--- title: Quick and Easy Home Improvement Tips for a Fixer-Upper description: So, you found your dream home but it's a bit of a fixer-upper. No fear, S&D has compiled a list of home improvement tips to get your house looking great! image: https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/hubfs/Blog_Images/home%20improvement.jpg --- - [Pay Rent](https://sdnyrealty.com/pay-rent/) - [Forms](https://sdnyrealty.com/forms/) -   [![S&D Commercial Real Estate Agency](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/S__D_Real_Estate_January2019/images/sd-original-logo_300px.png?width=300&height=194&name=sd-original-logo_300px.png "S&D Commercial Real Estate Agency")](https://sdnyrealty.com/) - [About](https://sdnyrealty.com/long-island-commercial-real-estate-firm/) - [Agents](https://sdnyrealty.com/long-island-real-estate-agents/) - [Listings](https://sdnyrealty.com/property-listings/) - [Property Management](https://sdnyrealty.com/property-management-company/) - [Resources](https://sdnyrealty.com/real-estate-resources/) - [Neighborhood Guide](https://sdnyrealty.com/neighborhood-guide/) - [Long Island](https://sdnyrealty.com/long-island-commercial-real-estate/) - [Nassau County](https://sdnyrealty.com/nassau-county-commercial-real-estate/) - [Bethpage](https://sdnyrealty.com/bethpage-commercial-real-estate/) - [Farmingdale](https://sdnyrealty.com/farmingdale-commercial-real-estate/) - [Franklin Square](https://sdnyrealty.com/franklin-square-commercial-real-estate/) - [Garden City](https://sdnyrealty.com/garden-city-commercial-real-estate/) - [Glen Cove](https://sdnyrealty.com/glen-cove-commercial-real-estate/) - [Hempstead](https://sdnyrealty.com/hempstead-commercial-real-estate/) - [Hicksville](https://sdnyrealty.com/hicksville-commercial-real-estate/) - [Long Beach](https://sdnyrealty.com/long-beach-commercial-real-estate/) - [Mineola](https://sdnyrealty.com/mineola-commercial-real-estate/) - [Rockville Centre](https://sdnyrealty.com/rockville-centre-commercial-real-estate/) - [Suffolk County](https://sdnyrealty.com/suffolk-county-commercial-real-estate/) - [Babylon](https://sdnyrealty.com/suffolk-county-commercial-real-estate/babylon-commercial-real-estate/) - [Brookhaven](https://sdnyrealty.com/brookhaven-commercial-real-estate/) - [Hauppauge](https://sdnyrealty.com/hauppauge-commercial-real-estate/) - [Huntington](https://sdnyrealty.com/huntington-commercial-real-estate/) - [Islip](https://sdnyrealty.com/islip-commercial-real-estate/) - [Melville](https://sdnyrealty.com/melville-commercial-real-estate/) - [Riverhead](https://sdnyrealty.com/riverhead-commercial-real-estate/) - [Smithtown](https://sdnyrealty.com/smithtown-commercial-real-estate/) - [Southampton](https://sdnyrealty.com/southampton-commercial-real-estate/) - [Consulting Services](https://sdnyrealty.com/consulting-services/) - [Property Appraisal Services](https://sdnyrealty.com/property-appraisal/) - [Zoning Regulations](https://sdnyrealty.com/zoning-regulations/) - [Forms](https://sdnyrealty.com/forms/) - [Veterans & Military Housing](https://sdnyrealty.com/veterans-military-housing/) - [Join our Program](https://sdnyrealty.com/veterans-military-housing/#apply-now) - [Forms & Applications](https://sdnyrealty.com/forms/) - [Pay Rent](https://sdnyrealty.com/pay-rent/) - [Blog](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog) - [Contact](https://sdnyrealty.com/contact/) # Quick and Easy Home Improvement Tips for a Fixer-Upper - October 27, 2016 - [Buying](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/buying), [home maintenance](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/home-maintenance), [home improvement](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/home-improvement), [home value](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/home-value) - 0 ![Quick and Easy Home Improvement Tips for a Fixer-Upper](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/hubfs/Blog_Images/home%20improvement.jpg) When you’re [in the market to buy a house](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/long-island-real-estate-market-in-2017), you may end up finding the perfect dream home with every feature and amenity you could possibly want. But sometimes, there’s a catch: it’s a bit of a fixer-upper. With just a little bit of home improvement, you can turn that fixer-upper into the jewel of the neighborhood. ## Simple Home Improvements Tips for Any House ### Start with a Plan No matter what needs to be done to your home, it is essential to come up with a concrete and comprehensive plan for your home improvements. This plan should contain the total project cost, materials to be used, time requirements and the intended design. You should come up with a budget, a schedule and you can even craft preliminary mock-ups using design tools like [SketchUp](http://www.sketchup.com/) or [Floorplanner](http://www.floorplanner.com/products/personal). ![home improvement](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/home%20improvement1.jpg?width=450&name=home%20improvement1.jpg "home improvement") Once you’re done with the first round of home improvements, you should come up with a year-round maintenance calendar to keep up with [seasonal repairs](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/a-summer-home-maintenance-checklist-for-property-owners) and also set aside funds every month for inevitable maintenance down the road. ### Check the Essentials In any fixer-upper, there’s going to be some things that need more work than others. However, when you move into a new home, you should always start with the most important parts. These essential components include: - Roof - Plumbing - Heating - Foundation - Electrical - Doors - Windows Every other home improvement is mostly for aesthetic, but these are the real key elements that can have a big effect on your life if they aren’t working properly. ![home improvement](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/home%20improvement2.jpg?width=450&name=home%20improvement2.jpg "home improvement") ### Consider Home Value Even though you may have just purchased a home, it’s always good to make sure you’re paying attention to its [home value](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/10-not-so-costly-improvements-to-increase-your-home-value). Think of your home as an investment. You want to ensure everything is done with precision and with the highest quality materials. Therefore, the next areas of focus should be the kitchen and bathroom, these two rooms contribute most to home value. You’ll probably end up spending the most time in these rooms, so why not make them count? Even the smallest repairs can make a huge difference in the long run. ### Hire Wisely Somewhere along the way, your house may require professional work. For these improvements, you’ll need to [hire a licensed contractor](https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/top-8-pro-tips-how-to-hire-contractor). This decision should not be taken lightly. ![home improvement](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/home%20improvement3.jpg?width=450&name=home%20improvement3.jpg "home improvement") To protect yourself from a nightmare contractor, make sure that before you hire anyone that you: - Field recommendations from people you trust. - Meet the contractor in person. - Check online reviews. - Get a quote. If you take these steps seriously, you should wind up with a contractor that can help you get what you’re looking for out of your home By following these tips and tricks, your home will go from fixer-upper to dream home in no time! [![Join The Commercial Courier](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/432922/d68af3fc-de89-4dd0-bc71-e7dba2bb02f5.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/432922/d68af3fc-de89-4dd0-bc71-e7dba2bb02f5) ### Tags: - [Buying](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/buying) - [home maintenance](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/home-maintenance) - [home improvement](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/home-improvement) - [home value](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/home-value) ### [Previous post](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/long-island-real-estate-market-in-2017) #### [A Look Ahead at the Long Island Real Estate Market in 2017](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/long-island-real-estate-market-in-2017) ### [Next post](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/what-is-title-insurance) #### [What is Title Insurance, and Why Do I Need It?](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/what-is-title-insurance) ### Related posts [![How a Home Appraisal Determines Residential Property Value](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/Home%20Appraisal.jpg?width=768&name=Home%20Appraisal.jpg)](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/home-appraisal) - September 26, 2018 - [Buying](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/buying), [residential real estate](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/residential-real-estate), [Selling](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/selling), [property value](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/property-value), [Refinancing](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/refinancing) ### How a Home Appraisal Determines Residential Property Value Appraising a property plays a significant role in the real estate industry. While appraisals are used for a wide variety of reasons, one thing is... [Continue reading](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/home-appraisal) [![How to Paint your Home or Apartment: A Beginner’s Guide](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/How%20to%20Paint.jpg?width=768&name=How%20to%20Paint.jpg)](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/how-to-paint) - September 05, 2018 - [residential real estate](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/residential-real-estate), [property value](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/property-value), [home improvement](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/home-improvement), [interior design](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/interior-design) ### How to Paint your Home or Apartment: A Beginner’s Guide Whether it’s the wall, trim or ceilings, painting the interior of your home or apartment isn’t such an easy project. From preparation to execution... [Continue reading](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/how-to-paint) [![Babyproofing 101: How to Protect your Child in the Home](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/Babyproofing.jpg?width=768&name=Babyproofing.jpg)](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/babyproofing) - July 25, 2018 - [residential real estate](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/residential-real-estate), [home improvement](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/home-improvement) ### Babyproofing 101: How to Protect your Child in the Home Once babies begin crawling and moving around after a few months, there’s no telling what kind of trouble they can get into. That’s why so many... [Continue reading](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/babyproofing) ### Blog Search ### Recent Posts [![Click Here to Join our Newsletter](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/432922/19f66de0-1cba-45a5-a498-016133232e0e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/432922/19f66de0-1cba-45a5-a498-016133232e0e) ### Topics - [residential real estate (65)](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/residential-real-estate) - [commercial real estate (48)](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/commercial-real-estate) - [Buying (40)](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/buying) - [Tips (36)](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/tips) - [Renting (23)](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/renting) - [Selling (20)](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/selling) - [Mortgage (15)](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/mortgage) - [commercial property (15)](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/commercial-property) - [lease (15)](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/lease) - [office (14)](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/office) - [Finance (13)](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/finance) - [buying a house (12)](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/topic/buying-a-house) ### Follow Us Find helpful blogs of both residential and commercial real estate on Long Island. For more questions, feel free to contact us at [info@sdnyrealty.com](mailto:info@sdnyrealty.com)   - [About](https://sdnyrealty.com/long-island-commercial-real-estate-firm/) - [Listings](https://sdnyrealty.com/property-listings/) - [Property Management](https://sdnyrealty.com/property-management-company/) - [Resources](https://sdnyrealty.com/real-estate-resources/) - [Veterans & Military Housing](https://sdnyrealty.com/veterans-military-housing/) - [Blog](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog) - [Contact](https://sdnyrealty.com/contact/) [![S&D](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/hubfs/S__D_Real_Estate_January2019/images/sd-original-logo_150px.png)](https://sdnyrealty.com/) Full-service real estate and property management firm serving Long Island and the NY Metropolitan Area since 1949. ### Contact Info - [27 E Jericho Turnpike Suite 2 Mineola NY 11501](https://www.google.com/maps?rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS811US811&q=Smith+and+Degroat+Real+Estate+%7C+Commercial+Real+Estate+Agency+Long+Island&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgecSYyS3w8sc9YamESWtOXmOM4uIKzsgvd80rySypFPLhYoOyFLj4pbj10_UNS7KyCi2NijQYpHi5kAWkFJS4eDfoeUmIhqTJXNES4hS3q1nzuf1Qp-DPz9cyDTS_RPAAAClF56FuAAAA&biw=2560&bih=938&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQovbckObdAhXsYd8KHVqGBC4Q_AUIDigB) [516-248-6905](tel:1-516-248-6905) ### Listings [699 Nassau Rd, Uniondale NY, 11553](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/home-appraisal) $649,000 1783 SF Mixed-Use [![699 Nassau Rd, Uniondale NY, 11553](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/hubfs/S__D_Real_Estate_January2019/images/699-Nassau-Rd-Uniondale-Featured-IMG-380x280.jpg)](https://smithandd.staging.wpengine.com/property/699-nassau-rd-uniondale-ny-11553/) [310 Willis Avenue, Mineola NY, 11501](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/blog/tenants-rights) $750,000 3525 SF Commercial, Office [![310 Willis Avenue, Mineola NY, 11501](https://blog.sdnyrealty.com/hubfs/S__D_Real_Estate_January2019/images/310-Willis-Avenue-Mineola-Featured-IMG-380x280.jpg)](https://smithandd.staging.wpengine.com/property/310-willis-avenue-mineola-ny-11501/) ### Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter for expert tips, exclusive listings and more!   **Disclaimer:** The information herein does not constitute an offer, representation, or warranty, and S&D Real Estate cannot guarantee the completeness or accuracy of any information contained herein. Prospective purchasers should independently verify all information pertaining to the subject property; and may do so through, among other sources, available public records from the applicable municipality. © S&D Commercial Real Estate Long Island 2019. All Rights Reserved. [Privacy Policy](https://sdnyrealty.com/privacy-policy/) Follow us