What a year! 2020 will definitely go down in the history books as a doozy. But the good news is thousands of Dallas homeowners are taking advantage of these tumultuous times to do the home renovations they’ve always wanted. Not only do renovations add beauty by mitigating damage, improving aesthetics, and making your space more practical for everyday use, but they also add tremendous value to your home. 

Once you’re considering a home renovation project, an immediate question becomes “which project should I tackle first?” That depends on several factors, including “which project will have the most impact?” If you’re like most homeowners, you’ll suddenly have a long list of options. Clearly, you’ll need to prioritize by making some smart choices. To help you decide, here are 6 steps that will steer you in the right direction for renovation that’s right for you and your family: 

#1 Evaluate Your Home’s Condition

Porch RepairThe first step is to consider the overall condition of your home from a structural and safety perspective. Not all risks are readily apparent, even some of the major ones. So at the top of your readiness list should be identifying any conditions that affect the stability and safety of your home. Based on what you find, you’ll identify hot spots that need your attention. Typical high-priority home renovation projects include: 

  • Installing a new or failing porch
  • Updating indoor or outdoor lighting
  • Anchoring furniture to the wall (child safety measure)
  • Repairing faulty or failing plumbing
  • Replacing a leaky roof
  • Fixing mold, wood rot, or water damage
  • Fixing foundation issues (e.g., cracks and uneven floors)
  • Updating electrical systems
  • Fixing outdated or broken cabinetry
  • Fixing sewer or septic system problems

Once you’ve identified the most urgent projects, you’ll want to be proactive and speculate about problems that could spring up. If you discover, for example, that your roof needs a replacement soon, or your water heater is old, move that project to the top of your list. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” — smart renovations fix issues now before even more damage is done. Otherwise you’ll pay more in the long run both financially and psychologically.  

#2 Identify Needs vs. Wants

After you place “must have” renovations at the top of your list, you can then focus on the “want to haves.” Specifically, which improvements would make your home significantly more comfortable and livable? Find the most troublesome rooms and describe what needs to be done in each. Include all of your wish-list items, as if money were not a factor. Starting from there, you’ll be able to zero in on those remodeling projects that fit your budget requirements.

#3 Set a Budget

Step 2 By identifying your priority safety projects first, you can establish a baseline from which to expand your budget to include other home improvement projects, or seek financing options. That’s why prioritizing your projects goes hand-in-hand with setting your budget.

What you want to avoid are “money pit” home improvement projects that never seem to end. These nightmares are often caused by a lack of planning, or starting work before you’ve established a budget. That’s why taking the time to plan and budget for all home renovation projects, no matter the size or scope, is vitally important. The challenge, of course, is determining how much you can justify spending in relation to how much you need to spend! 

#4 Consider Your Stage of Life

Services - LivingDo you have small children? Are you an empty nester? Maybe your current home is a stepping-stone to a bigger house, or perhaps you are heading towards retirement and want to age-in-place. Your renovations should fit into the goals you have for your stage of life. For example, young parents or those with aging pets probably should hold off on new flooring. Those planning to age-in-place may want to look at accessibility features like wider doorways, low threshold entryways, and improved lighting.

#5 Think About the Lifetime Value of Your Home

Remodeling or adding on to your home is a decision that can yield tremendous benefits for you and your family. A remodel may allow you to stay in your home and neighborhood, have a loved one move in, or create the space you need to get maximum enjoyment out of your home—now and the future. Popular among Dallas homeowners today include these projects:

Since most remodeling projects increase the lifetime value of your home, a well-planned and executed remodel can certainly be worth the investment and, more importantly, improve your quality of life. Accessibility features are also incredibly popular and important to Dallas homeowners—the functional benefits often far outweigh the added resale value. 

#6 Determine What You Can Handle

Living in Your House During a RemodelLastly, you might want to consider your energy level and current situation. Some renovation projects are very inconvenient, while others aren’t a huge hassle to complete and are like a breath of fresh air to have done. Timing is also important: You might want to wait and budget, or get the renovation done now to fit your busy schedule. No matter the motivation, you will want to choose the right company for the job. But what are the right criteria? 

Hire a Remodeling Contractor

If you are looking for insight and expertise into your Dallas renovation, look no further: Blackline Renovations is here to help. We offer easy and safe in-home consultations so you can meet our designers and talk about your list of needs and wants for your home. Together we’ll create estimates to help you budget, and plan the best way to renovate your home. Our plan will always keep your best interest in mind as we tackle your to-do list. Schedule your in-home consultation today! And make sure to stay up-to-date on all things remodeling in Dallas with our newsletter.