While some people dream of saving up to buy a brand-new construction home, many of us take a different route. For some of us, we fantasize about buying an old home with loads of character in every nook and cranny. However, this dream often comes with a commitment to work.
Fixing up an old house requires time, dedication, and resources. If you don’t know what you’re doing, it can be quite overwhelming.
That’s why we’ve taken the time to write this quick guide to help anyone planning on fixing up an old house!
Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered. Let’s get started!
Top Tips for Fixing Up an Old House
When embarking on old-home restoration and remodeling, you need to get organized. Fixing up an old house can be much easier if you simply have a strategy and keep things orderly.
Let’s start with finances.
1. Figure Out Your Budget
Before you can do anything, you need to figure out how much money you have in your restoration and remodeling budget. Depending on the condition of the house and all of your plans for it, progress may have to come in steps. Figure out how much money you have for immediate jobs and start there.
You may need to decide if you want to compromise in some areas. This may be in materials, projects, or timelines.
2. Make a Plan
Now that you know where your budget is, it’s time to make your plan for fixing up an old house. Start by making a prioritized list of everything you want to be done in the house.
This list can partly be based on how soon you’re going to be living in the home if you aren’t already. Is the home livable as-is? What needs to be done to make it so?
3. Focus on the Essentials First
First, you need to focus on the necessities of the home. This includes major issues such as structural problems, roof issues, negative drainage, leaks, pests, broken windows, sagging floors, damaged walls, etc.
The essentials are all the necessary repairs you need to complete to provide quality of living. They also consist of anything that could threaten the integrity of the home or pose a danger to your health, such as mold. In order to avoid the occurrence of mold growth in your house, check out this selection guide on the best dehumidifier to prevent the mold and mildew that can appear in high humidity within your home.
4. Make It Beautiful
Now, you’re ready to start focusing on the aesthetics of the home. Start by doing a massive clean-up job, inside and out. Remember, when fixing up an old house, dirt and grime lurks everywhere!
We’ve found that for tough dirty on the exterior of the home, the sidewalks, and the driveway, a pressure washer surface cleaner makes life a lot easier. Otherwise, you can expect to scrub away for countless hours!
Once the home is clean, you can start adding in your creative design elements. This includes doing major remodels, putting in new flooring, fixing trim, adding new fixtures, etc.
5. Add the Final Touches
Finally, you’re ready to add the final touches to your home. At this stage, you can begin really dive into your decorating genius.
This is where you can start looking at all the furniture and decor for each room. You can also begin adding fresh coats of paint to liven up the rooms and give them even more character! Basically, this is where all of the final pieces are fit into the puzzle!
Good Luck
We are so excited for you! Fixing up an old house can be tedious, yes, but it’s also a wonderful experience! You will remember this house for the rest of your life, and moreover, you can take pride in knowing how much work you put into it!
Try to enjoy the process and not get hung up on all the small snags and speedbumps!
Good luck, and remember to check out the rest of our blog for more articles on real estate and DIY projects!
