Tuesday 30 October 2012

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

4 comments:

  1. Fall 2013 might be what is known in financial circles as a "wallet breather." And that might be the next thing to move up the schedule. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sure you'd like that extremely unlikely scenario...keep writing the cheques baby!

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  2. Wow you guys have quite the list!
    Hopped over after seeing your comments on Young House Love :)

    We moved into my husband's grandpa's house in May, so we're in about the same boat! Although, ours was only build around 1980, so we get off a little easier ;)

    Can't wait to see some pictures and check out your progress!
    Good luck :) :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Ya we have a lot of work to do...maybe I'll get it done if I stop reading Young House Love so much!

      Delete