Home Renovations

I haven't told Gary this yet but I decided this morning that we need a plan for all the home remodel ideas I've got floating around upstairs. This plan is going to be my favorite document over the next few years.

Why you ask?
1. It's in Excel. I LOVE EXCEL!
2. It will have different tabs for each "phase" and can track progress for each one.
3. It's in Excel. I really do love excel.
4. It will be a challenge that I have to win! Our house needs some help!
5. It will create motivation where as right now there is none.
6. It will help prioritize spending and savings on a better scale than we do now.

I felt really energized to do this because I saw a magazine at the home of the people I nanny for. It was a before&after magazine from none other than my favorite magazine - BHG! Yeah buddy. After taking a quick glance while feeding my little bugger friend, Jack, I took away that one of the most important tasks when doing a remodel is the planning beforehand. It said to have everything figured out before demo day: finances, finishes, equipment, appliances, etc. So that's what I decided we needed to do! Besides, I've been so overwhelmed with all my ideas that this will help sort out all the mess in my head.

Here's my list:

Current Project
Adobe CS6
Desktop computer with enough umph to handle design software

Phase 1 - to be completed by mid-2013
Cosmetic changes - paint in living room, master bedroom
New trim - white
New window trim - white
New inside doors - white
New closet doors - white
supplies
labor

Phase 2

Part 1 - Extra Room --> Half bath (possibly 3-piece bath) - to be completed by mid-2014
demo
new subfloor?
flooring
toilet
vanity/sink
shower stall?
bathroom door
close off room to kitchen
hardware
decor
towels
paint
supplies
labor

Part 2 - Upstairs Bathroom - to be completed by mid-2015
demo
new subfloor?
flooring
toilet
vanity/sink - double sink (PLEASE!!)
tub/shower combo
closet or enough shelf or storage in vanity
wall tiles
hardware
decor
paint
exhaust through roof
supplies
labor

Phase 3 - to be completed mid-2016
Demo
new kitchen sink
new dishwasher
new stove
new coutertop
new hardware

new washer
new dryer
new stairs to basement

supplies
labor

--

I wish you could see the excitement on my face! I know this is not our forever home but that doesn't mean we can leave a little Wiest stamp all over the place - it needs a little updating here and there is all. And really, who doesn't want another bath in this house? I most certainly do! There's also a Phase 4 if we ever get to it - that'd be to update our garage into a double or 1-stall with lots of storage space/shelving