2. Draw out all floor plans before you start the work, and don’t forget about details like electrical outlets and light fixtures.
Several of the homeowners I interviewed stressed the importance of having a plan that outlines where everything goes.
Stefanie Fisher, a former realtor who spent $15,000 building an 84-square-foot tiny mobile home, told me a floor plan allowed her to build furniture without wasting space.
Based on her prior experience living in a van, Fisher knew how limited space could be and wanted to ensure that she could fit all she needed into her wagon.
A detailed plan can help to avoid any potential renovation regrets, too.
Katy Krebs, a Texas mother of two who turned a shed into a family home with $16,000, said the floor plan should specify the little details — including where the electrical outlets and light fixtures will be.
“We wanted our AC in the bedroom, but it ended up being in the living room,” Krebs said. She didn’t like the fact that she now had a big galvanized pipe on her porch, but told me that it was a reminder to have things drawn out before starting work.