Getting Started on Your Remodeling Project

Remodeling your home can be equal parts exciting and overwhelming.  You may have an idea in mind for what you'd like to do:  bump out this wall, add on a new bathroom, or perhaps just rework your existing footprint.  Whatever your plans, large or small, sometimes starting can be the hardest part.  It can be difficult to prioritize or determine why you want to remodel in the first place.

Here are 4 categories that remodeling projects typically fall into:

1. Changes that need to be made immediately to make the house more livable.  Replacing an old door with a new one that included some glass could instantly brighten up your entry way.
   
2. Changes that will improve the character of existing home features.  This can be simply removing unwanted finishes.  In the case of author Sarah Suskana, she lightened up a gloomy family room by removing some old wallpaper, fake beams, and dark wood paneling.  
3. Changes made due to a new life development.  You move into a charming little house only to realize the walls are closing in on you after the addition of 2 kids.  Adding on an extra bathroom or adding extra square footage would be an example of a remodeling project due to a new life development.
   
4. Changes that would be nice to make someday but haven't been tackled yet due to timing and/or budget.  Wouldn't it be nice to build on a second story with a new master suite?  Or that gourmet kitchen with two ovens and sub zero refrigerator you've always pined for?  These are the someday projects that we all dream of.
   

Which category do your remodeling projects fall into?  Make sure you click on the RSS button on the top of the page for more remodeling ideas, tips, and inspiration.