Which Rooms in Your Home Should Be Renovated First?

Photo by Jason Boyd from Pexels If you're planning a significant home improvement project that encompasses numerous rooms and tasks, you may be unsure where to begin. Should you start in common rooms like the kitchen or living room to get them out of the way, or should you start in out-of-the-way locations so that those social spaces can be used for longer? We chatted with Oren Farkash, the CEO and owner of South Land Remodeling, to decide the best technique for your next home makeover.

If you're doing the remodeling on your own...

If your renovation ideas are minor, or if they are primarily cosmetic (think painting, tiling, or flooring), you may do them yourself. If this is the case, Farkash advises that you should base your strategy on how comfortable you are with living beside a construction site. He recommends breaking the job down into chunks, deciding on a starting point that works for you, and then working your way through nearby or adjoined spaces—all while resisting the need to bounce around to various locations, which may extend your remodeling effort. "It's also a good idea to start with your top priority," he adds, which for most homeowners is the kitchen. "This way, if you run out of money or energy, you've completed the most essential task." This makes deciding on a beginning point very personal—but in the end, this strategy will make you the happy.

Still unsure? Farkash recommends starting with the repairs in your first-priority room and then moving on to the aesthetic upgrades after they are finished. Consider the following alternative: Get the most difficult jobs completed first. "Start with the messiest things first since it will produce a visible improvement, which feels like a pleasant result," he adds, which will eventually drive you to keep going.

If you're going to hire a professional...

If the remodel is more significant and needs the assistance of a professional, your order will usually be prescribed by professionals who must come in and manage them. For example, in most circumstances, plumbing and electrical work must be completed together. Farkash believes that if your staff asks for your choice, you can't go wrong with an inside-out method. "Start from the inside (consider mechanical elements in the walls and floors) and work your way out," he advises. One of the advantages of employing a professional team for bigger, multi-trade projects is that they will know where to begin—and where to proceed from there. "In the long term, these professionals can complete these renovations quicker, so you don't have to live in a remodeling workplace for any longer than necessary," Farkash explains.

Whatever you do, don't make a bad decision.

Working in the wrong order might have severe consequences (which is another reason why hiring a professional team is so critical). Farkash warns that needing to perform repairs may result in you squandering time and money (especially if your mistakes involve paint or flooring stain). Furthermore, larger disasters may need the services of a professional. "Working in a systematic approach will save you time and money, and you will complete the job quicker with cleaner, better outcomes," he says.