How To Evaluate Potential Projects For Your Home
There will be a time when you walk around your home and realize that it needs an update. However, knowing what kinds of projects should be done takes some thought and planning. You can probably see many areas that need to be worked on. How do you know where you should start? This article will help you through the thought process in deciding how to approach your home improvement plans.
Take a notebook with you as you walk around your house. As you walk through each room, write down areas that you would like to see changes. If you see an area that needs repair because of some damage, make a special note. Areas that have obvious damage should get your attention first. Do not rush through this observation process because you need to give yourself time to think about appropriate upgrades to make.
There are probably areas where things are falling apart. Check the paint of your house, inside and outside. Are there areas where the paint is cracking? Check your roof. Are there any missing tiles? What about the bathrooms? Is there any water damage near the shower or tub? Bathrooms are prime candidates for renovation. They work particularly hard for the family because they often gets lots of heavy use.
Write down areas of your house that seem old and dated. Do you still have dark wood wall paneling and avocado-green, shaggy carpet from the 70's? If you do, it is high time to change that out. Do you still have that old play structure in your backyard, even though your children are in college? Perhaps it is time to take that out and put in new landscaping. Write down how you would like to change the space. Envision what colors you will be using. Again, do not rush through this, and give your mind a chance to visualize how you want things to look.
After you have some ideas written down, see which projects are easy enough for you to do yourself. You can probably tackle a painting project for a room or two. You may even be able to do a minor bathroom remodel if it does not involve internal plumbing upgrades. Check your set of skills to see if you can apply that to anything part of a project.
Look at your list and note down which projects would require the services of a licensed professional. Projects that need electrical work are best left to the experts because there is no room for errors. Major plumbing upgrades will also be best handled by a professional plumber because it can get quite complex. Just make sure that the contractor owns a current license for your state, and check references if possible.
Know what your budget is and keep your projects under budget. Avoid getting carried away by beautiful photos from home magazines. Those often include high-end materials. If you can afford it, that is great. However, if you cannot, you need to settle for a less expensive alternative.
Plan your approach carefully because once a project starts, it will affect everyone living in your household. If you plan well, you will be rewarded with beautiful enhancements that you can be proud of for years to come.
