To give you some context of how we got here, we started as roommates in grad school living in an 3 storey walk-up above Kits Beach. We got married in 1994. In the same year, we decided to purchase a ½ duplex on 8^th Avenue West (near Balaclava). This was done to the dismay of both of our parents who couldn’t understand how anyone could pay more than $100,000 for half a house.

Here’s the fun part. In early 2007 (during the hay days of the real estate bubble) we decided to sell the ½ duplex and renovate the revenue property on 11^thAvenue into our dream home. Truth be told, it was I who pushed to build. You can see the completed project on workmasters.com (Project #001, Vancouver, BC). Not surprisingly, trades were hard to find and prices for labour were through the roof.

Proposed revovation of current house

But what really hit home was the incredible difference in quality, customer service, and value for money, from building trades and contractors. With the budget racing out of control and little more than drywall on the studs, we took over the project from our General Contractor and completed the project ourselves. In the end, it was the help from our Interior Designer (and her relationships with seasoned tradesmen) that made the difference.

Unfortunately, after living in our dream home for just a year, we decided to put it on the market. Right down to the wire we almost pulled the offer. However, it was the right decision at the time.

We downsized to a property on 13^th Avenue (and Balaclava … see the pattern here) and that’s where we are today. Our financial house is in much better shape but it’s still tough to walk by our dream home.

DIY Extreme invites you to follow the renovations of our third home from the initial stages of design and permits through demo/foundation work and framing to our final finishings.

Homeowner plans to build a major addition around older home with family living inside

Before renovations on 11th Avenue

Our renovated bungalow on 11th Avenue

As an introduction to this DIY project I’d like to state that I am currently only in the planning stages. Actually, my wife is not thrilled about ever living through another renovation. This is the third property we’ve purchased in Kitsilano (Vancouver, West Side) in the past 20 years.

To give you some context of how we got here, we started as roommates in grad school living in an 3 storey walk-up above Kits Beach. We got married in 1994. In the same year, we decided to purchase a ½ duplex on 8^th Avenue West (near Balaclava). This was done to the dismay of both of our parents who couldn’t understand how anyone could pay more than $100,000 for half a house.

View of our current house before we begin renovations

Over the years, we’ve added to our family (and now have two beautiful daughters, 6 and 8 years). We later purchased a revenue property on 11^th Avenue West (also near Balaclava), and things were going well.

Here’s the fun part. In early 2007 (during the hay days of the real estate bubble) we decided to sell the ½ duplex and renovate the revenue property on 11^thAvenue into our dream home. Truth be told, it was I who pushed to build. You can see the completed project on workmasters.com (Project #001, Vancouver, BC). Not surprisingly, trades were hard to find and prices for labour were through the roof.

Proposed revovation of current house

But what really hit home was the incredible difference in quality, customer service, and value for money, from building trades and contractors. With the budget racing out of control and little more than drywall on the studs, we took over the project from our General Contractor and completed the project ourselves. In the end, it was the help from our Interior Designer (and her relationships with seasoned tradesmen) that made the difference.

Unfortunately, after living in our dream home for just a year, we decided to put it on the market. Right down to the wire we almost pulled the offer. However, it was the right decision at the time.

We downsized to a property on 13^th Avenue (and Balaclava … see the pattern here) and that’s where we are today. Our financial house is in much better shape but it’s still tough to walk by our dream home.

DIY Extreme invites you to follow the renovations of our third home from the initial stages of design and permits through demo/foundation work and framing to our final finishings.