The first time you purchase a house, you’re in for a learning journey. From the purchase process to the responsibilities of ownership, owning a house means big changes. If you purchase a fixer-upper, it’s wise to know as much as possible about the process ahead of you.
Take the moments you have now to start your research. Check out this brief compilation of a few important home renovation or remodeling tips for first-time homeowners, and start planning your next move today.
Do your research
Research is important for every move you make when you’re working on fixing up your home. You’ll quickly find that every phone call is a process, and every fix has many steps. If you are hiring a renovation contractor to do the work, you have to do what you can to make sure the company you hire is trustworthy and quality.
You’ll need to have enough patience to thoroughly research each step of the process, so you can find the least expensive and most reliable way to get the job done. Don’t make any moves before you have vetted a few different courses of action.
YouTube is your friend
If you are going to do the work yourself, YouTube is your friend. Most homeowners don’t have Bob Vila knowledge when it comes to refurbishing homes, but you can find anything you need to know on the internet.
You could look at the renovation of your home as a learning process. After doing just one room of the house, you’ll feel like you’ve gone through an intense upgrade of your skills. The journey is nothing to scoff at and can be a really enjoyable path to choose.
Know the right order
Before you start tearing down walls, you need to understand the right order of renovation. There’s an order to things, so you don’t end up with paint all over your brand new floors or scuffs in your new drywall.
Try to plan your fixes following this order:
Strip and remove any old flooring, walls, or other features you want to refurbish.
Fix structural elements.
Improve plumbing, heating, or wiring if needed.
Add drywall, plaster, and paint.
Finish with fixtures and decor.
Budget for each step
Budgeting for each step is important if you don’t want to overspend on your renovations. You need to keep track of everything and prepare your finances before you get too far into any part of your project.
Overestimate on time
Know that the work on any particular project in your home may mean that you run into other things that need to be fixed along the way. There are snags and issues in every job, and your timeline should take this chaos factor into account.