The small jobs for a first home or a rental refresh

The first few weeks in a new place produce a list of small jobs: scuffed walls, cracked caulk, dim rooms, gaps at the baseboards and drafts at the door. None is hard, but each one needs the right amount of material, and buying too little means a second trip while the room is half done.

This planner puts them in an order that avoids doing anything twice: fix and seal first, paint next, then lighting, trim and floors. If you rent, check your lease for what you may change before you start.

Step 1: Fix and seal

Fill nail holes and cracks, then re-caulk around tubs, sinks and trim where the old bead has cracked or gone moldy. Seal door and window edges against drafts at the same time.

Step 2: Paint the rooms

Measure each room, subtract the doors and windows and choose the finish for the room. Buy the gallons for two coats, plus a little extra for touch-ups.

Step 3: Sort the lighting and air

Dark rooms are usually a lumens problem. Work out how bright each room needs to be, then how many fixtures or recessed lights that takes. A ceiling fan sized for the room helps comfort in summer and winter.

Step 4: Add trim and finish the edges

New or repaired baseboard makes the room look finished. Measure the perimeter minus the door openings and add an allowance for corner cuts.

Step 5: Replace worn flooring

If a room needs new floors, compare the types for the room first, then buy by the box with an allowance for cuts. Check the subfloor is flat and dry before you start.

Before you start

• Your lease or HOA rules, if you rent or share a building.
• The measurements of each room, with the doors and windows.
• Paint colors and finishes chosen before you buy.
• A basic kit: tape measure, level, caulk gun, putty knife and drop cloths.
• The shut-off valve and breaker panel located before you start any job.

Mistakes that cost people money

• Painting before filling holes and sanding, which shows every flaw.
• Buying paint for one coat when the old color is dark.
• Skipping primer over stains and bare patches.
• Mixing flooring from different batches, which can vary in shade.
• Changing things in a rental that the lease does not allow.

Frequently asked questions