Experienced?... No way! Brave?... Sure! Silly?... Too early to say, but probably yes!
Most people in their lifetime at some point, will entertain the thought of improving their home in one shape or form. The biggest mistake most of us make is that we fail to approach it correctly. Like anything we do in life whether its saving for a deposit on a house, getting fit to lose weight, completing a university course, etc - it requires thorough and careful “planning” in order to achieve a successful and worthwhile outcome.
Yes, any type of home improvement should add value to your home, but if it is not approached correctly, then it can cost you a lot more than it owes you back, not just financially, but emotionally and more. I know so many people that have had such horrible experiences that they would never, ever do such a ‘stupid thing ever again!’. (Their words, not mine!).
Try this… Turn the kettle on, or crack open a beer, whichever floats your boat. Take a deep breath. Sit down with a pen and pad, and start drafting together a ‘draft project plan’. This needs to happen before you even contemplate calling tradesmen or builders for quotes or even seeking any advice. Keep your mind clear and focussed on just what you and your household want as part of your home improvement project.
Start from the backyard and walk around the entire house to the front yard, and scribble down your ideas. Then walk through the house from front to back and do the same. Spend at least a week talking and thinking about your draft plan and make any changes along the way until you are totally satisfied and comfortable that this is pretty close to what you would like done.
What to do next? Stay tuned, for the next part of my blog, titled “Attention DIYers! How to successfully run your own DIY project without losing your sanity!”.