7 Questions to Ask Before Your Next Home Improvement Project

The valley between good and bad can be bigger than you think. This applies to everyone from restaurant servers and civil engineers to facility managers and office workers. When someone does their job properly, you can tell. (The reverse is also true!)

When it comes to home improvement, this "valley" is littered with costly failures by well-intentioned homeowners. If you're looking to avoid mistakes before your next home improvement project—whether you're replacing a door or replacing a window—here are a few questions to consider.

1. Why Do You Want an Improvement?

For starters, why are you wanting to remodel or redesign a feature or room in your home? Is it for functional reasons (e.g. replacing a leaking shower) or do you simply want to change things up? Other people are more concerned with increasing resale value, while some want to give their home a more modern look. Whatever your reason, it will dictate many of the other items on this list.

2. What Is Your Budget?

The scope of your home improvement project depends on how much you want to spend. Your budget may be higher if you're increasing the value of your home, as it will pay off down the road. But if your budget is limited and resale isn't a priority, you may want to consider replacing a window, door or making another small improvement instead of gutting a whole room or house.

3. What Do You Want to Improve?

Once your budget and reasoning are solidified, you can move on to specifics. Which room or area do you want to prioritize the most? Create a list of priorities, then cut off that list when you're approaching your budget. Also, the more specific you get with the improvements you want to make, the easier it is to envision and plan.

4. Will You Do It Yourself or Hire Someone?

This is another big question before you get started on that next home improvement project and it's one where you have to weigh short-term vs. long-term costs. If you go the DIY route, plan for mishaps, delays and potential extra expenses. If you hire an experienced, professional home improvement company, on the other hand, you can usually have a set cost or estimate that won't change much unless you approve it. DIY can be more affordable in the short term, but hiring someone can be a better long-term option with professional results.

5. What Is Your Style?

Having your desired colors, finishes and materials picked out ahead of time helps make the home improvement process more efficient. While a consultation beforehand always helps, having a defined style will make the decor and improvements more consistent in your home, aesthetically and otherwise.

6. How Will Your Lifestyle Change?

Some home improvements can help your quality of life, while others make it more difficult. Some improvements, like converting your bathtub to a walk-in tub or your shower into a shower-bath combo, can make your life safer and more convenient.

7. Is There Anything Else You Want to Improve?

Don't forget about the areas of your home that aren't visible to visitors, like insulation in the attic. From windows and doors to bathrooms, you can make improvements to entire areas, sections or individual features. It's also a good idea to combine home improvements in the same project to save time (and potentially costs as well).

If you'd like more advice about your next home improvement project, contact Expo Home Improvement at 972-833-4752 or check out our blog.