We hope everyone had a fabulous Labor Day! If you're like me, then you probably understand the feeling that there is always something to do to make your house even more enjoyable to live in. Taking the care, upkeep, and maintenance of your home into your own hands can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor. Why not kick off September by taking charge of a few projects around the house? Here is a fun list of tips for the do-it-yourself homeowner!
Make a list
Spend some time taking stock of the kinds of maintenance and improvement projects you’d like to begin. A well-considered list will help you to set reachable goals. Be sure to check with your significant other to make sure the projects you have in mind are the same as the ones they'd like to tackle as well. :)
Assess your skills
Make sure that you carefully consider which projects you are fully capable of completing. For example, unless you have sufficient experience with electrical, plumbing or construction work, you should probably leave those tasks to the professionals. Remember, we have a lengthy list of reliable professionals that we're happy to share with you.
Establish priorities
Which projects are most important to you? Which projects will be the most costly? Which is more important: timeliness, quality, or cost? Before beginning any do-it-yourself project, it is always wise to determine specific goals and priorities so that you are fully prepared when it comes time to begin.
Create a budget
For each project that you want to complete, make certain that you have a firm budget in place. Allowing for unexpected circumstances (such as errors or the need for additional materials) in your budget will keep you from overspending. Be sure to stick to your budget along with your specific goals so that you don't end up regretting the work you've done or even worse, not being able to finish it!
One step at a time
When it’s time to begin, remember to pace yourself! Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your new garden terrace will take time as well. Complete one task at a time, and soon you’ll feel the wonderful sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that doing-it-yourself can bring!