One internal debate that is common when moving into a new space or planning for a long-term project is figuring out what is worth investing in while waiting for major renovations down the line. I'm a big advocate of understanding where you live before making major changes and improvements, but that doesn't mean I think an as-is purchase needs to remain as-is completely.
In that sense, once a house has a secure structure and safe, operating systems, what's next? What happens when most of your purchase and repair budget is gone, but there are still things that you just... hate?
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One of the hardest parts of any project is figuring out where to start. How does this project flow from beginning to end? What are the pieces I can do, and what are the things I can hire for? What parts of the house are the most important?
The answers to this are infinite. Truthfully, there are a variety of ways to approach every project. But there are some things that always need to come first. The big things start with safety and security. The very first thing I did when we closed was start pulling up the carpet in the primary bedroom and getting the nicotine smell out of everything I possibly could. The day after we closed, I started removing the ivy from the exterior of our house. It was growing over the top of the stucco and through the eaves into the attic. Our biggest concern was keeping critters from an inevitable break-in, and double-and-triple checking that the roof was not affected (it wasn't: although there were some flashing issues in other locations that we repaired in subsequent years). |
Katie SwansonI am a parent, creative spirit, and old house lover. My big passions are sustainable design and preservation. Bringing these together is key to moving existing homes into the future. * By subscribing to the monthly newsletter, you consent to receive links this month's blog posts and other relevant blog updates, a round up of things I love, and as a throwback to my DIY days, I may toss in an exclusive knit or crochet pattern of mine. Archives
May 2024
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