In 2018, the average spending on home improvement and maintenance in America was a bit more than $9,000. You’ve worked out your budget already and set aside time to do your home improvement projects. Your list is long, and you’re quite overwhelmed by it and don’t know where to start.
You’re not alone. Many find themselves in a similar situation. There’s the excitement to make the home improvement, but you can’t seem to find your starting point. How do
es one prioritize home improvement projects?
An Overview of Home Improvement in America
One report suggests that the average American home will have close to seven maintenance projects per year. The bill will come roughly to $1,100. It’s important to note these facts because it’s going to help you prioritize your projects. For example, a damaged or clogged bathroom sink might be an excellent opportunity to renovate the entire bathroom.
Strategies in Prioritizing
Should you be working on the main entrance and inquire from door manufacturers in Melbourne about the best option? Or should it be the kitchen first? The best will be to do everything in one go, but that will require time and a considerable budget. If you don’t have too much of either, then you’re hitting a brick wall. Here are a few things you should consider when prioritizing your home improvement projects.
- Make a list. Before you commit to anything about which one you should do first, make a list of all the projects that need to be done, whether big or small. This is a no-holds-barred process, so include everything. You will then break it down into two main categories, either as repair & maintenance or as home improvement/renovation. Those under home improvement require structural changes or adding a new structure, like a guest room, or total reconfiguration of the kitchen. Fixing a leaky faucet and changing one or two stained ceiling panels can be under maintenance.
- Goal-based priorities. Look at your list, and one approach in prioritizing them is to think of a larger goal. For example, is your primary goal to increase the value of your property? So even though the kitchen does not need a re-work now, you can put it as one of your priorities because a newly remodeled kitchen adds the most value to your property. You might want to turn your home to a full-pledged Airbnb. Adding that extra building can then be the priority.
- Four Factors. Evaluating how each project on your list will affect your budget, your availability, routine functionality, and the return on investment is another approach. Do you have the budget for a full bathroom renovation? Or is it a “must-do” because you will now be entertaining guests? If you only have time to do the retiling of the bathroom and adding a tub, maybe that’s what you should do first. Relocating the stair and adding ramps to your home are functionalities you require because you want to be friendly to people with disabilities.
Sometimes, it’s also about what you want (e.g., the home theater or man cave in the basement with sports equipment). Look also for the lowest cost that will have the most significant impact. Redoing the paint on your walls is a no-brainer, but think hard and determine what else you can do. You’ve already made a list of projects. The proposed strategies will take you to the next steps.
