Before I go on about the remodeling, I had to write about how we approached this. Moving is a lot of work but stack on remodeling before moving in, there’s another level of stress. It has affected my overall memory and I find that I usually lose track of things. Maybe it’s just old age but we have a way to get around it.
Paul had this ingenious idea to jot down what had to be done before we moved in on small pad of Post-It notes and stick it up on a flat surface — in this case we used a framed print. We wrote things that had to be done before moving like replace ALL the flooring (see previous post) and paint. We wrote things we would like to have done but not necessary: get storage for the backyard, install new toilet. And we even included the obvious (fill out change of address forms, contact SDG&E) just in case it fell through the cracks.
The purpose for the Post-it notes was to move it around the board as we finished things. Or add something if it came up. The individual Post-It notes are easy to move around, remove or add as necessary. Once something got completed it got a check mark and moved to the top of the frame.
So far it’s working great and nothing has slipped past us… yet.
As for our budget, we set a goal of $10,000 to have everything done (not counting kitchen appliances). So far it looks doable but we are fast approaching the limit. (Gulp.)
For all you curious, here’s a list of things we have so far in no particular order:
- Schedule movers – done
- Transfer of utilities (SDG&E, cable/internet)
- Buy paint – done
- Vacate belongings in storage – done
- Paint downstairs (living room/kitchen/pantry/bathroom) – done
- Paint upstairs (bedrooms/bathroom/hallway)
- Schedule acoustic popcorn removal – done
- Get estimates for loft conversion – done
- Buying flooring – done
- Install flooring
- Garage sale
- Buy toilet seats
- Change of address forms (USPS)
- Accumulate moving boxes
- Buy appliances (refrigerator/washer/dryer/stove/dishwasher)
- Fix weird closet
There’s still a lot to do before moving day, like the rest of the painting. I’m happy to say the ghastly seafoam green in the kitchen is now but a memory (see photo below). If you think Paul and I would stick with seafoam green, you don’t know us very well.
My Burning Kitchen 
“Fix weird closet”. I hope there are before and after pictures of the weird closet.
I will definitely post a photo of the “weird closet.” Unfortunately, it looks like that is going to the bottom of the to-do list.
Totally agreeing with Mary here — would love to see what constitutes a “weird closet.” Also, big love for “buy new toilet seats” — we do this whenever we move into a new place and find it weird that other people don’t do that…
Anyway, good luck with all the rest of the renovations, Darlene!
Yeah, used toilet seats give me the heebie-jeebies no matter how much disinfectant you use. Will definitely post “after” photos.
We still employ a Post-It note method for keeping track of various home improvement projects we want to get done, short term and long term. That way, we can see what “small” projects are on the list that we can get done in a day (fix the outdoor motion sensor light), or what big projects we should start saving for (new windows).
I bet your place is going to look fabulous!
I’m starting to think that home improvement will be a continual project — never actually done. Glad to hear that the Post-It note strategy works for you. I’m in good company!
I’m a freak when it comes to lists, I just can’t function properly without them. But I’m liking the post it idea, would be a lot cleaner and kinda looks like the layout for a magazine or movie scenes…will use that on my next big project!
I LOVE lists. Love making them just so I can cross them off. This way also helps because two people are involved and we both have access to it.
I’m all for new toilet seats; if you can’t replace the whole toilet just yet, go for the seats first! As for appliances, is Aztec Appliance still around? It’s downtown near 16th (been a while since I’ve been.) My mom goes there to get appliances for rental property, and we went there for our appliances when we remodeled. It’s not bad. I remember a fridge that was brand new, but had a dent on the side, hey once it goes in the slot in the kitchen, you can’t see the dent; worked just fine. Good luck!
I agree that small dents in appliances are nothing especially if it’s going to be again the wall. I’ll definitely check out Aztec Appliance. Thanks!
cute idea! I think I might try this for our renovation projects we have to do…. maybe if they’re up in the open we’ll be more apt to do them!
Thanks! It’s worked for us so far. >crosses fingers<