Whether you’re looking to invest in real estate or you need a new home for yourself, a fixer-upper is a great way to start. Housing costs are through the roof, creating a significant barrier for many families. Median prices in Florida, for example, were almost 20% higher at the end of 2021 than the previous year. As these trends continue, families must find new ways of breaking into the market.

Fixer-uppers need more work than your average turnkey home. However, their current state makes them less desirable and more affordable. With the right budget and a lot of sweat equity, you can turn the worst house in a great neighborhood into the home of your dreams. If you plan wisely and stay within your means, you’ll have a finished product exactly suited to your tastes for less than a move-in-ready home.

Once you’ve found the perfect place to renovate, it’s time to get underway – but where do you start?

1. Foundation and Roof Repairs

A cracked or weakened foundation is cause for concern. A small crack or a leaky basement is moderately easy to repair, but anything more extensive could cost you more than the house is worth. Have an inspector check it out before moving ahead with the purchase.

Roof repairs are an incredibly common project for renovators. The average roof lasts between 15 and 30 years, which is far less than the age of most fixer-uppers. Depending on your inspector's recommendation, you may get away with patching the roof and fixing the gutters, or you may need to rip it off and replace the whole thing.

You don’t want to wait until you see water coming in or mold working its way down your walls to make these vital repairs.

2. Mend the Siding

Hurricane season wreaks havoc on the exterior of a home. Heavy rains and wind gusts tear at the siding, leaving sections of the house exposed to the elements and less capable of withstanding the next storm.

To prevent further water damage and keep your family safe, you’ll want to thoroughly check your fixer-upper’s exterior for signs of degradation. Fill in any holes and replace any missing siding.

3. Refurbish or Replace Windows and Doors

The same storms that rip at a house’s siding also damage and destroy doors and windows, leading to further exposure. You’ll have to assess the damage to see the extent of the necessary repairs or replacements.

If the home is in really rough condition, the windows may need to be completely replaced. However, for other renovations, it may be more cost-effective to repair what you have. You can replace or repair single panes, all the glass, just the frame, or the entire window. A common problem with old homes is frame rot, which ruins the structural integrity and needs replacing.

Exterior doors are also a must-fix before moving in. Storm damage and age can wear them down so they’re no longer effective at protecting your home from the elements and intruders. Take the opportunity to purchase sturdy and long-lasting steel or fiberglass doors.

4. Pull Out Old Wiring and Plumbing

If your fixer-upper is quite old, odds are good you’ll find some electrical or plumbing work you need to replace. You may not even realize the extent of the damage until you begin renovations on the rest of the home. However, once you expose anything that’s not up to code, you’re legally required to update it.

While these fixes may take up a significant chunk of your budget, they’ll be worth it in the long run. Old, leaky pipes will allow mold and mildew to spread and rot your floors and walls. Faulty wiring can leave you without power at best and, at worst, start a fire.

5. Add or Update the HVAC

A functioning HVAC system is essential when you live in a southern state like Florida. However, fixer-uppers often require help in this area. You may find there’s no system at all, or it’s incredibly outdated. In these cases, you should allocate some of your renovation budget to updating the HVAC and keeping your family cool.

6. Kitchen and Bathroom Renovations

Creating the kitchen and bathrooms of your dreams is a major draw for many would-be fixer-uppers. Any money you spend in these two categories is likely to net you a great ROI as well.

However, it’s incredibly easy to go overboard with spending, especially in the kitchen. Start with making your home safe and then move on to cosmetic concerns. If your dreams for the kitchen exceed your leftover budget, do what you can, for now, to make it livable and start saving for your vision.

Safety Comes First

Most of these projects are structural rather than decorative, but they’re the most important ones to begin with. Yes, you want a beautiful home by the time you’ve finished renovations, but a safe roof over your head is an essential starting point.

Some fixer-uppers need more work than others. You may have a house only in need of cosmetic changes. In that case, spruce it up to your heart’s and budget’s content. However, if your foundation is cracked, the roof is leaking, and your wiring is shot, you need to allocate your funds there first.