Q: My husband Tim and I just bought our first fixer upper two weeks ago in Fort Worth, Texas. It is our second home and we hope to make it our last. Falling in love with our home was the easy part, but the thing is we just don’t know where to start. Should I mention that we have a 19 month old little ball of energy “helping” us? I know you don’t know what our house looks like nor do you know what our plans are for it. I won’t bore you with the details, I just want to know if you have a post about getting started; about how to go about making a plan so that we can go about this process efficiently. Or maybe I’m over thinking it and we need to just dive in? – Amanda
That big “where do I begin?” question is something we get asked a lot, both in comments on posts like this, and in emails like Amanda’s. And since we’re at “the beginning” again, it felt like a good time to write about our process. So here are six questions we’ve asked ourselves after moving into each of our houses that have helped us prioritize our to-do list.
#1. What’s necessary for us to safely inhabit this house? If you’ve bought a fixer-upper (or any house that revealed some surprises during the inspection), this is probably a question you’ve been faced with. What’s broken, malfunctioning, or so deteriorated that it must be rectified in order for you to move in?
Is there a mold problem? Broken windows? A heating system that’s not up to code? A swarm of bees living in the attic? Some of these may not be cheap or “glamorous” projects, but it’s probably a no-brainer to put them at the top of your list. In our most recent move that list consisted of four get-on-it inspection items: a malfunctioning furnace that needed to be repaired or replaced, a few dangerous trees that needed to be removed, some rotting wood and siding that needed to be redone/repainted, and an old roof that was actively leaking.
#2. What would be easier to do now, rather than after we’ve moved in/unpacked? This is a tougher question because almost everything could fall in this category. Bathroom remodels. Kitchen gut jobs. Heck, even simply painting each room. They’d technically all be easier to do in an unoccupied space, but it’s often not a realistic goal to accomplish a bunch of major renovations before you move in, and sometimes you just like to live somewhere before rushing into picking every wall color anyway. So we’d suggest picking your tasks wisely. We actually think kitchen and bathroom renos turn out better if we live in the house for a while (that’s the only way we ever would have thought about closing off a door to gain almost 65% more cabinetry and counter-space in our first kitchen).
This time around, Sherry and I chose to tear up musty old carpeting upstairs, spray all of the blue/mauve trim up there white, and install hardwood floors before move-in day. Out of everything on our list, it was the hardest to imagine doing those things after all of our furniture came into the space. The good news is that we were 100% sure about what flooring we wanted. But if we weren’t able to find flooring we liked, this task would have been put on hold and something else would move to the top of the list.
So one tip would be not only to brainstorm what’s the most helpful to tackle first, but also to make sure you’re going to be happy with that new look/material/choice for the long haul. If any part of you is uncertain, it’s probably best to move on to something that you’re more sure about instead of rushing into something you’ll regret. And since we’ve painted two houses worth of rooms/ceilings after moving in (and prefer to think about wall colors over time instead of choosing them all at once) that approach works well for us.
#3. What will make us feel comfortable and “at home”? In all of our moves I’ve experienced a period where I feel like I’m living in someone else’s house. Something about living amongst their design choices makes it hard for me to feel like the home has become ours. Obviously big gestures like tearing out the kitchen would do the trick, but that’s neither an easy or a quick fix (aside from it being one of those things we like to think through for a while). So we prefer to tackle a few simpler tasks after moving in that make things feel more like us. Like getting rid of dated curtains and carpeting – or, my personal favorite: painting. I remember how painting the first wall in our last house was the turning point where I felt like the house finally belonged to us – even if we ended up changing the color down the road. It was an important momentum-building (and morale-building) step for us.
Oh and this feeling of not being able to relax in “someone else’s house” is probably compounded by the general chaos and exhaustion that goes along with moving and unpacking. That’s why I think it’s helpful to put something on your list that will help you feel like you can put your feet up and fully “settle in” to your new space. It could be small, like setting up a reading nook with your favorite chair and a lamp or even just hooking up the TV so you can decompress after a long painting session. In our last two moves we set up Clara’s room on the first day to make sure she felt at home quickly, and then moved on to our own bedroom. Because sleeping on a mattress on the floor certainly didn’t scream “comfort.”
#4. What can we afford? This one’s pretty self explanatory, but if you have ten things on your to-do list that you can’t wait to tackle, but you can only afford to take on three of them, bump those guys to the front of the list and get going on them while you wait for your savings to build up again for the larger/more expensive tasks. For example, when we had those four important inspection items to take care of from tip #1, they made us feel like we turned the money faucet on high and drained our entire bank account. So we dove into nice cheap (and even free) projects, like stripping wallpaper, painting trim, removing an old glass shower door, ripping up more carpet in the sunroom, painting a bathroom, painting our front door, etc. They’ve definitely helped us stop the money bleed and made us feel more in control while we slowly build our savings account back up.
#5. What’s quick and easy? If trying to answer the above questions didn’t leave you with any clearer sense of where to start, then just keep it simple. Getting a new shower curtain or organizing your silverware drawer may not constitute an earth-shattering design decision, but it’s certainly better than doing nothing at all. Accomplishing lots of fast and affordable things can add up to an updated room – and eventually, an updated house.
#6. What will make us the happiest? In the end, you can throw all the logic, reason, and worry that you’re doing the “right” or “most important” thing first – but it really comes down to doing what makes you smile. And often times, that’s something free and something that you consider to be more fun than work. On our first night here I was initially surprised to see Sherry playing around with the items on the built-ins in our living room. Of all the things to do, that seemed pretty far from crucial. But as I sat on the sofa resting my weary moved-ten-million-boxes bones, I could tell that it was her way of relaxing into our new space – and that having one not-trashed corner to rest her eyes was her way of finding peace among the chaos.
In the end, the good news is that it’s hard to mess this up. Because no matter what starting point you pick, you’re already doing something right by doing something at all. The truth is that the right starting point (or the right order) is most likely different from person to person and house to house. How do you guys figure out where to start or what project to tackle next? Are their other questions you ask yourself that help you sort through your to-do list. We’d love to hear ’em, because we’ve got quite the list going on ourselves!
CohoesMom5 says
One other tip (which I got from one of your old posts about a party) is that don’t avoid having guests just because the house isn’t “done”. I avoided having anyone over because our house isn’t done the way I want yet. After reading one of your posts you said something about not avoiding hosting in the midst of decorating. I finally took it to heart and now I have people over even though some of the rooms are not painted, rugs aren’t replaced, curtains not hung.
It finally felt like my house the first time we threw a party. Enjoy the house with other people even if it isn’t a design showcase.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! Totally agree! Everyone gathered in our kitchen this weekend for John’s sister’s birthday and even though it’s full of old wallpaper and wood paneling and faux brick linoleum it felt like home with them crammed in there.
xo
s
Julie F. says
Agreed. Partying with friends is the best way to feel right at home!
Meg says
This is an amazingly helpful and just awesome post. I love DIY and blogging about it but when your in the middle of a project – the chaos of things not in place drive me nuts! (I don’t know how you do it all the time!) but this post speaks to that human nature of feeling settled and comfortable. When you announced you moved the first thing I thought “how can they live in a mess of a million project again?!” Thanks for sharing your method behind the madness.
Sarah says
Thanks for this post. I am about two weeks into my new apartment (after a cross-country move wherein most of our furniture was sold before leaving the old place) and I have felt just awful in my new place because there are no finished or happy spaces…the priorities have all been on shopping for and buying furniture, and nothing seems *done* at home yet.
This weekend, I will work my butt off to get one space finished to the point where I feel comfortable. Thanks for helping me dig out of this rut. It’s been a tough couple weeks.
Alexa @ travelmiamor says
I was so surprised at how much paint can change a room/house. When I moved in with my now husband he just all the colors from the previous owner – including her chocolate brown walls and ceiling in the master bedroom. I wanted to change EVERYTHING! But then we painted the whole house and it totally changed it and then really nothing else needed to be changed!
Kendra says
Amen to these! We just sold our starter home and bought a bigger, better home 2 months ago. My first step before moving in was to paint the laundry room because moving the washer and dryer after the fact to paint well can be such a booger. Second, I hung curtains everywhere I ultimately wanted them, even if I was using old curtains I knew I wouldn’t stay. Makes it feel cozier since my walls are mostly bare while I decide what to hang where. Now I’m on to the landscaping in this Texas heat. :)
Kelley says
We just bought our first house (we close in August!) and while the house is move in ready–your list makes complete sense for ANY home you choose to buy. Safety issues first, then looking at what is realistic and go through them.
Continued success on your home projects!
Steph says
This is just perfect. You guys are awesome. I’ve been in my place a year and really haven’t done anything but what was neccessary to live there. (And taken down a really horribly placed cabinet, but it probably would have driven me crazy so… yeah.)
This is a really great post to read. I think it’d be super helpful for me to come up with a list and that way I can put my mind towards saving for different things. As of right now I’m kind of failing on the saving front.
But it’s hard getting used to living on your own for the first time. So. many. bills.
Janele says
There’s also the opportunity knocks element. My fiance and I moved into a house with white, super cheap appliances in the kitchen and we slowly started replacing them with stainless, high quality appliances, as things broke or as we had the money to do so. We were starting to plan on replacing our fridge, deciding what type we wanted, saving money, reading the consumer reports and settling on the fridge we wanted which came with a $2200 price tag. Then one day a friend mentioned that a nearby big box store was renovating and clearing out their floor models. I called my fiance, told him I was picking him up at lunch time at his office, we drove to the big box store, walked in, spotted our perfect fridge (with one small scratch on the door) marked for $750 including delivery. We practically threw our credit card at the sales person – please take our money now! It wasn’t an improvement we had planned on even making that year, but because we had done our homework and knew what we wanted, the opportunity was too good to pass up.
YoungHouseLove says
Great one too! Love all the comments today guys.
xo
s
Mary | lemongroveblog says
We recently moved into our house – and so much of this advice is exactly spot on! My favorite tip – organizing! I’ve found having the house more in order makes loads of difference. A few trips to HomeGoods later, I’m usually on my way ;)
Stephanie says
This is such a great list!
I’m all about #5 and #6. I’ve moved 19 times in 31 years and for me one super helpful way to feel like I’m getting started on making a space my own is to unpack quickly and get my space organized, even if I know I may change things around down the road. It’s so much easier for me to envision what I want without the chaos of boxes and piles of stuff and it also helps me make design decisions and see what I may actually need in a space (do I need furniture that doubles as storage? etc.).
Laura P. says
Love this list! My husband and I have just moved to a new city and are living with my parents for a while before we decide where we want to settle. We definitely don’t think this is a forever city for us and it’s hard to look for a house when that is in the back of your head. However, it’s helpful to remember that you can do little things to make it feel like home even in the temporary state! Also, I have searched some of your archives for the blue color you painted the master bedroom in your last house and the picture under #3 reminded me. I know you painted it the moody gray (which I LOVE), but I am interested in finding the name of that paint color for a future room! Thanks for the inspiration!
YoungHouseLove says
That was Carolina Inn Club Aqua by Valspar.
xo
s
nick says
caveat to #2
What *won’t* be done after we move in?
Be brutally-honest with yourself. I knew that if I didn’t de-popcorn before moving in, I just wouldn’t get to it: it’s nasty, a huge mess, and hiding underneath all that acoustic popcorn is usually super-crappy finish work (for the kitchen, I had to re-mud almost the entire ceiling because the tape job was so screwy). It’s amazing what you’ll “live with” once you get all moved in.
David says
Love the caption on that last pic. :)
Jen. says
Living in the house to get a feel for how you’ll use it is a good and realistic idea. We’ve been here 3 years, and I only last week discovered how to make our living room feel like ours. I thought the sectional couch didn’t fit the room, so I’d made it into a 4-seater straight couch and an odd corner-section chair.
But then I found Threshold bookcases on clearance at Target. And the angels sang. I bought four tall ones and a short one, lined the end of the room with them, and repositioned the couch as an L again with one side facing them. All of a sudden, it’s my favorite place to be, and the LR has gone from a room we never use to the place we hang out all day.
Julianne says
What a wonderful post to help order the chaos of the brain from moving! It is often so hard to know where to start because the brain goes into overdrive. I’ll be sure to refer to this post again looking forward to our next move! :0)
Lindsay says
Ooh good post! Pay attention to what the insurance company might not like, too. A week after closing we got a refund check from our insurance company – they were dropping us because their inspector noticed a wood-burning stove pipe, which we were in the process of removing. Needless to say, that got bumped up to highest priority so we could secure insurance!
Annie says
There is a family I know that bakes cookies as soon as they move into a new house. Baking sheets are the first thing they unpack. They go around to all of their neighbors with a bag of cookies and a note that says “We are the Blank Family and just moved in at Blank address. Come say hi while we are unpacking!” I think this is genius!
YoungHouseLove says
So sweet!
xo
s
Julie F. says
We just moved into our first house and went through the exact same process. One thing that helped me prioritize was my three years plan:
1-I have a short and precise list of things I want to do in the first year: opening a wall, painting door knobs (yes, that’s because of you!), changing a pantry door, painting the kitchen bright yellow, etc.
2-I have a medium and more generic list of stuff I’d like to do next year: taking care of landscaping in front and in the backyard, updating the bathroom and finishing/decorating the mudroom.
3-Finally I have a very vague list of stuff that will not come before the third year of more like finishing the basement and repainting the entire house.
Does anyone else has a three(or four or five!) year plan?
Angela L. says
Good post. I think when you buy a house you have a million things on the to-do list and you want to do them all right now, but it is just not feasible to do so. My husband and I bought a foreclosure, fixer upper 2 years ago (and luckily had 5 months left on our apt. least to do some work before moving in) and the list was LONG (and still is). We decided to tackle the main living areas (livingroom, kitchen/dining room, bedrooms)…removed all the nasty, stained carpet, dinged up trim, doors with holes in them, wall paper etc. That in itself made a huge difference and the house felt a lot cleaner. For us, it helps to focus on one room at a time and get the big things out of the way (flooring, painting, etc.) and then be able to decorate as we find things we like and have time to see what we want/need in the space. Also, I think of the colors I want in each room and keep them in mind when I’m out shopping, so if I find something on clearance or at the thrift store, I can grab them knowing they will work in that space once it is finished, but this only works if you don’t change your mind often on colors and décor. I have a 10+ page to-do list for our house at this exact moment….listing everything that needs or I want done in each room, down to the little stuff like patching and sanding nail holes, as I just like to cross things off my list and it looks as though I have accomplished a lot when I may not have. I’m weird like that.
Katie Rose says
This is a great list & as I am moving into my first real apartment next week, I find it to be pertinent to that situation as well.
It would be great if I could fill every inch of my new place with furniture & accessories right off the bat, but frankly my bank account will not allow it. Not only that, but I figure once I live in the space my ideas of what I want to do with it will morph and I wouldn’t want to be stuck with any piece I might regret. Patience is definitely key I think!
Katelyn @ evanandkatelyn.com says
What a great post! This is something I sort of abstractly thought about and followed when we bought our house but seeing everything down on paper (computer screen?) makes it feel a lot more concrete and a lot easier to tackle. We finally finished all our super necessary for-the-safety-and-function-of-our-home projects and are turning our attention to the fun decorating ones!
Now we are trying to tackle one room at a time and that makes things feel a little less intimidating. We find it’s more motivating and keeps us pumped to see a lot of progress in one room rather than a little progress in several rooms. May not work for everyone, but it works for us! :)
Chez says
We just moved into our new home two weeks ago. We painted most of the interior rooms before moving in and changed a couple of lights. Now that we’ve moved in, we are pretty well unpacked (except the garage – don’t look in the garage) and slowly tackling other stuff. Actually we are pretty much at a standstill. We were whirling dervishes for the first week, and then we seemed to halt our efforts. A few things are up on the wall (hanging art makes a big difference for us), but a lot of stuff is just propped up on the walls. I think we are trying to just breathe into the space a bit since a move is always a bit overwhelming. This post was really helpful to read as a motivator to keep on unpacking, hanging, organizing, tweaking, placing, moving the ottoman over there, then back over there… and on and on as we seek to make the new house into our home.
verucaamish says
You mentioned it in #2 but i would make it a separate rule unto itself – what do you have the clearest vision about? We added a second bathroom onto the house (probably shades of #1 and #3) before we even moved in. We had a clear vision – wanting a soaker tub, a white vanity, and blue walls to match and awesome Marimekko shower curtain we already had. No need to “live with” anything for making that change. Our kitche reno was a different story. We lived with that for two years before doing the reno. Like our bathroom, our kitchen was fairly roomy and we wanted to get a sense of placement and what could fit where. Also, we chose a rather egg yolky color for the walls and wanted to find a shade of yellow that didn’t turn every picture of food we took in the kitchen orange.
Bonnie Morscher says
We had six weeks between our accepted offer and our closing, so we had plenty of time to think about pain colors and even new artwork, and between closing and move in, we had another 9 weeks. Thus, before moving in, we added much needed 12 electrical outlets, dug out and patched numerous cracks in our plaster and lath walls, primed every wall and painted every wall with our pre-chosen colors and stripped old linoleum out of the kitchens (it is a duplex)and had all the hardwood floors sanded and stained and sealed. Also, we replaced almost all the light fixtures. When we moved in, it was into a clean, freshly-painted, beautifully floored house that already felt like us. The hardwood floor refinishing cost the most money; most of the rest we did ourselves with help from family and friends. Luckily, no structural/safety problems required our money to be spent there.
Stephanie, Sandpaper & Glue says
I always, always tackle the kitchen first– I’m too Italian to not have my kitchen ready right away! It also seems to be the place everyone defaults to hanging out in when they come over so it eases me up a bit to know at least the one space people are in looks ok even if the rest is chaos :)
Jessica says
I love and agree with the idea of not doing the kitchen and bathrooms first. You really need to live with them for a little while before you decide. But don’t wait too long! We’ve been in our place 6 years and all that’s left to do is the kitchen. I wish we’d done it at year 2 or 3 so we could enjoy having a functional and nice kitchen. We are already looking to move and I hate the idea of redoing the kitchen for resale value and not having time to enjoy it.
Amber says
I think it depends on the kitchen and bathrooms though. The first thing my husband and I did when we moved in was rip out the kitchen and first floor bath. The kitchen was ..not sanitary to be used and not in a state where any amount of cleaning would make it sanitary. The cabinets were 34 years old and built of cheap materials by the original owner and the countertops were MDF and had water damage. The bathroom had a toilet that was leaking for who knows how long and the floor was water damaged from it. It reeked of pee. After we ripped out the vanity we discovered it was full of mold. I’m so glad we did those first. The upstairs bath is still gross and completely outdated, but useable so we decided to save that for last.
Melly says
This a really timely post for me! My husband and I closed escrow today and are ready to get started on our first place! We already made our own Listy McListerson and I’ve taken a lot of cues from you guys. We’re really excited to finally be at this place in our lives.
Victoria says
This isn’t necessarily décor specific… but, when moving with kids (we have four), it has been really helpful for us is to set up those “command stations” for routines right away. For instance, get the chore charts hung and the chalk board menu and the hooks for towels and the laundry baskets in the right places. These simple things will keep the non-working-on-projects parts of your days moving along more smoothly. Might even save your sanity :)
Amy says
This is very timely for me right now! We just moved into our new (old) home a week ago and are slowly making it feel like home. The first few days just felt like we were on vacation, staying in someone else’s place. Then I slowly started hanging some frames and even got some curtains hung in the living room. I know I will want to paint eventually, but until I decide on paint colors, I knew getting something on the walls would make it feel more welcoming. Even my husband, who normally doesn’t care too much about decorating, commented that the decor and frames are really helping to make it feel like our house! win!
Diane says
Bingo… great suggestions!
When we moved into our house eight years ago, we realized that having it empty would be ideal for removing all the old, hideously stained and smelly carpets, refinishing the hardwood floors, as well as removing wallpaper (even from outlet covers) and painting in every darn room. As well as upgrading the electrical, installing new windows, a new furnace, and lots of little misc. projects.
We were lucky, because the garage entry leads onto a tiled hall with access to the finished basement, and to the carpeted stairs to an upstairs bath. So we moved every box and bit of furniture into either the garage or the basement, and lived out of the basement for the week or so it took to do all the work. It was, indeed, so much easier to have the majority of the house empty.
We had the systems work done first, then removed wallpaper and painted, then ripped out the old carpets, installed new carpet in the family room and on the stairs, and then had the floors refinished.
What a help to be able to get the majority of the big stuff done with an empty house.
Janet says
Had over a month in our old apartment when we bought our new house. Painted most rooms. Uncarpeted the whole house.
Had 1 major unexpected program that we had to beg the home warranty company to take care of. The work was SHODDY.
Our renovation started in earnest last August. Ripped out the kitchen, replaced windows, hired an electrician & plumber (to tackle a few inspection items), and a contractor to rip out a wall (In hindsight we could have done that ourselves – but things have slowed with our DIY it’s probably best)
We were going to do the rest of the kitchen, tile, cabinets, counters ourselves.
STOP: Found out we might be getting a foster baby September
Tile was ordered from Home Depot online 18″ tile. It had to be delivered 3 times to get the right quantity UNBROKEN. Took over a month to get the tile.
October: 10 month old baby came to live with us. Renovation slowed to a halt. Confined to the second floor. No kitchen.
Fast forward to now. ALMOST done. Sink & dishwasher are not hooked up – and backsplash tile needs to be finished to have the electrician back. (Baby is nearly 19 months)
It’s tough when you have a toddler for sure. There are a few extra constraints when you are raising a child that is not yours.
Now if only we had a baby sitter the next 1-2 weekends! I need my kitchen back before I lose my mind!
Katelyn @ evanandkatelyn.com says
Oh PS! My signed copy of your book makes a little cameo in our latest post.
http://evanandkatelyn.com/2013/07/we-have-an-art-gallery/
We just turned our sorta blah living room into a full blown art gallery! (speaking of finally getting to fun decorating projects hehe)
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo!
xo,
s
Alex the Airhostess says
I bought a destroyed bank owned home (rewire, replumb, 300+ holes kicked in the wall, 4,000lbs. of garbage to the dump, etc.). Washed dishes & brushed teeth in the bathtub for a year. Disaster….but MY disaster in a dream neighborhood.
The most helpful thing I did in what I expected to be a 2 year (now 4 year) project was to measure EVERYTHING in the house and make a list and a graph-paper grid plan. Windows, door openings, where the heat runs come in/out, what size the heat vents are, what the door widths are, and notes about the hardware, etc. I made several copies at kinko’s and had a copy in my purse, my trunk, etc.
When I was at a garage sale and they had cold air returns for .25, I could pull out my grid sheet and see that bedroom 3 needed one-and buying this one at the garage sale saved me $3. I’d label it with painters tape and toss it in the parts bin in the basement.
The list really paid off one night at home depot when I was picking up primer. There were BEAUTIFUL 6 panel, prehung, prestained solid oak doors that matched my floors. $359 each, marked to $99. Because I had my measurements, I picked out the five I needed to replace the destroyed ugly 1956 slab doors. $1345 saved because I could pounce on the good deal (they were all gone the next morning when I went back for more paint).
Jenni Bailey says
We were “lucky” to not have to move into our new house until after all of the remodeling was done (we lived with my mother in law for six months, hence the quotes around “lucky”) but unpacking and making it ours was still a challenge. I agree that picking something meaningful, even if it isn’t crucial, is…well…crucial. For me it was unpacking my books. A house without books is no house of mine. I felt so much better once I had that off the list.
Amber says
Definitely have a To-Do list BUT – also make sure you have an achievements list. That way, when the To-Do list is looking crazily daunting, you still have the list of things you have accomplished to offset.
Achievements
Fixed furnace for under $125!!
Fan in second bedroom
Davy installed light kit on LR fan – FREE
Chimney cap & fixed chimney –
Pit of Despair/backyard was cleaned out
Painted pantry, new shelving
House power washed
Gutters cleaned
New window treatments in MB
Water heater blanket installed
Installed coat rack by front door
Had furnace/AC tune up
Planted ferns…ferns died. :(
Planted hostas…STILL ALIVE :D
Painted french door frames
To Do List
*Toilet in Master Bath – 220
*Electric run/fan installed in 3rd bedroom/office – 250?
*Floors – helluva lot
*Paint inside (pick a color, damn it!)
*Paint outside & repair squishy siding (thanks, HOA)- 2000++
*Kitchen – paint cabinets, install more cabinets & counter tops – A helluva lot
*Pit of Despair – make it functional/clean it out again – A helluva lot
*Replace the three cracked windows – 500
*Replace doors to back yard – Unknown
*Sell tall table & stools and move kitchen table to dining room area – FREE!
*Fence – $1,500
*Replace light fixture in laundry room to pendant so the lightbulb can be changed without me freaking out – $50
So while my To Do list has long and complicated issues, I don’t feel like I’m drowning because I have my achievements offsetting it. :)
Colleen says
Maybe you’ve already addressed this in a “typical day” post, but how do you manage your day around your projects? In other words, how do you prevent yourselves from being consumed by a project–working on it 24/7?
YoungHouseLove says
It seems to be a common theme among work from home folks that its hard to draw that line so you’re not just working all night and every weekend, but in this house it has helped to have two floors (when we go upstairs to read or watch a movie we no longer have our laptops a few steps away, which used to be the case in our last house). Another tip for us is to schedule fun things (gatherings at our place, going to the pool, driving to DC to visit friends, etc). That helps snap us out of work mode and keeps the balance (we always feel refueled and more inspired when we make time for life too).
xo,
s
Rebecca says
For me, it’s
1. Fix anything that’s dangerous/necessary. One house I bought was a foreclosure that hadn’t been properly winterized, so several pipes had burst. Clearly running water was a priority. The broken heat exchanger in my current house was an environmental hazard, so I replaced the furnace right away.
2. Create a place to sleep, a place to cook, and a place to relax. When I have a place to cook, I don’t eat out so much, which helps me save money in the wake of all those moving costs.
3. Prioritize projects that will improve the house’s value and/or function. Here are some examples:
** I knew painting my current home’s exterior and fixing the broken windows was a must if I ever wanted to sell it down the road.
** I’m currently hoping to replace an old deck so we can use our outdoor space without worrying about the broken boards and protruding rusty nailheads.
** My next goal is to add a second bathroom in the basement, because having two baths seems to increase a home’s value in my area.
Hannah says
Having just moved into our new home I really get the last bit of advice. Just the other day in the middle of partially broken down boxes and piles of books on the floor I had to stop and make a place that soothingly reminded me that this new space was home. Since we don’t have built in cabinets like yours, I settled for a simple arrangement on a tray. So far it has been hanging out in the kitchen, living room, and master bedroom, to keep me company while I sort through life. Feel free to take a peak at our new home here:
http://heathandhome.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/monthly-mantel-july-2013/
JudyMae Johnson says
Sorry this is so long and off-topic. I have only been following you guys for a short while but I am absolutely addicted to your blog. Love your writing, decorating, and DIY style. Yours is the first blog I read as I want to see what you guys are up to now. Andy’s comment above, “Up next for the small fix is caulking the base boards”, reminded me of some questions I have had about caulking. I noticed that you guys caulked all the woodwork that you painted and the joints of the fireplace mantle that you made (which I am totally copying this week!) So that I can do a good job on my mantle, my biggest question is: What kind of caulk do you use? My local big box lumber store had no idea what I was talking about (and neither did I. LOL.)
My other questions might make for a Q&A blog post about caulking:
What is your technique; do you use a caulk gun or what? Should I caulk before or after painting? Would you caulk woodwork that is stained and vanished or just painted? And, finally, why the heck do you caulk these places anyway? Appreciate your advice.
YoungHouseLove says
We use caulk to fill cracks before we paint stuff, so just grab Dap white paintable caulk for doors and windows and use that to full gaps (for example, where your baseboard meets the wall). Use the caulk gun to apply it and smooth it with your finger. Let it dry and then paint it to blend it in :)
xo,
s
Sarah says
Great list!
We’re in the process of moving ourselves… Our list looks like this:
1. Get woodworm treated in loft space (happening next week).
2. Get electrician to install more electricity sockets and ensure all electricity is up to current standards (next week hopefully)
3. Get carpets replaced in two bedrooms (one room looks like a CSI crime scene occurred – no joke!) – scheduled for after electrics.
4. Paint two bedrooms our chosen colours (currently completing this task)
5. Replace broken seal on kitchen fridge.
6. Replace rusty radiator in downstairs bathroom, box in hot water pipes (currently loose on walls – hot hot hot!) and check all plumbing is okay otherwise.
… And then, move house to our new home! (Which will still need a whole lot of love, paint and prettifying!)
The initial outlay in costs is a bit hard on the piggy bank though! :(
Reese says
Sort of a related question for you…
I’m totally ok with delving into a project and feel confident I know where to start with regards to fixing.
It’s AFTER the fixing that I’m unsure about. Take the built-in corner that Sherry redecorated (gorgeously, I might add!). Is that a white ceramic rhino? And a stack of colorful books! How do you FIND these things and know they’d go good somewhere? How to tackle the fun design parts? Because really..I end up going to a store just to browse, and then end up with a ton of useless stuff that looks horrible in my space. Do you go to HomeGoods with a list, like, “I white ceramic thing for built-in,” find something suitable, go home and test? Then return if it doesn’t work?
Maybe I need a clearer picture of what should go in whatever space… Like an art board but for a room :)
YoungHouseLove says
I think over time you find out what you love and it gets easier. For example, I love big colorful books, white ceramic animals, shell balls, white frames, bold patterned rugs, white bedding, bamboo shades, wood floors, patterned curtains, etc. There’s still a ton of trial and error for me though! But when I buy something and get it home and LOVE it, that helps form my running mental list of what I love. It’s not an exact science but there’s a lot of room for learning along the way.
xo,
s
Angela says
This is a great post. I especially love it how you understood Sherry’s need to arrange her bookshelf when there was so much else needing done.
Anne G. says
It definitely helps to think about what things can be done BEFORE moving into a house. Then, once you’re living there, I like tackling one room at a time. But sometimes, things happen that prevent being able to do things in a neat and orderly way. For example, we decided to do a kitchen renovation, but once we started getting into it and doing research on different products and materials, my husband got on a roll and decided to add replacing all the windows in the house, replacing the garage door, and replacing all the bannisters and railings in the house, to our must-do-now list! Ack! The result was that instead of just one neatly contained construction zone, the whole house was in disarray. I think my husband realized that was a mistake. And, I realized that next time he suggests such craziness, I need to be more vocal about saying NO! Anyway, it all worked out, and we are now tackling much smaller projects and getting them done before adding new things to the list.
HeatherMay says
Love it! We just moved into our first house May 10 and after the last box was finally stuffed and moved, my mission was to get the vegetable garden in! I kept telling my helpful husband… everyday it’s not in is a wasted day! I figured, the basement, bedroom and closets can wait! It has paid off and we have been able to munch on eggplant, zucchini and snap peas so far!
Chrystina says
I love the fact that you realized that shelf organizing was Sherry’s way of finding some relaxation in a new place. Also, you’re right – there’s definitely something to be said about making a place your own. I’ve been living in the same place for a year, and parts of the house still feel like they’re “hers” instead of “mine.” Maybe that will be my next project…
Shannon says
This post could not have come at a better time. Thank you so much, YHL! My hubs and I jus bought a house that needs A LOT of love. Like a lot a lot. We’re both feeling so stressed and intimidated about where to wven begin so reading this post really gave me the first sense of calm I’ve had in weeks! I love your blog oh so much! It’s a daily read for me :)
stefanie says
Great tips…definitely floors are easier if you have to refinish or replace anything. So easy when your home is still a blank canvas before you move things in. If you can do it that way, it’s ideal!
Watch your landscaped beds, too! It’s something nobody thinks about. Ours were placed up too high and sat against siding, causing a rotted, termite-infested sill. The seller replaced it and we made everything the correct height right away. Small landscaping mishaps can equal huge trouble later.
Love your blog, you are inspiring! Just bought my first house and started dwellingonadime.com for DIY/thrift/renovations/decor.
Valentina says
Our realtor gave us a good tip when we bought our first house. She advised to live in the house for a year before making some major renovation decisions. Her rationale was two-fold. First, you may spend all your money on a certain project and only then all of a sudden discover that something else has broken down and/or needs immediate attention. The problem is you may not have any money left for that crucial repair. Second, as you go through seasons, you may encounter some unanticipated issues. For example, you decide to change the carpeting in your finished basement and complete the project in the summer. Then, in fall, hurricane Sandy comes along and you find 3 feet of water in your basement. So, the idea is to live in your house through a few different seasons to get a better idea of what vulnerabilities your house may or may not have before spending big sums of money on it (of course, that excludes critical safety remediation, such as fixing a broken furnace).
Ginny @ Goofy Monkeys says
Love this post! I have been in my house for about 6 years now and still haven’t come close to tackling all the projects that need doing. Whether it takes a year or 30 years to make the home you love, this is a good common-sense approach!
Kristi says
I agree with everything in your post. My husband and I just moved into our house 10 days ago and we are going through the same thing. We bought a foreclosure, as many people have lately, and we had some major issues to deal with right off the bat. We had to put A/C in and get some appliances, expensive expenses but very necessary. We are just taking things slow now, unpacking a few boxes a day while we decide how we want to make this house “our” home.