IMC ...........a good first step
For me the IMC was a lot of hard work because it was somthing that was totaly new, however it was education at flying club prices.
The IR was just a matter of bringing my IF skills up to the IR standard, I had to learn very little more........... just lots of practice all charged at professional flying rates.
My advice would to be to do the IMC as providing the training is good you will be able to make all your mistakes at flying club prices, one or two mistakes when flying a twin at professional rates to pay for the IMC twice over.