Let’s get you going

with DIY Coaching

You’ve got a home-reno idea. You’ve got a tight budget. You’ve got to do it yourself. Let’s nest.

DIY Coaching is an online (*or in-person) session with me. You bring the vision, and I help you create a game plan.

Get TWO 25-minute sessions with me via FaceTime or Google Meet for $40 total so we can save you money in the long run.

book a session.

Affordable housing is disappearing. We have to make our own way and buy the old, neglected or abused homes because that’s all we can afford. I’m here to help you turn that hot mess into a home. On budget. On your own.

If you’re a renter and dream of buying a fixer-upper (or are currently looking), I can also help! I can help you surface-reno a rental or teach you to house-hunt for a fixer-upper, not a money-pit.

How DIY Coaching works

Simple

Two 25-minute sessions ($40 total)

Initial Session: You show me the space and tell me your vision, budget, and timeline.

Kick-Off Session: I tell you what’s possible and how to get it done DIY.

Simple Sessions are for small projects. These are a few examples of small projects:

  • Retiling a kitchen backsplash or bathroom floor

  • Installing simple trim: chair rails, picture frame moulding, shoe-moulding, etc.

  • Refinishing wood

  • Installing wallpaper

*In-person sessions: I service the Hampton Roads. The cost of in-person sessions will be $20 per session + my gas/travel time which I estimate at $1 per minute.

Intermediate

Ongoing Sessions by the almost half hour ($20 per session)

Sessions: We dive in for 25 minutes. We either pick up where we left off on the first project or we move onto the next project.

Intermediate Sessions are for multiple or medium-size projects. These are a few examples of projects that require intermediate sessions:

  • Renovating a whole space; you want shiplap, updated trim, new light fixtures, etc.

  • Renovating bits from various spaces; restoring front door, feature-wall in the living room, built-in in the library, etc.

*In-person sessions: I service the Hampton Roads. The cost of in-person sessions will be $20 per session + my gas/travel time which I estimate at $1 per minute.

Advanced

Ongoing Sessions by the hour ($40 per session)

Sessions: We dive in for 50 minutes, and I get 10 minutes to do any research home-work you need from me.

Advanced Sessions are for large ongoing projects, and you need weekly, biweekly, or monthly sessions.

You either bought a fixer-upper or your current home needs an update, and you’re overwhelmed. You’re doing a mix of DIY and subcontractors, but you don’t know where to start. I’ll get you on your feet.

*In-person sessions: I service the Hampton Roads. The cost of in-person sessions will be $40 + my gas/travel time which I estimate at $1 per minute.

why me

What are my credentials?

I’m a female carpenter roughing it in a male-dominated field, and I’m a 4th generation carpenter. My first time working on a fixer-upper was in high school, working under my grandfather. Then, I pursued my bachelor’s at UVA and received my master’s from NYU on scholarship.

I apprenticed under my dad (architect) for several years learning carpentry and remodeling my fixer-upper on the weekends. In 2022, I received my Contractor C license and founded this company. In 2024, I completed the introductory carpentry course at Suikoushya School in Japan. In the second quarter of 2024, I’ll apply for my Contractor B license.

If you need to see for yourself…every photo on this website is my work.

Or check my Google Reviews Here.

Why get coaching instead of watching blogs and videos?

I frequently read blogs and watch videos to get guidance, but I also feel overwhelm from blogs and videos. Most of the time, I need a real person looking me in the eye, telling me it’s going to be okay, and guiding me through each step. I’m really lucky—I’ve got a family that’s walked me through home heartbreaks or showed up with their toolboxes—but not everyone’s got that. Don’t let that stop you. I can help you get through the fear and anxiety of home repair and renovation by creating a baby-step plan. We’ve got this.