If you lived a long time in a house or recently bought an old home, you may think it is charming but it does lack modern conveniences. To remedy this, you need to take steps to update your home to modern standards. It sounds expensive but if you are smart about it, you can do it at an affordable price. Here are some things that you can do to make this possible.
Do An Inspection
The first thing that you should do is to have your house undergo an inspection. While you can do your upgrade planning with just what you notice, it is better to have a professional do a full inspection of your old home. They can identify exactly what you need to change to make your home more comfortable and safe. While companies and websites like nwesi.com are mainly about commercial buildings, you can find smaller firms that will be able to do something similar for you. A thorough inspection can help detect any problem areas in your house. This can range from asbestos in your insulation to bad wiring in the walls. With a complete survey of your house done, you can do some planning.
Prioritize Safety Upgrades
With a list of potential upgrades, it is time you should choose which ones to implement. An old house will likely have a variety of issues for you to fix. This means that it can get very expensive. For those with a limited budget, it can help to prioritize which changes to make. The best approach is to prioritize updates that will make you safer.
For example, if the inspection found the presence of asbestos or lead, then you should have their removal be at the top of the list. But that should only be the beginning. Older houses did not have the usual safety standards of new ones. They are missing smoke and CO2 detectors. Additionally, they might still be using electric fuses instead of breakers. Changing all of these is important to ensure the safety of yourself and your family.
Changing The Ambiance
Besides the updates to safety, you might consider doing some cosmetic changes. If you bought the house for its particular style, this might be out of the question. But there are some questionable style choices from past decades that you seriously should skip out on. For example, if your living room looks like it is from the 70s or the 80s, maybe it is time to hire an interior designer to help with renovations. Even a simple change in the paint scheme can help modernize the feel of your home.
You might also try to refurbish some of your fixtures. Vintage décor usually means that they are old and faded. Some might even have damage. You can restore them to looking new with some help. This is a great idea if you want to preserve the original atmosphere of the house.
Updating The Appliances
Another nice update for your home would be to change all the old appliances. If you inherited any appliances, you should look at when they were bought. Even if they are working fine, you should consider whether to replace them. Some appliances often become obsolete at around ten years after their release. You should look at the current offerings on the market and decide whether it is worth it to get a replacement. Refrigerators and ovens are usually safe enough to keep, though they may be getting older. But if there are noticeably better appliances then you should consider getting them.
Aim For Energy Efficiency
A great upgrade for your old home is to ensure that your house is more energy efficient. One method is to update the windows. Older windows often have frames that are drafty because of rot and cracks. Change the frames for solid ones, usually made of different materials. You can also get insulated glass to replace the old windows. Besides that, you should also upgrade your HVAC system. Most of these usually have a lifespan of 15 years and if your house has an old one, you will need a replacement. Talk with a local HVAC expert to discuss your potential options.
Having an older house doesn’t mean that you have to tolerate all the outdated features. You should seriously consider upgrading your home to modern standards so that you can feel more comfortable. Besides that, it can be healthier for you since old buildings often have hazardous materials inside them that need fixing. Implement these changes now so that you can sleep easy in your updated home.
