A quick pre-check of your home before starting a renovation is always a good idea. Here are some things you want to check before committing to a minor or major renewal.

• Determine what elements of the house you can reuse: doors, windows, wood, cabinets, floors, etc.

• Make a list of things around the house you don’t like. Determine which design changes would most improve the lifestyle of someone who lives there: you or a potential buyer.

• If you can easily access your roof space, check insulation levels, roof condition, and whether major repairs are needed.

• Review showerheads to see if they need to be upgraded for energy efficiency.

• You may need professional advice regarding your hot water system. An electrical storage model will have the greatest greenhouse impact. If you have one, you need to consider whether it’s worth upgrading to a solar or natural gas system.

• You’ll want to reduce the energy use of your lighting. You’ll save money by replacing incandescent bulbs with warm white fluorescent bulbs. You can also use 50W halogen bulbs instead of lower wattage CRI bulbs. This will save energy.

• Identify potential hazards such as: termites, moisture, asbestos, structural or site access problems. These may cost you more money than you expected.

Unless you’re a property expert or design expert, renovating on a shoestring budget can be difficult. This is why you really need to plan and think about what you want to achieve ahead of time. It is very easy to start changing your mind, increasing the scope of work, while the renovation is taking place. This can drive your costs out of proportion.

You can use your time wisely by understanding the scope of your design brief, what you want your home to look like, and the form and function of each room in your home. You must create a plan that incorporates objectives and strategies to reach the final goal. You will need to include financial, emotional, or even design-related goals.

It’s usually a good idea to take a tour and write down everything you can see as you walk out the front door and into the house. When renewing, first impressions count. First impressions create the perception value of a home. One way is a nicely painted front door and a new doormat. That’s more attractive than a dirty door with fingerprints and dents and a dirty or torn doormat. It can take about $200 and a trip to a store like Home Depot or Lowes, and actually upgrade some homes massively with a “first impression” renovation. fix things like the exterior or interior painting of the entrance; mailbox, garden and landscaping; windows and curtains; front door, welcome mat, doorbell or hallway and even making sure there is a pleasant smell, not too strong, can do wonders to improve perceived value.