House Proud “What To Do First?” (Toronto Sun)
When you first move into a new home, or a home that’s new to you, there are almost always things you’d like to change. Sometimes there are several areas composed of various size and expense that need attention. If you’ve purchased a bit of a fixer upper, competing priorities may be battling each other for the lion’s share of your bank account. You need to decide what to do first and how much of it to do.
Even though it’s not very exciting, start with the safety of your family and your home. No one throws a party to show off a new roof like you might for a new deck, but if you’ve got water seeping through the ceiling every time it rains, you simply have to act. It might be tempting to add something more fun and enjoyable first, but neglecting a problem roof or eaves can only mean more expense and hassle in the future. Your friends might not be impressed by your new shingle colours but you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you did the right thing to protect your biggest investment.
The same goes for electrical issues. My suspicion that an addition to one of my houses was not done to code was confirmed when an electrician found bare wires on the other side of drywall. Had I decided to tap in a nail into that particular spot, well, let’s just say I wouldn’t be tapping on a keyboard right now. In past house-hunting expeditions I’ve seen all sorts of wiring horrors. Once, I opened an electrical panel located in a baby’s room and a nest of twisted wires spilled out like cooked spaghetti. Some things are worth spending a little money on and ridding your home of fire hazards is definitely one of them.
After the “bones” are taken care of, there are a few things to consider when it comes to prioritizing the rest. The rooms you use the most often also happen to give you the greatest return on your investment in them when it’s time to sell: kitchen and bathroom. Unless the bathroom isn’t functional or is a real mess, I would rank a needy kitchen higher. You need it all the time, food is stored there and guests tend to see it in its sorry state. Even if you can only afford to freshen it up and not a complete renovation, it will make you feel good about the effort every time you make a cup of tea.
A bathroom can also get a tremendous lift from a coat of paint and a change of hardware. Vinyl flooring comes in all sorts of easy-to-apply styles. I don’t believe in living in limbo until a complete renovation is possible, if that’s your ultimate goal. Live in the moment and decide it’s worth a bit of trouble to reside in nicer surroundings today.
Deciding what to do and when in the rest of your home depends on how you and your family use it. For some, a recreation room is a must for growing kids and their ever-expanding circle of friends who need a place to hang out. For others, a library or den and a quiet place to read are of prime importance. Your lifestyle will determine what you focus on after the big stuff is taken care of.
The experts all say it because it is true: paint is cheap and easy to use and to change if you tire of a colour. It’s amazing what a fresh shade on the walls can do to bring a sleepy room back to life. Experiment with moving furniture and art around and for few dollars and a little sweat you’ll have a whole new look.
