If you’ve owned a home for any real length of time, you know that home improvements are an unavoidable part of the process. Things break, get worn down, or become obsolete, and it’s your job as a homeowner to make sure they get fixed. Before starting a home improvement project, however, there are some things you’ll want to keep in mind:
Not all Improvements are Created Equal
While you might personally prefer to have your floors refinished as opposed to redoing a bathroom, it’s important to remember that some improvements lead to bigger payoffs than others. As an example, sprucing up your kitchen or bathroom is bound to lead to an increased home value.
Tackling Quick Projects is a Great Start
There’s always more you can do to improve your home, so it’s important to prioritize based on a number of factors. One of the more important components of this decision-making process should be the time that it might take to complete a project, especially for tasks that are needed for functionality in a short period of time (such as installing insulation just before Winter). By starting with smaller, more manageable projects, you’ll feel more accomplished and empowered to start the next one.
Not Everything Should be DIY
While some weekend warriors with well-stocked workshops would do well to tackle a good portion of home improvement projects, some repairs are best left to the professionals. This isn’t to say that you should take on challenges in your home, but that you should start small (if you’re a beginner) and build your way up to the more difficult repairs.
Get the Right Tools
If you plan on doing home improvements on your own, make sure you have the right tools (in most cases, your hands alone won’t do it!). Equipping your toolbox with the essential tools for minor and major projects before tackling anything will reduce your stress and render you better able to get things done.
Choose the right Contractor
Much like finding the right therapist or doctor, it can be difficult to identify the best contractor for the job. Vetting potential contractors carefully is vitally important to making sure your home improvements are done in a timely, professional and cost-effective fashion, so do your research.
Develop a Plan
While it might seem like a bit of a pain at first, it’s important to make sure you have a plan in place for when things might go wrong in the home improvement process (and they often do). It’s wise to make upgrades to your home as they’re needed, but there’s no reason you have to be stressed while you’re making them, be it through a contractor or on your own.
Source: Life Hacker