If you’re going to do this though, you need to have a plan in mind so that you have something to follow. If you try to wing the whole thing, it’s simply not going to work out, or, at the very least you will maximize your chances of things going wrong. Of course, you don’t want that! So, let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can do this, planning to ensure that things go as smoothly as possible. 

Make Any Repairs That Need Doing

The first thing that we’re going to say is that you should make any repairs that need doing. If there are any problems around your home that need to be sorted such as a roof that isn’t stable or has leaks, or something like this, they need to be sorted first. To be completely honest with you if your roof isn’t stable then you shouldn’t really be in there as it could be at risk of collapsing at any point. Get someone out to get this sorted asap so that your home is safe for you once more.

There are also less dramatic repairs that might need doing as well such as holes in walls, or things like this. The best piece of advice that we’ve got for you here is to go around your home and make a list of things that need to be done. This way, you’re not going to miss anything out, and you can tick through the list as you manage to complete the repairs. 

Add The Personal Touches

Another thing that you should then be doing is adding personal touches to your home. This could be photos of your family and the people that you love. It could be art that you have picked up over the years and love. It could be handmade pieces that you have made, been gifted or purchased and want to proudly have in your home. Those personal touches though are what will really make your home feel as though it’s yours. 

The personal touches are what make you feel at home when you walk through your door. They will be the thing that sets your home apart from others that may have been otherwise decorated similarly. Of course, having said that, we understand that not everyone likes having personal touches everywhere. If this is the case for you, that’s okay, perhaps you could just limit it to one room?

Hire The Services You’re Going To Need

We also want to strongly recommend that for some tasks,  you take the time to hire the services that you are going to need rather than doing it yourself. The tasks that you should never ever take on by yourself include anything to do with your HVAC system, electrics or plumbing. You need an experienced professional to take care of this for you, because without the correct knowledge you could end up making it worse, or even hurting yourself.

You should also think about some of the other jobs that you don’t like to do, or jobs that you want finished to a professional standard. There are plenty of tasks that you can do to reduce costs, but there are just some that you want done 100% properly. For example, if you want your paint lines on your walls to be straight for sure, then you want to look at someone like Martzall’s Custom Surfaces to provide for you rather than trying to do it yourself. Painting is a lot trickier than it looks.

Expand Where Needed

There might be times where you need to expand your home if you have the time and the money to do so. You also need to ensure that you have the space to be able to expand, as if there is nowhere to build, you’re not going to be able to build. Get in touch with various contractors that you like the look of and get in touch with them for a quote and a timeframe.

It might be the case that this is something that has to wait a little while as you save up to be able to afford it, but we promise it’s going to be worth it if you want the extra space. You might need an extra room, or you might just want to build a home office. Either way, you need to plan, budget, and then move forward with this.

Change Up The Kitchen

The final thing that we want to say to you is that you should be changing up the kitchen when you can. The kitchen is the heart of the home, and if yours is looking old and outdated, it’s time for change. Change needs to happen fast, and if you’re on a budget then look into the budget swaps that you can do such as changing out the countertops and the cupboard fronts. It doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg, but it also changes the look of the whole space which is what you’re going for, right?

Of course, if you have the budget to do so you can just rip the whole thing out and get a new one fitted.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the ways that you can transform your home into somewhere incredible. It doesn’t have to be a nightmare to do this, as long as you take your time to plan it correctly. Of course, we understand that there are times where it’s easier to make changes than others such as when you have a larger budget, so maybe consider waiting until then to get started. Good luck, and we hope it turns out great.

The post Let’s Transform Your Home Into Somewhere Incredible appeared first on InstantELLA.

So how do you know where to begin? Instead of just standing in the middle of a room and looking around you in panic, you need to start prioritizing the many tasks you have ahead of you. Here’s what to tackle first.

Structural Issues

The one thing you don’t want to happen is for anything to start falling apart around you. It would be costly to fix, and not to mention dangerous. Structural problems should be the first thing you address in your fixer-upper so you can stop worrying about them. That could include things like issues with the foundation or roof, or maybe structural problems with the walls. Before you do anything, you’ll want to know that the property is safe to live in, especially if you’re planning on moving in right away. A survey or inspection (which you should do before buying) should reveal all.

Potential Health Hazards

Even if you don’t have any structural problems, there could still be health hazards lurking in your new property. Mold can sometimes take root, especially in a property that hasn’t been inhabited for a while. Getting rid of it can be tough, and it has the potential to cause lasting damage too. The best way to deal with it safely is to call in professionals to remove it and carry out mold damage restoration. Mold can easily grow back if you don’t get rid of it properly so it’s important to use the right methods. Once the mold is gone, you can focus on making sure your property looks great.

Exterior Upgrades

Exterior upgrades are probably going to need your attention too. Apart from the roof, other parts of the property exterior have also most likely taken some bashing over the years. If previous owners haven’t kept on top of maintenance, there could be a list of jobs that need to be completed. Windows and doors, in particular, might need updating. Maybe repainting or replacing frames is all you need to do, but replacing doors or windows completely could also be an option if you feel like they need a complete refresh.

Flooring

Before you start getting all of your furniture into the property, it makes sense to give a thought to flooring. It will be easier to work on flooring without having to move furniture around, especially if you’ve yet to actually move into the property. Work on flooring might include anything from varnishing or staining existing floors to completely replacing the flooring that’s there. You have a huge range of choices for flooring types, so you can customize each room to match your wants and needs.

Bathroom Remodel

To make the property habitable, you’ll need to focus on two key areas. Having a working kitchen and bathroom is a must. You need to have clean, running water and you need to be able to wash, prepare food, and more. Starting with the bathroom makes sense because it’s a crucial space in any home. Hopefully, you have at least one functional bathroom. If you have multiple bathrooms, it’s a lot more convenient when you’re having work carried out on one of them. You might need to update basic facilities, but you also have the chance to design a lovely bathroom.

Kitchen Remodel

Your kitchen needs to be functional too, including having an oven, surfaces for preparing food, and the right appliances such as a fridge and freezer (or a combination of both). Kitchen remodels can often be the most costly but renovating them is worth it. It’s one of the rooms you use most, especially if you enjoy cooking, and it needs to deliver the essentials. You can really put some personality into your kitchen design too, so why not get creative?

Listing everything you need to do to get a fixer-upper into shape can be daunting, but it also helps you get organized. Once you know where to start, you can get the ball rolling.

The post You’ve Moved Into a Fixer-Upper: What Do You Tackle First? appeared first on InstantELLA.