Fixer Uppers: The Ultimate Renovation Guide

Congratulations on purchasing your new fixer upper! Once the deal is closed and all the papers are signed, you might be looking around the dated halls and dusty walls asking yourself… now what?

A house isn’t always a home. Those who have moved into fixer uppers can relate to that statement more than most; an older, outdated home isn’t exactly the most comfortable and often comes with unexpected and unwelcome surprises. But with a little time, energy, and investment, any house —even one with the most intimidating projects— can become a home.

Step One: Calculate Your Budget

When you’re ready to begin renovations on your new fixer upper, it’s best to start with calculating your budget and determining your priorities. Chances are, you have a pretty tight budget; as many as 73% of people who buy fixer uppers do so because they can’t afford a turnkey property that meets all of their needs. Calculating the money and flexible spending you have to dedicate to renovations will help set reasonable expectations for the next steps.

Step Two: Determine Your Priorities

While you’re working on your budget, take the time to create a list of your household’s top needs. Every family is different. For example, you may need to make sure that everything is accessible a disabled family member who is living in the home or visiting frequently. Prioritize what needs on your list are essential; an ugly yet functioning bathroom can wait until after a leaky roof and water damage are addressed.

Step Three: Start with Foundation & Exterior Renovations

The single most important item on your to-do list is to address any issues with the foundation. If your foundation is anything less than solid and intact, then those repairs should be made as soon as possible. You also want to change the locks shortly after moving into a new home. Exterior renovations, such as window and door replacement, roofing, and siding will better insulate your home and help you save on heating and cooling bills, leaving a little extra money in your pocket for other renovations later.

Step Four: Work Through Your List Room by Room

Once the essentials have been taken care of, the cosmetic and luxury elements can start being added to your home. Priorities will differ in every situation based on the household and the condition the home is in. Maybe a large family desperately needs a kitchen renovation to be able to feed everyone, compared to a family with small children who need to remodel the bathroom so bathtime is easier for everyone.

Step Five: Deep Clean Everything

It may be counterintuitive to wait until all of the major renovations are completed before scrubbing the house from top to bottom, but consider all of the dust and debris that follows construction. With workers coming in and out of the house, demolition and installation, and all of the other messy tasks, there’s really no point in breaking your back with cleaning until you’re certain there’s no more projects to come and mess everything up again. Once everything is clean, take a step back and admire the work you’ve done. Your home should be beautiful, functional, and exactly what your family needs.

Renovating a fixer upper is a huge project that often comes with undesirable surprises. Working with an experienced contractor will help to minimize the surprises and come up with immediate solutions. Quality Homes of Rochester is here for all of your interior and exterior home improvement needs. Contact us today to get your free estimate!