1. Acclimation – Getting familiar with the
property more deeply, including neighbors and surroundings.
2. Reckoning – Understanding and accepting what
you’re actually dealing with and how to take on the challenges.
3. Bones
and Deadwood – All
the prep behind the sheetrock that should be buttoned up before rough-in
begins.
4. Nerves
and Tubes and Systems
– Roughing in of plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and technical wiring may not be
sexy, but it will make the house feel like a home when everything works as it
should and is where it belongs down the road.
5. Glimpses – My favorite phase—insulation and
drywall—when the house begins to look and feel as it was planned and imagined.
6. The Awakening – The finishing layers that will
be seen, touched, and enjoyed begin to pop, sparkle, and shine room-by-room.
7. Home Stretch – Water is on, lights work, controlling room temps is seamless and it’s safe to bring in appliances, furniture, and window treatments.
Conclusion – For homeowning rehabbers, this is the honeymoon phase of the renovation. In the case of the flip, it’s bittersweet, a mixture of so many things that culminate in the final goodbye.
