What Repairs to Prioritize in Your New Fixer Upper
Finding a home for a bargain always involves making some concessions. And assuming you’re willing to put the work in, you can transform your fixer upper into the envy of your neighborhood. But first, you need to know where to direct your attention. Here are some key repairs to prioritize in your new fixer upper.
Best Repairs for a Fixer Upper
Structural Concerns
Your home’s structural integrity must come before any other concern. If you neglect this aspect of your property, you’re just waiting for everything else to fall apart as well. It’s best to hire a professional inspector and/or carpentry expert to thoroughly assess the property’s foundation before you decide to buy it, but it’s worth doing if you’ve already sealed the deal, too. These structural engineering professionals will examine everything from the soil beneath your foundation to the evenness (or lack thereof) of your flooring, and so on. If anything is off in a serious way, specific renovations will be recommended to keep your home secure, straight, and safe.
Roof, Trim, and Siding Repair
A fixer upper is often identifiable by its outward appearance -- missing shingles, lopsided trim, faded siding. The plus side of these problems is that they’re easy enough to notice and amend. It’s crucial to tackle these repairs as soon as possible, as they don’t merely reduce your home’s curb appeal but also leave it vulnerable to various threats. A damaged roof, for instance, is a major avenue for water damage, pest infestation, and soaring energy costs -- the same goes for cracked siding. Trim repair is also important to tackle early on, as neglecting it can reveal multiple gaps where external forces can enter your home.
Residential Exterior Painting
While you’re focused on your fixer upper’s envelope, it’s probably worth applying a fresh coat of paint, too. Of course, you’ll want to thoroughly wash the exterior and complete some of those aforementioned repairs before doing so. Once your home’s exterior is primed for painting, take this opportunity to introduce new, modern colors to your siding, trim, front door, and other features. Fresh paint will boost your property’s curb appeal while providing important protection from sunlight, precipitation, pests, wind, and more.
Interior Wall Touch-Ups and Fixes
After you’ve tackled those exterior issues, don’t forget to also refresh your fixer upper’s interior spaces. There’s a good chance that some (or all) of your rooms could use some drywall repair. After all, as older homes settle, cracks often form on walls and ceilings to compensate for this movement. Unless the damage to your walls and ceilings is severe, these repairs are usually easy to make on your own with the aid of a patch kit. After you’ve fixed up your interior surfaces, consider applying fresh interior paint to modernize each room and make them your own.
The money you save by purchasing a fixer upper is at least partially offset, but the time, effort, and money you must invest in various renovations. Still, if you know which projects to tackle, you’ll have the opportunity to turn an otherwise worn down home into something refreshing and worth the effort. At Anderson Painting, we love helping new homeowners realize their dreams in any way possible. Whether you need a partner to tackle various repairs or someone to consult regarding paint color selection, our experts are just a call or click away. To learn more about us and all we do, call today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com!
