Renovations - Renovating a House

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A home that needs work can be a bargain to buy, but renovating it up can take a lot of time and money and turn into a huge project. Here's how to go about it so that it is manageable.

Steps

Know what you're getting into before you buy. Take a good look at the house and read any inspection reports you receive as part of the sale. Find out whether problems with the house are structural or cosmetic. Will you need to move or repair walls, or just paint them? Are the plumbing and electrical systems modern and in good condition?

If this is a home where you have been for some time, you may want to hire a home inspector to help look for major problems before you undertake to renovate. It could keep you from having to do a job twice.

Make a list. Tour your house with a clipboard or notebook and list all the changes you would like to make.

Decide how much you are willing to do yourself and what will need the help of a contractor. You'll probably choose to do some of each. There is generally no need to hire a contractor to install a towel rod, but you may prefer not to install your own shingles on a steep, second-story roof.

Plan your budget. It is likely that buying the house and necessary things to go in it will leave you low on cash for some time after you buy.

Decide where you will live while you renovate. Will you be able to live in the house, or part of it, while you renovate, or will you need to live elsewhere? Could you camp in the living room while the bedroom still smells of fresh paint and carpet?

Plan your approach. While some parts of home remodeling and home renovation can happen at any time, some activities depend on other activities to happen first.

Identify and address anything that's urgent. Look for immediate safety hazards, such as a broken window. Also look for problems that will cause further damage if not addressed, such as a leaky roof.

Know what depends on other projects.

Tackle major repairs first. It doesn't make a lot of sense to paint a wall you plan to tear down.

Or, start with small projects. If you're planning to do a lot of work yourself and just getting started with home repairs, smaller projects can give you experience and confidence. Small projects can also help you accomplish larger ones or make a space usable until you can do something more involved. Smaller or interim repairs may even be all you can afford at first.

Try to do related projects together. For example, if you have removed carpeting or other flooring, take the opportunity to repair squeaks, water damage, and any other flaws or damage to the sub-floor.

Do a little at a time. For long projects that encompass the entire house, such as painting or replacing all the doors (or all the doorknobs), see if it makes sense to go one room or area at a time. This approach will also help you to spread your expenses over time.

Do a major project all at once. If you are without the use of your only bathroom during a remodel, or if you simply want something out of the way, you may wish to undertake a larger project all at once.

 

Tips

Cleaning and painting are among the quickest and least costly ways to improve a home. Even if it's just an interim solution before you can accomplish more thorough renovations, try cleaning what's already there.

Give yourself ample time, both for specific phases and projects and for your renovation as a whole. Home renovation can take a lot of time.

 

Warnings

Be sure to have appropriate permits and comply with building codes when renovating. A lack of permits for your work can make it hard to sell the house.

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