One of the things that I have learned from living in a fixer upper home is that home improvement can get expensive, but doing some good assessment ahead of time can save you money. Knowing what needs to be done, how it can be done and who can do it will save homeowners hundreds of dollars.
For some examples, you may be able to combine projects to save money overall, choose the right professionals to work together or do some of the work yourself. Having a good assessment will also give you time to research tax credits, utility credits, township grants and other money that might be available to help you improve. You can also look ahead to take advantage of deals and specials on materials or labor.
Have a plan and save money.
To do an assessment of your home pretend that you are a first time visitor who is interested in buying your home, or a professional inspector. Walk through each room, jotting down areas that need improvement or repair. Make sure to look up at the highest parts and down at the lowest parts of each room, as well as through connecting hallways. Don’t forget the garage, the basement and the attic.
Next, take a walk outside your home and look externally. Note what you can from the ground, such as your view of the roof and gutters, the walkway, etc.
Once you have all of your notes, start prioritizing. Note which projects might be able to be combined or have to wait for others to be completed. For example, if you want to install new ceiling lights, you’ll want to hold off on painting.
Mark of small projects that can be easily done by you in a few hours or even a few minutes, and try to knock as many of those out as you can as you have time.
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