How to Prioritize Your Home Renovation and Repair Checklist

Do you have an ever-growing home renovation and repair checklist? Does it feel like every time you complete one item you have another two to three to add? Does it feel as though you’ll never actually get through the to-do list? These are all common complaints that homeowners have, and the reality of it is that as long as you own a home, there are probably to-do items on the list; it’s just the nature of things. Whether your list is filled with cosmetic upgrades and renovations or repairs, it really is a constant cycle when you own a home.

So, that brings us to the question of how you go about prioritizing home renovations and repairs? How do you figure out what to do first, and where to place your focus? With that in mind, here are some useful tips you can apply to your own checklist that will allow you to prioritize more easily.

Does the Repair Affect the Structure and/or Integrity of the Home?

The first question to ask is whether or not the repair or renovation does in fact affect the integrity or structure of the home. Take for example a leaky roof where water is actually coming into your home. This repair affects the integrity of the home, which means it automatically needs to be placed at the top of the to-do list. A roof repair would be far more important than re-painting the kitchen, for example.

Does It Increase the Home’s Value?

The next question can be whether or not the renovation or repair you want to do somehow increases the home’s value. Will it add to the overall appeal of the home? Projects that fit into this category could be things like landscaping to give the home curb appeal, remodeling an outdated kitchen, or even adding an extra bedroom or bathroom.

Each of these projects would make the home more valuable, which is especially important for those who see their house as an investment in their future.

Does it Fit in the Budget?

Before any sort of repair or remodel project starts, there should always be a set budget in place. This is a budget that you are comfortable with and can afford. This budget can also help you to narrow down what you will actually accomplish off the “to do” list and when.

Every homeowner knows there is a huge selection of DIY projects they can tackle relatively cheap, but then there are the massive projects where you may need to hire a contractor and/or tradesperson to get the job done. Those tend to take more time and moving around in order to fit into the budget.

Does it Fit in with the Current Season?

The final question to ask yourself is timing. Does the project you want to tackle in that moment fit in with the season? For example, maybe you want to build a deck but it is winter. Clearly this isn’t the time to tackle such a seasonal project.

Each of these questions will help you to prioritize your home renovation and repair checklist in a streamlined and effective way.