I Bought an Old Home: Where Should I Start the Renovation?

First have the hidden side of the home checked: wiring, plumbing and damp. Choosing a paint colour or a kitchen before their condition is known means spending the budget in the wrong place. The order is: checks, the list of essential work, the budget, the order of work and, last of all, decoration.

A five-step roadmap

1. Security and records: change the door lock, note the meter readings, photograph the empty home.
2. Checks: wiring, water, drains, damp, plaster, windows and doors are examined. In detail: what to check in an old home.
3. Sorting: separate essential work (services, waterproofing) from optional work.
4. Written quote and budget: have every item written down and leave a margin for the unexpected.
5. Work in order: go from rough to fine. In detail: the order of work in a full renovation.

The three most common mistakes

• Starting on the services after moving in
• Doing paint and flooring first and breaking into the walls later
• Trying to renew everything at once and leaving the job half done when the budget runs out

What if the budget is limited?

Have the essential work and the painting of the whole home done; leave wallpaper, decorative paint and furniture for later. The reverse means breaking into new decoration.

When should you move in?

After the dusty and wet work is finished. We explain which jobs must be done first in our post on renovations before moving in. Erdağ Yapı surveys empty homes free of charge.