3 Of The First Things You Should Do After Buying A Fixer Upper

If you’re wanting to buy a new home and are ready to take on the challenge of a fixer-upper, there are a few things you should do as soon as you secure the home before you begin doing any of the actual work that you envision.

To help you in figuring all of this out, here are three of the first things you should do after buying a fixer-upper.

Lower Your Expectations—For Now

While you likely don’t think that this project is going to be one that will be super easy, depending on the state of the fixer-upper that you’ve purchased, you might still have some lofty expectations about how your renovations will go. But while you might be thinking about the best-case scenario for everything, it’s going to be best if you lower your expectations about your fixer-upper — for now.

With all of the ideas you have in your head about how your home will look after the renovations are complete, what you’ll want to lower your expectations about is how long this process will take and how much of an inconvenience it will be in your life. The process of your renovations is going to be very long and very complicated. So before you get too excited, make sure you’re realistic about what lies ahead of you.

Gain A Better Understanding Of Your Budget

With your expectations in check, it’s now time to start taking a long, hard look at your budget.

Renovations on a fixer-upper are never going to be cheap. But if you don’t have a firm grip on your renovation budget, it’s going to be incredibly easy for you to lose track of how much you’ve spent and where your money has gone.

To best understand your budget, think about how much you’re wanting to spend on each room. This way, you can properly allocate funds where you think they’re needed most.

Start With The Most Vital Projects First

When you’re ready to actually start with the renovations, it’s important that you prioritize your to-do list.

Ideally, you should work on your most vital projects first. This includes things like ensuring the foundation is solid, that the walls are firm, and that the roof is well maintained. Only when you have the foundational projects and the exterior of the home ready to protect the rest of the property can you focus your attention on interior projects that you’re likely very excited for.

If you’re going to be working on a fixer-upper as your home, consider using the tips mentioned above to know where you should get started and how you should focus your attention in the beginning.