How to prioritise your home improvement projects in 7 easy steps

Life is already tough enough as it is. Most days, it feels as though there aren’t enough hours!

With a limited amount of time and money, taking on a home renovation can seem like an overwhelming and profoundly stressful endeavour.

How do you balance your kids and career and still have enough time to transform your house into your dream home? Tackling all this at once can push even the strongest of us to the edge.

Thankfully, there are a few tips to help you prioritise your home improvement and realise your dream home. And all without breaking your bank account or sanity.

Clever Ideas to Help Prioritise Your Home Improvements

Step #1: Declutter Your Home

Cleaning and organising your home should be the first thing you do before embarking on a home improvement project.

Often, when a room is full of clutter, it blurs your vision of what you’d like the space to be. A clean and clutter-free room provides a blank canvas on which you can start building your dream home.

Dispose of unnecessary items to get a clearer picture of your home and better evaluate what improvements are essential.

You can even sell off those unwanted items and put the money towards your home improvement fund.

Step #2: Assess the Condition of Your Home

An objective assessment of your home will help determine the repairs you need and those that are merely easy-fix cosmetic issues.

Take a keen look around your home and inspect every single component.

Start by identifying the functional deficits in your home. You can do this by walking through each room and imagining yourself going through your daily routine.

Determine what little conveniences you could add to the room that would make life easier. These could be anything from a hook to hanging your keys to a linen closet in your master bathroom.

Dig into the details, but remember, form follows function.

Step #3: Determine Your Budget

Before you start any home improvement projects, first determine your remodelling budget.

Your budget will dictate what projects to take on first. Work within your budget to avoid unnecessary expenses or falling into debt.

In each project, think about the lowest-cost approach that will make the highest impact.

For instance, painting the walls is simple and doesn’t need the help of a contractor. Make that a DIY project and save some money.

However, there are some more intensive projects, such as taking down a wall, that require the expertise of a reliable contractor.

Know the different projects and the amount of skill required to execute them. Then you can work out which you can DIY and which needs a professional tradesperson.

If you are ever in doubt, consult a home improvement expert. Safety should always be your top priority.

Step #4: Make a Plan of Attack

Come up with a priority list for the improvement projects and the order of execution.

Home improvement projects can impede the safety and livability of your home. The most common safety-related repairs involve roofs, gutters, siding, and security enhancements.

It’s best to sort out the safety-related repairs before you move on to cosmetic projects aimed at improving the aesthetic appeal of your house. These projects are more critical and will need expert knowledge.

Contact home improvement experts here to get free quotations and the most competitive rates in Australia to save yourself some time and money.

Here are a few of the things you should take into account when making your plan:

• Sort out any projects that could affect your family’s safety, such as baby-proofing.
• Repair everything that may cause permanent damage, such as clogged gutters and leaky roofs.
• Upgrade items that help save money. These are things that reduce water and energy consumption, such as replacing the windows and doors.
• Start with the less expensive home repairs.
• Maximise on low-cost, high-return projects like painting and changing fixtures in your bathrooms
• Tackle bigger projects like flooring, furniture, and light fixtures last.

Step #5: Determine Your Pace

With kids and a full-time job to worry about, you need to pace yourself so that you can complete your home improvement project successfully.

Assess the conditions on a personal level to determine how much you can take on. This is imperative, especially if you have just made a big move or experienced a major life event.

Whenever you are feeling worn out, acknowledge it and give yourself a break. Make a conscious decision to set things aside so that the project is not hanging over your head.

There are real benefits to living in a home for some time before making any changes. You may come across better options during that time.

Consider the following factors when determining your home improvement pace:

• Would you like to go room by room or take on a big overall project first?
• Do you have the energy and time to complete everything right now?
• What projects do you need to do immediately, and what projects can wait?
• What projects will give you a good return on your investment?
• Will the upgrades reduce your energy and water consumption?
• Do you need to hire a contractor, or can you complete the project yourself?

These are the factors that will help you determine your pace and prioritise your home improvement projects.

Tip #6: Increase the Value of  Your Home

Time and money are scarce resources, so ensure they are well-spent by focusing on projects that add value to your home.

Investing in the right improvement projects goes a long way in maximising your return on investment. In the long run, it can even put dollars back into your pocket!

Some of the sure-fire projects that can increase home value are:

• Energy-efficient insulation
• Kitchen remodelling
• Bathroom additions
• New garage doors
• Patio and deck additions
• Plumbing updates

However, there are also projects you might want that will not increase your home value. Carefully consider building a home office, a hot tub or pool, and a luxury shower, as these will not make much difference in the resale value of your home.

A good rule of thumb to go by is that a home renovation should not cost more than 5 – 10 per cent of the value of the home.;

Step #7: Don’t Forget About the Weather

Consider how the weather might affect your home improvement projects and if some jobs are better left for later.

Ideally, the renovations should start during the spring and summer because of the warmer weather and longer days. Favourable weather conditions during the warmer months are less likely to hinder or delay any projects.

Planning and executing a home improvement is no easy task. But by following these simple steps, you are sure to have a stress-free project.

Also, although some of the home improvements can be DIY projects, it’s best not to leave anything to chance. Contact certified home improvement experts for free quotations on your renovations.

A professional home renovator brings years of experience and expertise with them. They will give you insider insights that will help save you money and move the project along faster.