The Journal — Read Before You Renovate
Materials, budgets, upkeep — the lessons we've learned, written down.
37 articles
Your Handyman Charged You $1,400 for That. Here's What It Should Have Cost
A handyman quoted me $1,400 for a job that should have been around $750. Here’s ...
What I Pay a Handyman For — and Why That's Not Failure
I outsource certain repairs to handymen and it’s not failure — it’s smart busine...
Cabinet Hardware That Won't Loosen — and the Stuff That Will in Six Months
After dealing with loose cabinet hardware in multiple rentals, here’s my tested ...
Flooring That Survives Tenants: A Cost-Per-Year Analysis of 4 Materials Across My 4 Rentals
Cost-per-year analysis of 4 flooring types across my rentals based on real insta...
How I Vet a Contractor in 15 Minutes (Supply Chain Edition)
My 15-minute contractor vetting process comes straight from supply chain vendor ...
The Dishwasher Install That Took 7 Hours and a Phone Call to Atlanta
I tried installing a dishwasher myself to save money. It took 7 hours, involved ...
Paint Finishes, Explained by Someone Who Has Repainted 3 Units in 4 Years
After repainting three rental units multiple times, here’s my practical guide to...
The $900 Bathroom Refresh — Line by Line, What I Actually Paid
I refreshed a tired rental bathroom for $897. Full breakdown of every dollar spe...
My Pre-Turn Checklist — 47 Items, 3 Hours, One Clipboard
My 47-item pre-turn checklist takes about 3 hours and saves me weekends of heada...
The Otis Tail Durability Index: A Definitive Ranking of 7 Flooring Types
I ranked 7 common flooring options using my ultimate test: the Otis tail. Plus r...
Things I Will DIY: Paint, Caulk, and Changing a Shower Head. That's the List.
My official DIY list is short on purpose: paint, caulk, shower heads. Here’s exa...
I Spent $3,200 on Kitchen Counters. It Raised Rent by Zero Dollars. Let's Talk
I dropped $3,200 on new kitchen counters in one rental. Rent stayed exactly the ...