Iโm not a massive believer in new yearsโ resolutions โ mostly because Iโm a firm advocate of regular goal-setting, all year round. And nowhere do my goals feature more prominently than when it comes to my property and renovation projects. A renovation can be such a colossal task but I always like to keep three very important tips in mind when setting goals around them. Remember, there is always time to set a goal or create a target โ if you aim for nothing, youโll get nowhere.
Image source: Drew Baird Fitness
The importance of goal setting when renovating
Tip one: Align your goals –ย I always make sure that whatever goal I am setting is aligned with my overall strategy. I donโt like goals that are based around say, the latest trend or publication. I like to make sure that all of my goals are perfectly aligned with the strategy that Iโm using to govern my entire renovation business.
Tip two: Set a time frame –ย I always make sure that my goals are time bound. Not only do I ensure that my renovation goals are practical and relatively achievable, but I make sure that theyโre set within a time period thatโs going to push me a little. Remember, if youโre feeling comfortable and inside your comfort zone then youโre not pushing yourself hard enough!
Image source: Suzanne Stengl
Tip three: Make your goals actionable –ย I always try to make sure that my goals are broken down into bite-sized, achievable pieces. I often find that when people are starting out, they can be a little unrealistic when it comes to what is attainable. Often youโll see people who want to renovate seven properties in just the first six months, keeping half and flipping the other half! Thatโs an amazing goal to have but it can often be too overwhelming, too big and scary to digest!
For example, if youโre just starting out, or even if youโre an experienced renovator but you want to refresh or revise your strategy, I like to break my goals down into smaller ones. You may decide that in the first few weeks youโre going to work on finding your patch before figuring out who the best real estate agents are in the area. And then maybe by the end of the second month (after becoming an expert in that space!) youโll know what properties are worth in the area, what is selling and what the marketโs expectations are.
You can also see that by breaking your goals down, you may actually achieve a big, audacious one within a three or six-month period, by taking it one small step at a time. In addition, setting small goals also allows you to see what youโve achieved which will give you much more motivation going forward.
Naomi Findlay is one of our resident experts, principal ofย Silk Homeย and founder of theย International Institute of Home Staging. Find out more about Naomi.
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