Buying a home is hard enough, but all the maintenance it requires isn't a cakewalk either.
Some household projects can daunt even the hardiest homeowner. The 2024 U.S. Homeowner Survey finds that 61% of house owners are anxious about the effect of climate change and natural calamities on their property. Unpredictable repair costs and higher insurance premiums only worsen financial pressures.
Some US cities have more vulnerability than others. For example, the Emergency Management Department of Los Angeles places it at high risk for flooding, earthquakes, and wildfires, all of which can wreak havoc on homes.
Undoubtedly, repairing and renovating your house can be expensive. But it's much like the essential stitch in time. We've brought you practical tips to commit to those long-delayed home projects. You know you need the impetus.
#1 Start With the Most Rewarding Project
Since home remodeling involves considerable effort and expenditure, you want visibly uplifting results to set the tempo. Sorting out your kitchen can be the perfect starting point.
Lackluster kitchens can make the entire house look timeworn - not the mood you want for high-energy maintenance. Setting up a makeshift kitchen in another room and accomplishing kitchen remodeling first will elevate your house tremendously. The project involving the most debris will be out of your way before you do more meticulous jobs like lighting or picking houseplants.
Moreover, it also works out better financially. Better Homes & Gardens notes that you can recover 75% of kitchen remodeling costs if you sell your house.
#2 Acknowledge the Risks of Procrastination
In the chaos of daily life, we postpone some household tasks because they don't seem urgent enough. One such project is roofing, whether you need repair, coating, or re-roofing. Roofing Contractor magazine found that less than 40% of people inspect their roofs for damages even though 70 to 90% of catastrophe damage relates to roofs.
It is a significant problem in cities like LA, where earthquakes and heat waves are prevalent. In September 2024, peak temperatures reached 90 degrees as the county suffered a heat wave. An elastomeric roof coating can limit heat absorption and improve your home's weather resistance.
One way to tackle this vital task calmly is to hire the right contractor who understands your home. For example, using sustainable materials and sticking to a budget may be priorities. LA Roofing Masters recommends a thorough roof inspection at the outset to find personalized needs. It will help get functionally and aesthetically pleasing results with city-code compliance.
#3 Explore Tactics to Manage the Dust in Advance
Dust, dust, everywhere, not a spot to rest. You think home maintenance and your vision fogs up. Many homeowners procrastinate important tasks to avoid exposure to dust and debris.
Thankfully, there are things you can do to tackle the situation without incessant bouts of coughing. For one, ensure your contractor will cover up with barriers and plastic sheets. Inform them of your apprehensions well in time – more so if you have children and inquisitive dogs in the house.
You can also install window fans and air purifiers to ward off the dust. Frequent air exchanges prevent dust accumulation when you work in your home office or sit in an adjacent room. Even so, as far as possible, we recommend strategizing alternate living arrangements for pregnant women and infants during the project.
Apart from dust, chart a survival strategy against mold, asbestos, and fumes. Look for a contractor who complies with EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) guidelines in their entirety.
#4 Build and Source People Skills to See You Through
We may not accept it upfront, but the prospect of a home filled with strangers is another reason many postpone household maintenance. Any overhaul – like flooring, painting, etc. – can take a few weeks and involve many people buzzing around. It is more challenging for introverted people and anyone who finds it hard to deal with broken house rules like no smoking.
Before committing to a task, check with yourself and define any triggers. For instance, you can designate a place in the backyard for contractors who want a smoke. If the constant chatter drives you up a wall, see if available family members or friends can do a few supervisory shifts while you take a walk.
On your end, gestures like offering cool drinks and snacks during a hot afternoon can make a big difference to everyone's morale. Similarly, don't expect anyone to work on weekends and holidays as long as they meet the established timeline.
#5 Consider the Bonus Benefits
When you commence a time-consuming household project, it helps to appreciate the additional perks it will accrue. Often, they have a far-reaching impact on your emotional and physical well-being.
For example, before you start a living room remodel, you will conduct intensive decluttering. The exercise has scope for emotional catharsis – oh, that's where I kept the postcards from my former best friend! You can even make some extra bucks from a garage sale. How about donating some of your stuff, like the last-season pants you hate but your niece adores?
VeryWell Mind observes that decluttering can lower stress, frustration, and confusion. It can help you focus and concentrate better by reducing anxiety symptoms.
It doesn't stop there. Home repair can reap many other benefits for your family. A more vibrant space can mean more entertaining; a spacious playroom can translate into more independent play for your toddler. It is a perfect example of the whole surpassing the individual parts.
Now that the New Year is almost upon us, it is a good time to plan much-needed attention for your home. Those vexing cracks in the wall, that faded wallpaper in the study, and the leaking roof you've been managing with buckets? You better get them sorted before things get any worse. You never know, the projects might be scarier in your head.
