Remodel a Home by Planning

You see a great home improvement sale ready to happen at Lowe's, Home Depot or your local hardware store. You wanted a new bathroom vanity, a fresh coat of paint in the living room or even decorations for the flower bed. But before you tackle a home improvement projects do you understand why you're going to spend the money?

Spending time planning your home improvement project can increase the satisfaction and help you budget for the whole house. Then you can place projects on a cycle of 6 months to 12 months (or longer) and be prepared to take advantage of specials that truly fit your plans.

Don't react to the sales that happen. Plan ahead so money is spent wisely.

What Do You Like about Your Home?

Step back and assess what you currently like about your home and then plan projects that enhance the existing positive qualities.

Is your home already cozy? If you like to snuggle then look for small areas that might be changed to fit that feeling. Perhaps a bedroom or living area can have a bay window installed that protrudes past the outer walls. A sitting bench can be created to allow reading near the window or simply sitting and daydreaming.

How Might Your Family Change?

Family conditions change every several years. Ours did while adopting children of different ages during a four-year period.

Now, with one in college and two young adult children out of the home our in-home needs have changed and we're looking at accommodating grandchildren.

For some middle-age adults, they may have to care for an aging relative in the coming years. Do you have a spare room or can one be added on to your home?

If you're going to make physical changes to your home - such as knocking out walls or enclosing a hallway to build an additional bedroom - will the changes be needed two, three or five years from now?

Is Your Home Energy Efficient?

Installing dual pane windows and adding attic insulation may reduce heating and air conditioning costs. These changes may prove more cost effective in the long run by saving money every month that you can then use to improve another part of your home.

Creating an energy efficient home may mean replacing older appliances with newer ones. Is that a priority at this point?

For complete information on energy efficient windows, visit The Efficient Windows Collaborative.

Do You Need Outdoor Space?

Building a deck off the main house or landscaping a patio in your backyard is often a satisfying project and cost-effective. If you're entertaining style is currently cramped, that may be the project to tackle first. Decks often recoup their cost by the value added to a home.

Do You Need a New Look?

Getting rid of tans and browns by adding pastel greens or yellows can create a whole new sensation. Stencil patterns are fun to do as a family project and when they're added around entry ways or on wide, white walls it creates a new dimension and adds to the personality of the home.

What Do You Really Want?

Perhaps you just want something simple to freshen up the curb appeal such as a walkway. Maybe just freshening up with curtains will meet your needs or will adhering to a similar family of colors throughout the house satisfy for now?

Try to find a relaxing moment and sit with your spouse to discuss what you really want to change and then agree on projects that are okay to pursue at a future date.

Answering these questions can assist homeowners in determining which projects take priority and where the money should be spent and the time frame for spending it.