Sometimes it’s impossible to find the perfect family home that you can just move into. In this case, it’s often better to look for a project house. A project house is where you look for a property that has the potential to be perfect for your family, but it isn’t quite there yet.

Some people really enjoy the process of transforming a project into a family home that they can be proud of, and the end result is always worth it. Here are a few tips to help you through the process.

Finding a Fixer Upper

The first step is to find a house that you can renovate. The good news is that most projects homes are much cheaper to buy than a house that’s ready to move into. This theoretically means that you might be able to afford a larger house or one that’s in a better area than if you were looking for a new build or a house that doesn’t need any work. However, you still have to factor in the cost of repairs.

Some project houses are habitable and safe to live in, but they need some work to make them look nicer. Others might need more major renovations before you can comfortably live in them, while others are even worse, and may be unsafe. This means that you could end up essentially knocking down the property and starting again. As you can imagine, the more work you do, the more time and money you will have to spend.

So, when looking for a project house, first think about your budget. While you spend less upfront, you might not save much when the work is done, and you could end up spending more than you expect if there’s a nasty surprise. You also need to consider the amount of work you’re comfortable with. If you have a family, you might need to make sure that the house is habitable and comfortable when you move in, then you can work on the aesthetics.

If you find a property that might fit your parameters, make sure that you get it surveyed first. This is important even if you’re buying a new property, because there could be structural issues or other damage that you don’t know about unless you get a survey. This will save you from any unpleasant surprises.

Focus on things like the lot size, the property location and area, and the layout of the property. This essentially gives you the bones of the property, as you can change a lot in the renovations.

Structural Fixes and Changes

So, you’ve found and purchased a property that needs some work. But what work should you prioritize? Before you do any decorating, it’s best to make sure the house itself is in good shape. A survey will inform you of any issues, but even if the house is structurally sound, you can make some improvements.

If you do this before anything else, you have a better blank slate to play with.

First, bring the property back to a blank slate. If you live elsewhere, you can be more extreme with this, especially if you plan on replacing everything anyway. Otherwise, strip it back as much as possible and get rid of everything you don’t need.

Think about the layout of the property. Do you need to add any extensions or do any other major structural changes? Ideally, a project house doesn’t need these extreme changes, but it’s good to get them out of the way. This could be a good opportunity to add some rooms or change how they’re set out.

Next, you should focus on the doors, windows, and roof. These are the parts of your house that get the brunt of the weather, and often need to be repaired or replaced every few years. Deal with the roof first, as that is the bigger job and shouldn’t need replacing again for twenty years or so.

When picking out your doors and windows, think about how they look and how practical they are. This is also an opportunity to move them around, but bear in mind that this is a much larger job than just replacing the windows and doors.

The doors should be secure and should open and close smoothly. You can also play around with the design of your door to make it more interesting and personal to you. You can have more privacy with an opaque door, or you can let more light into your home with a glass door.

Your windows should likewise be secure, so you should be able to lock them. When you get a window replacement, think about how the windows open and whether you need to change the design to make them either more secure, or to allow a fire exit.

One of the benefits to these fixes and replacements is that you don’t have to worry about it again for years to come. Also, this will save you money in the long run, because a good roof, doors, and windows will provide insulation for your home, so you can cut down on utility bills.

Renovating Rooms

Once you have the structure of the house sorted, you can move onto making the rooms more habitable and useful. Ideally, you already have a plan in place for what rooms to renovate and what you want done.

Most people prefer to start with the biggest job, which is probably the kitchen. The idea of working room-by-room is that you can live in the rest of your house while work is being done, and focusing on a room at a time speeds up the process.

This also means that, if you don’t have the money upfront to renovate the whole house, you don’t have to. You can renovate one room, then save up for the next room. The kitchen and bathroom renovations are probably the most disruptive, especially if you only have one toilet in the property. Sometimes it’s best for children to stay somewhere else while this is being done, so they can still be comfortable.

DIY or Contractors?

Another thing to consider when renovating your project house is whether to do the work yourself or to hire contractors.

As a general rule, you should hire a contractor for any skilled or dangerous work. Electricity, gas, and plumbing jobs are always better handled by a trained contractor, even if you are relatively handy. Depending on your local area, this might even be a legal requirement.

It’s probably also a good idea to use contractors for large-scale structural work, because they have the equipment and training to do it quickly and safely. Otherwise, you risk doing a low-quality job and then having to have it repaired or replaced in the long-run anyway.

However, there are plenty of things that you can do yourself. If you do have some DIY skills, you can always pick up even more skills by watching instructional videos. Often, it will be slower than if you hired a team of contractors, but you save a lot of money. If you have friends or family members who are willing to help, all the better.

Do the work that you feel confident and comfortable doing. Whether it’s laying tiles or painting a wall, work at your own pace. It’s a good idea to have the contact information of a local handyman nearby, just in case.

Finishing Touches

Once the lion’s share of the work has been completed, you can see your home start to come together. This is when you can start putting those finishing touches in place, so your project property completes its transformation into a family home.

If you already have furniture, this is when it finds its final position in the rooms, as it shouldn’t need to be moved around for a while. Otherwise, it’s a good idea to buy furniture as you renovate and decorate each room. If you’re low on funds, you can always get some second hand furniture and you might even be able to pick up free or cheap furniture from Facebook Marketplace or other sources.

Once the larger furnishings are in place, think about smaller touches. Cushions and throws make sofas and armchairs look a lot more complete and homely. Side tables and coffee tables are also a good touch, and they can fill up empty spaces.

Every room can benefit from decorative pieces like wall art and other ornaments. These are what make your home shine, as they reflect your personality and your style. Without them, a house always looks bare.

You can always add these finishing touches over time, as you collect more decorative items and smaller pieces of furniture. This gives your house a more organic feel. After all, you’re designing a home for your family, not a show property. So, the most important thing is to have fun with it and feel free to play around with your sense of style.