The To-Do List

One of the first things we did upon moving into the house was make a pretty intense To-Do list. I made one by going through each room and thinking of what the dream would be for that room and what it would take to accomplish it (Philip calls this the MLK method--you know, "I have a dream..."). Philip made a similar To-Do list but his method of choice was by breaking it down over a timeline of what we'd like accomplished in each time period, assuming we can steal enough little kids' lunch money to cover the costs. 

We ended up combining them into the below and since we've started some things here have already changed! (And maybe it's not such a great sign that, budget's being tight as they are, we've already completed the Winter 2014 category we jokingly titled "To Burn the Extra Cash." But that's a story for another time!)

Warning: This is extremely long... feel free to skim. I was going to just include Fall, but as you'll see over the upcoming posts some things have changed and we've completed a couple of items that were way further ahead in the timeline. Thus it will make more sense if I just share the whole list now and we'll refer back to it periodically. 

Anyone else with an insanely long to do list lording over you motivating you to do great work? What does your Fall To-Do list have in store? How much progress have you made?

Fall 2012 (September-November)

Boiler

Get HVAC inspected for the winter

Look into having boiler system and air conditioning system replaced with furnace and central air

Cut Insurance Rates

Silicone exterior cracks

Repair front steps

Have electrician address electrical issues

Correct other inspection issues

Present evidence of repairs

Bedrooms/Living Room

Remove old trim/baseboards

Convert outlets to properly-grounded three-prong

Paint

Replace windows

Install new trim/baseboards

Move out of basement

Fall Clean Up

Remove vines and trees from right side bushes

Remove circular flowerbed and seed

Empty rain barrels and store, redirect eaves troughs

Till the vegetable garden to prepare for sod

Seed open spaces

Turn off water to outdoor hose

Bleed radiators and reserve tank

Winter 2013

Plans Plans Plans

Quote new HVAC system

Design/quote bathroom

Design/quote kitchen

Design/quote deck

Design/quote basement

Design/quote upstairs ensuite/walk-in closet

Design/quote landscaping and outdoors

Window Coverings

Quote blinds and curtains

Install blinds in master bedroom and living room

Light Fixtures

Replace bedroom/hallway light fixtures

Replace living room light fixture

Replace dining area light fixture

Garage Door Openers

Remove existing garage door openers

Install new garage door openers

Identify lighting solutions

Interior Doors

Remove bedroom/bathroom doors

Paint

Rehang bedroom/bathroom doors

Gut Upstairs Bathroom

Remove mould

Discard wall tiles

Discard bathtub

Discard flooring

Discard sink

Discard vanity/cabinets

Uninstall toilet

Replace window

Upstairs Bathroom

Install new shower/tub

Install new lighting

Install new flooring

Paint/tile

Re-install toilet

Install new cabinets

Install new sink

Install new mirror

Reconnect plumbing

Spring 2013

HVAC System

Get necessary permits

Check for high-efficiency rebate programs

Remove basement ceiling

Remove boiler/pipes

Install new heating/air conditioning

Install new venting

Patch ceiling/wall holes

Lower Yard Maintenance

Plough in garden, unwanted flower beds

Sod remaining open spaces

Build raised beds

Reshape right side flower bed to be curvier

Replace bricks on right side flower bed with rubber trim, or other edging that is more aesthetically pleasing

Replace petunias with perennials

Plant hydrangeas in front flowerbed

Move peony to somewhere else away from the house

Summer 2013

Exterior Doors

Remove exterior doors

Replace locks

Replace alarm system

Paint

Rehang exterior doors

Garage and Shed

Remove garage shed

Sod empty space

Replace garage windows

Paint garage floor

Put up shelving/cabinets in the garage

Backyard Safety and Fun

Build a gate to close off the white fence for safety

Build/Purchase a fire pit with a proper cover to meet code

Lighting solution around fire pit entertainment area

Plant privacy bushes at back of yard

Remove clothes line

Buy a barbecue

Fall 2013

For some reason we have nothing here... apparently we're going on vacation or something

Winter 2014

Moving Walls

Get any needed permits

Remove kitchen cabinets on doomed walls

Discard wood panelling in kitchen

Remove doomed kitchen/living room wall sections/closets/shelf

Place beams to in place of missing walls

Remove hardwood flooring in entryway

Remove tile in entryway

Drywall around beams/patch modified walls

Build new front closet

Paint

Patch/refinish hardwood flooring

Replace trim

Install new light fixture in entryway

Patch ceiling in hallway corner

More efficient closet shelving solutions

To Burn the Extra Cash

Purchase new washer/dryer

Remove old washer/dryer

Replace water heater with larger water heater

Spring 2014

Kitchen

Discard appliances

Discard kitchen sink

Discard kitchen cabinets

Discard flooring

Discard ceiling fan/patch ceiling

Patch walls/paint

Replace windows

Install new flooring from front door through kitchen to side door

Install new cabinets

Install new sink

Install new appliances (incl. larger fridge, dishwasher!)

Reconnect plumbing

Build banquette dining area

Update dining room table

Light fixture

Summer 2014

Deck

Get permits

Remove side door stairs

Remove paving stones where necessary

Install wiring

Build deck

Get outdoor living room set

Fall 2014

Gut Basement

Get necessary permits

Discard wall coverings/wood panelling

Discard carpets

Discard shower

Discard vanity

Discard medicine cabinet

Uninstall toilet

Relocate plumbing for bathroom, laundry, upstairs ensuite

Move electrical panel

Remove doomed walls

Cut out needed windows wells

Replace basement windows

Fix/insulate former cold room

Install sump pump

Insulate ceiling

Winter 2015

Basement Bathroom/Bedrooms

Frame walls

Replace wiring

Rebuild ceilings/lighting

Install shower

Hang drywall

Paint/tile walls

Install flooring

Install cabinetry

Install sink

Paint doors

Rehang doors

Spring 2015

Laundry Room

Move washer/dryer out

Frame walls

Replace wiring

Rebuild ceilings/lighting

Hang drywall

Paint

Install flooring

Install cabinetry

Install laundry sink

Move washer/dryer back in

Reconnect plumbing

Install sump pump

Remove cold storage area

Try to Forget

That, crap, I (Philip) am 30!

Summer 2015

Exterior Façade

Get necessary permits

Remove decorative brick from facade

Build craftsman style façade

Front yard rock display with lit-up house number

Change front porch light fixture

Hot Tub

Get necessary permits

Install hot tub

Install wiring

Build deck around hot tub

Fall 2015

Rec Room

Frame walls

Replace wiring

Rebuild ceilings/lighting

Hang drywall

Paint

Install flooring

Install needed entertainment cabinetry

Move living room furniture downstairs

Updated Living Room

Sectional

Built-in bookshelves or cabinets

Winter 2016

Ensuite/Walk-In Closet

Get necessary permits

Remove door/patch wall

Remove middle bedroom closet wall

Install door into master bedroom wall

Install door into far bedroom wall

Frame walls

Replace wiring

Install shower/tub

Rebuild ceilings/lighting

Hang drywall

Paint

Install flooring

Install cabinets

Install sink

Install mirror

Reconnect plumbing

Install closet shelving/racks

Spring 2016

Backyard

Play structure?

Higher fence?

Pool?

Tree house?

Shed?

Fix up garage?

Summer 2016

Relax

Watch sports on TV

Play golf

Go for a run

Go to the cabin

Start looking for the next house