Buying a fixer upper has never been more fashionable. My husband jumped onto the bandwagon of buying a fixer upper in our first home purchase in 2003 and have continued to do this with each home we’ve purchased over the years. If you adore interior design and the thought of creating your dream home from scratch gets you excited, a derelict shell of a building could be for you.

The First Three Jobs for Your Fixer Upper: Things to Do Before You Start the Decorating FunGraphic by Carolyn J. Braden, Image from Pixabay - CC0 LicensePin me! carolynsbloomingcreations.com — The First Three Jobs for Your Fixer Upper: Things to Do Before You Start the Decorating Fun
Graphic by Carolyn J. Braden, Image from Pixabay - CC0 License
Pin me! carolynsbloomingcreations.com

Fixer uppers come with their own pitfalls to avoid and challenges. However, by purchasing well and sticking to a renovation budget, you can make a sound investment into some bricks and mortar. After all, building up equity in your humble abode may be a major factor in deciding to purchase a fixer upper in the first place.

The attic stairwell: One of the many renovated areas in our 2008 1800’s fixer upper:

The First Three Jobs for Your Fixer Upper: Things to Do Before You Start the Decorating FunGraphic, photography and renovations by Tommy and Carolyn J. BradenPin me! carolynsbloomingcreations.com — The First Three Jobs for Your Fixer Upper: Things to Do Before You Start the Decorating Fun
Graphic, photography and renovations by Tommy and Carolyn J. Braden
Pin me! carolynsbloomingcreations.com

We purchased our previous home (a foreclosure) for a super low price in 2008, put in a lot of sweat equity and were able to net a profit of over $100,000 when we sold it 12 years later. Yes, we did it all ourselves and it took a while to do (as we both worked full time jobs on top of renovating the house), but all the work helped us snag our current island home in our dream location, Sanibel Island in Florida!

Before you embark on the fun parts of a renovation project, you need to consider the more tedious structural aspects of your fixer upper. Boring, yes, but necessary to ensure your safety and the future integrity of your new pad.

We learned a lot during our renovations, and here are 3 of our of our top tips and tricks we’d like to pass along to others considering buying a fixer upper, or already proud owners of one.

1- Pipework

The First Three Jobs for Your Fixer Upper: Things to Do Before You Start the Decorating FunGraphic by Carolyn J. Braden, Image from Pexels via CanvaPin me! carolynsbloomingcreations.com — The First Three Jobs for Your Fixer Upper: Things to Do Before You Start the Decorating Fun
Graphic by Carolyn J. Braden, Image from Pexels via Canva
Pin me! carolynsbloomingcreations.com

Many fixer uppers have not been inhabited for years. This means that the pipework can fur up, freeze or seize. Before you can begin to think about decorating, you need to consider the plumbing. Head to your bathroom and kitchen in particular and ask a tradesperson from a company like Dr Rescue to assess the pipes. They will check for leaks and corrosion. Any sections of connections that look worse for wear can be replaced before you turn on the taps or test the showerhead.

We had a plumber in our 2008 fixer upper the day we turned on the water. Being a foreclosure, it had no electricity or water flowing through the house for a while before we bought it. Luckily, there was only one small leak the occurred when we turned the water on. Having our plumber there was a great option because he was able to help us fix it quickly.

If you have a gas connection to your new property, you should also check this pipework as a matter of urgency. Gas leaks can be incredibly dangerous and potentially explosive, so it’s crucial that you get the gas pipes looked at. If they run around the exterior of your home they may be vulnerable to cold and erosion. Sudden gas penetration can lead to cracking. This will make the boiler in the fixer upper work too hard and become inefficient. Replacing the pipes may cost a chunk of your renovation budget but it will be worth it when your home is more energy efficient and not costing you as much of your hard earned cash in the long run.

2- Roof

The First Three Jobs for Your Fixer Upper: Things to Do Before You Start the Decorating FunGraphic by Carolyn J. Braden, Image from Pixabay via CanvaPin me! carolynsbloomingcreations.com — The First Three Jobs for Your Fixer Upper: Things to Do Before You Start the Decorating Fun
Graphic by Carolyn J. Braden, Image from Pixabay via Canva
Pin me! carolynsbloomingcreations.com

The roof of your fixer upper may be bowing or sagging. If this is the case, you need to get into the attic space as soon as possible to check the integrity of your rafters. Bowing tends to mean that these rafters are rotting either because of an infestation of a pest or a leak in the roof. This can lead to wet rot and the possibility that your roof may cave in.

Get these rafters replaced and consider the material you would like for your new roof. You might choose slate or tile depending on the period of your new dwelling.

This could also be a great opportunity to consider solar panels for your rooftop. This will help your home become more sustainable and efficient s it generates its own electricity from the energy of the sun. You can go off grid and no longer have to rely on a utility company for your power. If you generate too much electricity, you can even sell this back to the grid, making you a little profit as a side hustle.

If you spy a patch of damp or mold in the corner of a bedroom, this could be coming from a leak on the roof. If this is caused by a simple missing or cracked roof tile, this can easily be rectified and replaced.

3- Exterior

If you a requiring tradespeople to come and do some work to your pad, you need to ensure that they have access. Consider tidying up your driveway by power washing the brick paving, weeding and cleaning your concrete. If you have an overgrown jungle-like front garden, larger vans and vehicles may struggle to get to your address. Cut this back, even if it looks untidy in the short term. You can sort the coiffing and manicuring a little later.

This is one of the first things we did when we purchased our 2008 and our 2003 fixer uppers. The backyards looked like jungles, being a prime hiding place for snakes or other critters. We had dogs that would be living with us in the homes while we fixed them up and needed to make sure they had a safe place to run around in.

Sometimes a fixer upper may have render over the facade. Ensure that this is intact and doesn’t have any cracks or chips. This can lead to severe water penetration. Ensure that you head up on a ladder on a sunny day to cover these with some top quality render pain that has a long life on it after just one coat.

Our latest fixer upper is off to a great start. Here’s one of the first areas we’ve worked on:

Fixer uppers may seem like a real challenge to transform into a dream home. However, once you get these larger, more crucial jobs out of the way, the fun renovations can begin. New kitchens, bathrooms and decor choices beckon. Follow this guide and ensure that you complete these first three jobs for your fixer upper.

This is a sponsored article. All opinions and ideas expressed in this post are based on my personal point of view.

It's a Bradenful Life

A Smart and Stylish LiFestyle

The attic stairwell: One of the many renovated areas in our 2008 1800’s fixer upper:

1- Pipework

2- Roof

3- Exterior

Our latest fixer upper is off to a great start. Here’s one of the first areas we’ve worked on:

Archives

Select from the drop-down menus below to explore more articles within Carolyn's blogs.

Carolyn's Daily Dishes (Recipes)

It's a Bradenful Life (organized and creative lifestyle)

the ABC (Art and a Blog by Carolyn-art and Self Help)

View our Privacy Policy by clicking here.