After weeks of visiting open houses and scouring the internet for listings, your heart is finally set on a fixer-upper. Fixer-upper houses get a bad rep for being an extremely demanding project. And well, the truth is that they can be.
However, buying a fixer-upper may be the only financially feasible option for you in this economy. Besides that, a finished house doesn’t have much room for adding personal touches. On the other hand, planning to construct a new build from the ground up in a time-consuming and expensive commitment. With a fixer-upper, you get to have the best of both worlds. You already have the bones of a home that you can personalize in whichever way you choose.
That being said, it takes patience and time to give your fixer-upper the makeover it deserves. Take a look at some of the improvements that will likely be necessary for your new house.
1. Start with The External Structure
Before you move on to working on the interior decor, it’s crucial to ensure that the foundation of the house is solid and robust. Inspect everything from guttering systems to roofing for any shortcomings. It would be best to involve an experienced contractor for making necessary repairs to external structures. Consult Guy Roofing for roof replacements, gutter installations, and more.
2. Repaint Everything
Even if your soon-to-be home doesn’t require any major repairs, it’s probably dusty and outdated. Start by pressure washing the driveway, roof, external walls, and so on. Next, thoroughly deep clean the interiors.
Repainting is one of the easiest and affordable ways to give your home a touch of newness. From the garden fences to kitchen cabinets and bedroom walls, repaint everything.
3. Get New Fixtures
Even if you’re not planning to remodel your bathrooms and kitchen, it’s still possible to upgrade them without breaking the bank. Install new faucets, showerheads, cabinet handles, and other fixtures. Such small details make a huge difference.
4. Upgrade Lighting
Good lighting inside the house is necessary to highlight all the lovely features of your house. Make sure your new home has a mixture of bright and mellow lights to create the perfect ambiance.
Apart from this, outdoor lighting is just as important. Install garden and porch lights to keep your outdoors well-lit and intruders at bay.
5. Install New Flooring
Are the current floors carpeted and don’t match your taste at all? Quality flooring does not only offer functionality but also serves as an important design element. Remove dirty old carpeting and replace it with something modern like hardwood floors.
6. Improve Landscaping
No matter how beautiful your house is from the inside, dying grass and shrubs are going to bring down your home’s curb appeal. Improve landscaping by planting fresh grass and blooming flora. Also, consider installing new fencing and garden pathways.
7. Update Appliances
Ideally, a house should be visually appealing as well as energy-efficient. To make your new house energy efficient, make sure you get rid of outdated appliances and replace them with newer models. The same is applicable for your HVAC unit. This one-time investment will yield your long-term energy savings.
8. Replace Doors & Windows
Replacing old windows is essential from an aesthetic standpoint and to ensure complete privacy. Similarly, it’s also a good idea to swap rickety doors with sturdy ones. In case the existing doors are in great condition, you should at least change the locks.
The Bottom Line
Sure, transforming a fixer-upper isn’t a breeze like shown on popular home improvement shows. But it’s a lovely way to create your dream home! By planning ahead and seeking help when required, remodeling a fixer-upper is certainly achievable.