A Year of Renovations

Taking on a home renovation project can be an exciting yet taxing endeavor, requiring no small amount of planning, time, and effort. But you can navigate this process more effectively by timing your improvements throughout the year—a tactic that can help you save money, maximize results, and minimize disruption. Allow this seasonal guide to assist you in establishing a solid renovation timeline for the months ahead.

Winter

Although winter might seem like a less than ideal time for home renovations, it offers numerous opportunities to engage with the process. For one, you can use the slower pace to compile ideas for the upcoming year, identifying what repairs and improvements you’d like to tackle. You could even visit conferences or watch home improvement shows to learn about fresh trends, products, and techniques you could implement in your projects. As part of this game plan, craft a thorough budget that outlines the total funds you may expect to have for renovations—whether through savings or loans—along with the amount each project will likely require. To help you determine the latter, consider reaching out to contractors and suppliers, who may be more available to offer estimates and consultations in their offseason.

During this planning phase, you may discover that certain projects you flagged for later are much cheaper to initiate now; thanks to lower demand, costs for construction materials and labor tend to be much lower this time of year. For instance, many people are reticent to replace windows in winter since the process can cause some energy loss. However, companies may be willing to dramatically whittle their prices down for you in order to keep their workers busy. So if you spot a chance to come in under budget for a given project, don’t hesitate to jump on it.

This season is also a good time to tackle smaller projects around the house. Adding built-in shelves to your closet will help you create extra storage space for stowing away your sweaters come spring, while refinishing old furniture or adding peel-and-stick wallpaper to an area can give a space new life. You’d be surprised at how a minor makeover can go a long way toward making your home that much more comfortable and inviting.

Spring

With its warmer weather and brighter days, spring makes for a great season to start on the exterior of your house. Just keep in mind that home-improvement activity often picks up steam in these months, which can drive higher costs and longer wait times with contractors. This may be unavoidable if you need to make repairs, such as to a leaky roof that won’t survive another rainy season. You may also find it worth the expense if you’ve been yearning for a patio, pergola, or other major feature that will transform your backyard into a personal haven just in time for summer.

Otherwise, aim to take on projects you can tackle yourself, focusing on improving curb appeal and outdoor comfort and boosting your energy efficiency. For the former, this could involve staining or painting an existing deck, installing a DIY water feature, or sprucing up your landscaping. A fresh bed of flowers in your garden or new shrubs at the corners of your house can instantly transform the space, whether for your own enjoyment or to boost your home’s worth.

As for energy-efficient upgrades, there are plenty of ways to keep your energy costs low amid warmer temps without having to replace your windows. Primarily, look to seal gaps around windows and doors to prevent hot air from entering and cool air from escaping; all you may need is some caulk or weatherstripping and a free afternoon. Another easy solution is to simply swap out your window treatments for ones more effective at blocking the sunshine, and thus the heat, coming through. Cellular shades are a great option for their ability to trap cool air before it exits, as are lighter-colored drapes that can reflect and diffuse sunlight.

Summer

Summer’s sweltering temps and blistering sun can make any exterior improvement a struggle, so consider focusing on interior upgrades this season, whether they’re big, small, or somewhere in between. Perhaps give your flooring some attention; after the wet conditions of winter and spring, it may benefit from a little TLC. You could replace carpeting, refinish hardwood floors, or install something more durable like laminate or vinyl. Other ideas for enhancing your interiors could include upgrading your lighting, repainting your living room, or even having your fireplace serviced or redone. Like with windows in winter, you may be able to get a reduced price for the latter during these professionals’ offseason.

Looking for smaller projects that won’t get you too sweaty? Consider swapping out your kitchen hardware, including faucet handles and cabinet knobs, to something sleek and monochrome for a more modern look. Or replace your showerhead with a handheld, water-efficient one that offers different spray settings, lending a more customizable shower experience. Such changes may seem relatively insignificant, but they can have a huge impact both on the look of your spaces and your enjoyment of them.

Autumn

This time of year is great for initiating just about any project due to its temperate weather and generally lower improvement costs. Ultimately, it comes down to what your priorities are and what you have left on your list from the start of the year. For instance, if you’ve been wanting to do something more ambitious, such as overhauling your kitchen or primary bathroom, it may be a more reasonably priced project now than during spring or summer.

In addition, focus on areas that may cause you trouble come wintertime. If you’ve yet to swap out your old windows, it may be worth going forward with it before the temperature dips; the US Department of Energy estimates that replacing inefficient ones can help homeowners save 25 to 30 percent on average for heating and cooling costs. Likewise, reconsider getting your roof taken care of if you passed over the project earlier in the year and it’s been giving you trouble. You’ll want any holes patched or shingles swapped—or even the whole shebang replaced—before the first snowfall.

Strategically planning your home renovations throughout the year can help you produce a functionally beautiful space and even save you money. Always put safety first and do extensive research, and make sure to savor the process with every season.