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This is a collaborative post.
The housing market has enjoyed record demand for some years now, with the coronavirus-inspired ‘race for space’ coinciding with a new generation of first-time buyers seeking their way onto the market. With demand so high, first-time buyers are more than ever buying ‘fixer-uppers’, with the long-term objective to renovate them – either to re-sell and ascend the property ladder, or create a home worth living in.
But for many, this is their first attempt at home improvement. What are some simple tips for managing what could be a gargantuan home improvement task?
Create a Priorities List
Home improvement work is multifarious by nature, with dozens upon dozens of jobs both small and large adding up to form a holistic change to your property. This can be overwhelming when first facing the scope of the work ahead, and can often lead to paralysis regarding where to start first.
An easy way to avoid this is to draw up a comprehensive list of the work you have ahead and to sort that work in order of priority. If your kitchen units are on the verge of collapse, they should take precedence over any decorative work in other rooms.
Draw Up a Budget
Your priorities list may also be informed by affordability – a significant factor in managing your home improvement endeavours. Certain renovations do not come cheaply, and must be effectively budgeted for to prevent slowdown on your overall improvement project.
Your budget will not just comprise the funding and purchase of materials and labour, though. You should also be putting money aside for initial investment in power tools like milwaukee tools and other equipment; this will enable you to take on smaller jobs as and when you have the time – and bring down overall labour costs in the process.
Seek Help and Advice
One of the major pitfalls that new homeowners fall into when renovating their property is to attempt all the improvement work themselves. While there are a great many renovation jobs that can be done DIY, from painting and furniture installation – and even some skilled jobs you can learn to do well, such as building new stud walls – there are some jobs you simply shouldn’t attempt.
Plumbing and electricity are the leading two disciplines you should avoid attempting alone or DIY. Professional contractors within these disciplines are trained and qualified for a reason, and the cost of their labour will vastly outweigh the cost of an accident or even injury from attempting improvement work as an untrained DIYer.
Think Eco-Friendly
Sustainability has become more than just a buzzword in recent years, with the growing climate emergency all the more present in the minds of many across the country. Limiting your home’s carbon footprint is a virtuous move to begin with, but can also bring key benefits to your property in the long term.
For one, rising energy bills can be combatted by improving energy efficiency measures around your home, from new insulation to better heating systems. These new interventions will also serve to improve the value of your home, allowing you to receive serious returns on your investment when it comes time to sell.