you know exactly what you like and want, you also save money by making the most of your architect’s time. Being educated about the essential raw materials of projects also empowers clients to have more productive conversations with vendors. Finally, if you are aware of the family of products you select for a kitchen, you can be on the lookout for sales, which are likely to happen during the course of your renovation.

One of the most valuable skills you can have during any renovation process is the ability to "speak plan." That is, being able to look at a 2D drawing and understand what that looks like in 3D. One area where this is especially helpful is determining the "usability experience" of proposed elements. A kitchen sink may look fine in a rendering, but comparing its dimensions to your existing sink—by taping out the new measurements alongside it—will give you a clear sense if the new one works for you. And you are the only one who can determine that.

There’s lots of information to absorb in the planning process, so it’s also a good idea to take notes or record conversations with your architect. That way you can recall why things are the way they are and be a more informed participant in your renovation.

Additionally, the more you understand about your plans and how you arrived at them, the more you will feel comfortable raising questions or pushing back on design elements with your architect. 

4. Ensure budget dictates design

"The best way to ensure your renovation matches your initial plan while also costing what you're willing to spend is to let your budget dictate your design, not the other way around," says Anna. "The traditional renovation process of hiring professionals in isolation inevitably leads to delays, change orders and unnecessary, often significant costs for renovators. Bolster's innovative process connects seasoned architects, experienced contractors, and clients to create renovation plans that are delivered on time and within budget."


Every year, New Yorkers waste over $700M following the usual renovation process. Bolster is different, using a scientific approach to match you with the highest-quality professionals and financially guarantee your project is delivered beautifully for a fair price—all at no extra cost.

To start your major home renovation project, visit bolster.us or call (929) BOLSTER.

Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers.

topics:

NYC Renovation Q's Renovation
SHARE
TWEET
BRICK’S PICKS
NYC apartment building with AC units
My neighbor's dripping AC is driving me crazy. What can I do?
Historic brick facades of NYC apartment buildings
Getting overcharged by a landlord? Here’s how the Tenant Protection Unit helps rent-stabilized tenants
Apartment buildings in Soho
New Rent Guidelines Board report justifies a rent freeze, tenant advocates claim
Brooklyn apartment buildings
Understanding net effective rent: Here's how to calculate your real monthly rent
image
How much should you renovate your NYC apartment or house before selling?
Council Member Shahana Hanif hold press conference before the City Council vote on Arrow Linen spot rezoning.
City Council signs off on 10-story towers for Arrow Linen site
Follow Brick on Instagram
@brickunderground | #brickunderground
Brick UndergroundBRICK UNDERGROUNDREAL LIFE. REAL ESTATE. REAL NEW YORK.
Social Links Footer
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Search
Main menu footer
  • Buy
    • The Market
    • Investing
    • New Construction + Condos
    • Affordable Housing
    • Co-ops
    • Negotiating + Financing
    • How to Buy in NYC Guide
  • Rent
    • Affordable Housing
    • Roommates + Landlords
    • The Market
    • The Search
    • How to Rent in NYC Guide
  • Sell
    • Staging + Open Houses
    • Negotiations + Closings
    • Getting Ready
    • How to Sell in NYC Guide
  • Live
    • Neighbors
    • Kids + Pets
    • Neighborhood Intel
    • Products + Test-drives
    • Troubleshooting
  • Improve
    • Small Spaces
    • Small Projects + DIY
    • Renovations
    • Design + Architecture
    • Products + Services
    • How to Renovate in NYC Guide

Get more news you can actually use...

Email Address

Delivered to your inbox weekly - for free.

*By signing up you agree to receive occasional emails on behalf of our sponsors

Footer Menu
  • About Us
  • Advertise

Copyright 2009-2024 by BND Ventures Inc | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Ad Choices | Login