When I started my YouTube channel back in 2019, I had grand plans:
I can’t wait to show the world our DIY live-in flip! Mindy and I will take movies of our work and then show the world what we’re doing on YouTube. I’ll publish at least once a month!
-enthusiastic and silly me
And then the world went to hell. It’s been almost 2 years since I’ve published a video.
But, Mindy and I are back with an update! In this video, we show you everything we’ve been DIYing including a deck, pergola, basement finish, and solar panels. But that’s not all! Watch the video now and you’ll learn about Mindy’s past career!
Or maybe you won’t because I made all of it up.
Why YouTube?
My main goal with the YouTube channel is to encourage y’all to flex your DIY muscles. Most of the work is not that difficult. Read some books and watch some videos and you’ll be well on your way.
And, you’ll save huge amounts of money. Here is the work we’re doing on this house:
- basement finish including adding a bathroom
- total kitchen remodel
- fancy curved deck with matching pergola
- master bathroom rebuild
- two other bathroom remodels (one is mostly done)
- replacing all flooring
- solar panels
- moving the washer and dryer from the basement up to the top floor
- shed
All of this will come in at around $100,000. If we were paying for the work, this number would be at least $300,000.
So, don’t be shy. Let me know what questions you have. How can I help you!?
In the meantime, here’s the video:
More 1500 Days!!!
You can also find me (and the dinosaurs) at:
Mile High FI podcast:
Also here:
- Facebook: Facebook group and page
- YouTube: My channel is mostly devoted to home improvement, but I have some other material coming up soon too.
- Instagram: Pretty pictures of dinosaurs, sunsets, and nail guns!
- Twitter: Spontaneous, often insane, ramblings
- Coworking space: On the surface, MMM HQ is a coworking space. Look a little deeper and you’ll see that we’re really building community. The members of MMM HQ are some of the finest people I know.
Join the 10s who have signed up already!
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Looking forward to watching the full video later today! Thanks for the updates. My wife and I recently bought a bit of a fixer upper and I want to install solar. I had a contractor come out last year and provide a quote, but I pushed it off since I want to DIY the install to save some money and learn new skills. Plus, all of the solar companies in my area only do roof-mount, but with an aging roof that I want to upgrade to metal, I’d ideally want to do a ground-mount system (this would also help hardscape the front yard – cutting grass is the worst)
My biggest obstacles for installing solar are the permit (any suggestions for drawings and kicking off that process), and then the grid-tie portion which I assume I’d need to hire an electrician to do this.
You are a true DIY inspiration! Thanks
Hi Brock!
Solar! I love the idea of a ground mount system! That’s way better than a roof and I would have totally done it if we had the space.
It’s so much cheaper to do it yourself, but some places require a pro. Luckily, Longmont did not. Check into this with your permit office.
Some places accept this for permitting. The short form makes everything way easier. There are even examples in the back of the packet that show you how to fill everything out.
The grid-tie in wasn’t that big of a deal. For mine, I backfed my breaker box. So, my solar system has a dedicated 40 amp breaker. Only, the electrons flow in instead of out.
Once the city approved all of my work, the electric utility came out and put in a smart meter that keeps track of what I’m pulling out and putting back in.
Yes for more videos!
I like the idea of doing some big DIY projects, but a lot of the lessons learned you’ve passed on have convinced me to wait until after I leave the 9-5. I got two kids that are growing fast, and I already feel like I miss a lot. The other, perhaps bigger concern is my that no one else in my family wants to move. I’m very much outvoted.
I’m curious if you would invest so much time/money into DIY projects if moving wasn’t on the table? I already feel like I have too much equity, money I’d rather invest, but I’m also reluctant to refinance and go backwards on the mortgage.
You’re very wise! Don’t regret for even a second spending more time with your kids!
We’re going to stay in this house until Younger Daughter is done with school in 7 years. After that, we’ll probably move on. We’ll never take on another DIY project of this size though.
Thanks for the response! I feel like there is always something more i could be doing but seems like just vtsax and chill is probably best.