WWYD first: Inside or out?

If you were buying a fixer upper and would be going in with a decent amount of money to start work with (from sale of current home), would you do outside first or inside?

Kitchen and baths are fairly updated (done about 10 years ago), just not my style. It needs gut reno of family room, but the rest of it just needs floor refinishing and fresh paint. Outside is a wreck: needs siding, windows (well, that affects inside too), land clearing/development, etc. This will be our third house reno, but probably our biggest project. We've always done inside first, but wondering if this time around, we should just clean up and live with current inside and do outside first, since that's what other people see. I'm just curious what other people do.

I should mention, I'm due with my third baby right around the time we'll probably be closing. Yeah, we're nuts, but couldn't walk away from this house because of the potential it has.

ETA: I would move out for floor refinishing and we wouldn't do major construction inside until baby is older.

Message edited 4/11/2017 8:49:36 AM.

WWYD first: Inside or out?

Based on what you are saying, I'd do outside first, if it is that bad. I'd leave kitchens and baths if if they are updated for now.

Could you do floor refinishing before you move in?

WWYD first: Inside or out?

The way you did it before is what I think the right way should be, although I group windows with inside mostly.

I feel you get the benefit of the inside renovations every day when how it looks from the outside you benefit less.

You may get a good feeling driving up to the house that looks nice outside, but that feeling ends when you walk through the door into a mess.

Re: WWYD first: Inside or out?

Re: WWYD first: Inside or out?

Considering you will have little children and baths/kitchen are fairly new I would definitely do the outside first. Wait until the kids are a little older to do the inside (minus the family room).

WWYD first: Inside or out?

Outside first!

Re: WWYD first: Inside or out?

Outside first!
What town?

Re: WWYD first: Inside or out?

I would say inside first. You do not want to be living with little kids and exposing all your furniture and things to construction. It's a dust nightmare no matter how contained it might be.

Re: WWYD first: Inside or out?

Since everything inside is working/livable I would do outside first , the only thing that would change that for me is if I had the opportunity to do all of the inside before we moved in.

Re: WWYD first: Inside or out?

IMO and as someone who COMPLETELY renovated an entire house top to bottom, do the inside. You live inside more than outside and if the house inside isn't functioning for you or you really dislike it then that is where your focus should be. Clean up the outside, make it look nice but I would absolutely put all of my effort inside.

Re: WWYD first: Inside or out?

Function over looks is the way I would go.

If the roof, windows, gutters and siding are in bad shape they can cause you more problems related cost due to energy loss, leaks, etc. If its just a matter of style I would start inside with the most used rooms.

Re: WWYD first: Inside or out?

With the warm weather coming and more time spent outdoors, I would focus on the outside first.

Leave the kitchen and baths for now. Reno the family room, refinish the floors and paint. As you know, a fresh paint color can make a huge difference.

Congrats on and !

Message edited 4/13/2017 10:24:31 AM.

WWYD first: Inside or out?

As long as the outside is neat, then I would do the inside first. That is where you live and I would try to get as much done as possible because as you know renovating inside with a little one is no fun.