For a first time buyer where do you start with renovations?

Figuring out where to start with home renovations when you first buy a home is not easy. Your question about grants and incentives is tricky to answer since they change by region. Here is what we have though –

Green Home Buiding Grants and Tax Incentives

The problem is that incentives change not only by region, but anytime a new local, provincial or state government comes into power. So keeping up on it can be difficult.

As for where to start, it really depends on how much you want to invest in home improvements. So below are a series of links to pages that will help you get off in the right direction.

To find out how much energy you consume you could start with energy modelling and a blower door test.  And about your basement - see this page on why basements are moldy and how to fix them, and also this one on Best Practices for Basement Construction and Renovations

Windows aren’t always best to replace unless they are really bad, read more here – When to replace windows and when to repair them

Here is our page on choosing the best roofing materials. 

Also in general I would point you towards these pages about renovations in general, how to find reliable gren home builders builders, and this one - top tips for staying on budget with home renovations

Once you’ve been through these pages let us know if you have more questions, first look through our discussion forum / building advice pages. If you don’t see your question asked feel free to ask whatever you like,  though please split them up by topic if there are more than one so we can address them specifically.