Before You Start: The 15-Minute Home Project Checkup

Before you buy materials, request bids, or start demolition — take 15 minutes.

Before You Start: The 15-Minute Home Project Checkup is a free planning worksheet from Home Restoration Experts. Set a 15-minute timer, check the boxes, and leave unknowns blank. You're making a first-pass plan, not diagnosing the house.

Minutes 0–3 — Name the project and check for concerns: what needs to work better, what you want to keep, and — before appearance — safety and damage. Active leaks, spreading dampness, sagging or unstable surfaces, electrical concerns, suspected gas leaks, or hazardous materials: if any apply, pause cosmetic work and arrange an assessment by a qualified professional.

Minutes 3–8 — Sort the work before you spend: list up to three concerns or changes, then circle a priority — NOW, NEXT, or LATER. If you don't know the cause, make assessment the next step.

Then set your next sensible step: what to check, who to call, what to price — before a single dollar is spent.

This checkup is a planning aid, not an inspection, diagnosis, code review, or substitute for qualified professional advice. Check permit and local preservation requirements before work begins.

Want the full system? The Restore, Renovate & Refresh Homeowner Bundle covers the whole project: comparing estimates, planning the budget, refreshing a room, and hiring and communicating with contractors — 78 pages of fillable and printable workbooks.

From Home Restoration Experts — Restore, Renovate & Refresh.