Buying a fixer-upper is the perfect opportunity to transform a house into your dream home.
You can save big on the upfront cost by choosing a building with the right bones, but not the right finishing.
Put that money you saved towards upgrading and improving your property piece by piece.
By focussing on the most important renovations, namely the ones that will help improve your quality of life and saving the ones that are just for the aesthetic, later on, you can enjoy your home sooner.
You will also improve the overall design because when you put function first, smart design naturally follows.
To give you an idea of what upgrades to focus on that will help you improve its function and, in turn, the entire quality of your home, here are ten great ideas:
Update Windows and Trimmings
Never underestimate how much the window design on your property plays a part in the overall look and feel of a home.
By upgrading the window design, or even just updating the trimmings, for example, by painting them or adding flower boxes outside, you can completely transform the exterior of your home.
Just make sure that the window upgrades also serve a functional purpose.
New windows have the potential to help keep your home warmer and drier, so choose the right type based on the climate you live in.
You’ll have a lot of options to pick and choose from like double glazing Bristol for example.
Replace the Doors
Doors should be insulated, fire-proof, and beautiful. They shouldn’t let in a draft or be easy to break into.
They need to be heavy-duty, so if your exterior and even interior doors don’t fit this bill, then an upgrade is in order.
Your interior doors should be fire-resistant, so if there is a fire, you can close the door and keep the fire better at bay while you and your family evacuate.
The exterior doors, however, need to be strong, insulated, and beautiful.
Try to match their design to the design you are going for with your windows for a very smart, established look.
Use Landscaping to Insulate and Decorate
Before we move on to the inside of the home, let’s have one last look at the exterior.
Landscaping helps improve the curb appeal and gives you a natural oasis right in the middle of the city.
Done right, however, and your landscaping can add privacy and insulation to your home.
For example, by planting evergreen trees or bushes alongside the walls that get battered the most by winter winds, you can insulate and protect your home.
Similarly, a large tree can help shade and keep the hot sun off of your roof – which will keep your home cooler and prolong its life.
There are many ways that nature can help you stay warm or cool, depending on the season.
Just landscape with these goals in mind, and you’ll have a functional space that does wonders for your home.
Add Seamless Storage
Every household has items.
While de-cluttering and trying to live a minimal life is an option, it isn’t the best choice for every family.
Even if you don’t have that much in terms of belongings, you still may not want them out and about or in big, bulky storage units that take up floor space.
That is where seamless storage comes into play.
It essentially just takes the useless, awkward angles of your home and fills them with beautifully integrated shelves and cupboards.
You have your storage, and your home looks more complete and beautifully made than before.
Update the Taps and Plumbing
Suppose you want your kitchen and bathrooms to look incredible, then an easy way to upgrade the taps and other fixtures like the tub.
By not changing the layout and instead opting for a “soft” renovation like this, you can update the look, improve the function, and do it all with a very small budget.
Improve Insulation
Transformations aren’t always visual. Sometimes they need to be felt rather than seen.
One area that follows this rule is insulation.
A well-insulated home is more comfortable and costs less to heat, and it can be upgraded on a budget and very quickly.
Add Solar Panels or Solar Heaters
Solar panels or solar heaters don’t add too much to the look of your home, but they are critical if you want to live in a healthy home that, most importantly, can run with low utility costs.
You can get your Custom Solar and Leisure Tucson solar panels and solar heaters with government subsidiaries and tax credits, saving you $1000 or more, and, once installed, can save an average of $90 per month on your bills.
There is no better option to save in the long term and the savings only compound.
Get this upgrade first after you have improved your insulation, windows, and doors, and you will save massively over the years.
When to Upgrade Your Appliances
While the latest models boast the best energy efficiency, the increase needs to be substantial enough to warrant the cost of the new appliance.
There are many ways to determine this, and all you need is to look at the manufacturer’s handbook to determine how much energy each unit uses vs. what the new model uses.
Work out a cost analysis to see if the cost of the new unit will far outweigh the savings of not.
If you won’t make back the cost of the new model in savings in a few years, then it’s probably a good idea to wait for better appliances in the future before you upgrade.
Add Accessibility Features to Every Renovation
It can be costly to completely renovate a home when you are older and have mobility options, and a good way to avoid this is to renovate with accessibility in mind.
Walk-in showers are incredibly luxurious and will make it so easy to adapt to as you get older.
Wider stairs, doorways, and even shelves that can be pulled down are all ways you can make any renovation more accessible, and until mobility becomes an issue, simply more convenient.
Install a Smart Home System
Last but not least, invest in a smart home system to tie it all together.
Fully realized, these smart systems can wake you up, make your coffee, ensure you are using only the energy you need and can shut it all off when you are not at home.
Smart homes are the future, and you can build yours up piece by piece, so get started today.