It doesn’t matter whether you are buying a fixer upper to transform into your dream home, or to rent out to earn a second income.

The chances are that the derelict shell of a building that you have purchased needs a lot of fixer upper work doing to it. Renovating a home can be exciting, yet if there’s an obscene amount to do, the project can become daunting.

Before you get carried away with the fun aspect of remodeling, such as choosing a new bathroom suite, reconfiguring the kitchen and choosing color schemes, you need to sort of these fixer upper fundamentals before you do anything else.

Roof

As a fixer upper, you may have a dwelling that is not watertight. You may have tiles on your roof that are cracked or missing. You may have window fascias that are cracked letting in water and drafts. And your home may be at risk of rot. Instruct a roofing contractor to come and assess the state of your slate, thatch or tiles. Get those that are missing replaced, and if you need a full on replacement, get it sorted sooner rather than later.

If you let the roof deteriorate, the integrity of your new home may be compromised. The same goes for your windows. If the seals are dodgy, get the glazing replaced. Having a watertight and weatherproof home is vital if you are to create any sort of habitable humble abode.

Utilities

The mains electricity, gas and water need to be connected to your home. While you may have a list of jobs for tradespeople to sort out, they cannot complete their projects if they don’t have power. Get in touch with your local authority and the relevant utilities companies and get connected. Also, think about connecting your broadband so you are accessible online.

As a newly transformed home, you also might be keen to whip in a networked music system for every room. The Internet of Things now makes it easier than ever to make your home more automated. From intelligent thermostats to more secure visual doorbells, you can integrate these into your renovation plans.

Flooring

Every home needs some decent flooring. If you have bought a period property, consider refurbishing your floorboards. Any property that is older than a hundred years old will have old oak floorboards, that with a little sanding and varnishing, can look incredible.

Alternatively, you could lay down some premium real wood laminate or maybe a plush deep pile carpet is more your style. Investigate your options and consider the sort of room appropriate options you like the look of. Bathrooms and kitchens always suit a more hardwearing floor like lino or tiles, whereas your living room could have some carpet luxury.

If you are in the process of purchasing your fixer upper, you are probably ridiculously excited, and a little bit overwhelmed at the prospect of getting your hands on a project. Follow this guide and enjoy your foray into the world of fixer uppers.