Depends.

Here in MI, summer is short, so if i'm planning on sanding/restenciling a cabinet or spraying a playfield (anything outside, basically), it may get dictated by season. If I bought a game today, I'd start on the cosmetics first. If I got it in January, cleaning and electronics in the basement.

In most cases I'll usually spend a week or so doing some basic cleaning, fix easy/obvious stuff, and playing it...

In addition to taking weather into consideration for what I do first, I need the instant affirmation that "i'm not gonna let THIS one sit around forever"..... so I'll do a quick clean up, fix the easy electrical stuff (lights/connectors), basically make it look/play a little better in the first couple days, and go from there.

I guess that's my way of justifying another game......"see, it's not a piece of shit after all...."

That's kinda why I tend to wait on the electrical stuff....especially if it ain't working right in the first place.

I totally see the logic in getting it running right first though, so you know where you're starting. I just rarely do it lol