The Gaines Guide to Your Own Fixer Upper
Chip and Joanna Gains have become household names due to the success of their HGTV show “Fixer Upper”. When it comes to renovating an abandoned home or just updating an outdated one – the Gaines are pros. Chip, a contractor, and his wife, Jo, an interior designer, make the perfect pair not just for television but for their clients.
Chip, who began ‘fixing’ houses during his college years knows what works and what doesn’t. When asked what part of a renovation can give you the most bang for your buck his response was “It’s true what they say about bathrooms and kitchens selling houses, but we’ve always been big believers in a little curb appeal going a long way with buyers.” It is good to know what you can handle when renovating a home, especially on your own. Chip says the biggest mistake homeowners make when selling or improving their home is “Jumping into a project that you could run out of time or resources to finish before your house goes on the market is a bad idea. It’s a little tougher to sell a house that looks like it will take a lot of time or money just to make it livable, and not everyone is going to share your vision for what it could be.”
Chip and Joanna are not only business partners but are also husband and wife and mom and dad to their four kids – so they know a thing or two about not letting the renovation get in the way of a good relationship. Their advice to couples for getting through renovations without aggravating each other? Joanna says “From the start of a project, recognize that you are a team. When Chip and I got married, I was better at choosing materials like backsplash and grout colors, and he was much better at figuring out how to do things we didn’t have money to hire out for. Just recognize that each of you will have certain strengths and weaknesses. Use it to your advantage instead of getting frustrated or burned out with what you can’t do.” When it comes to shopping together for your renovation items Chip says “Before you even set foot in a home improvement store, sit down and talk about your priority list and separate wants. That way, you don’t show up at Lowe’s and then realize the two of you both have strong opposing opinions on this or that.” Joanna suggests building a Pinterest board of ideas together for inspiration from both sides.
If you are interested in finding a Fixer Upper or any other type of home contact Wilson Realty Group at (919)378-1974! Our expert agents are here to help you!