Renovating your home can be overwhelming if you’ve never done it before.
Depending on the project, your remodel may require so many details it becomes daunting. Between trying to stay on time, within budget, and on top of a thousand moving parts, redoing your home may easily become your full-time job.
If you’re ready to plan your next remodel, this post is for you. Let’s go over five tips for planning a successful home renovation.
1. Develop Your Vision
You can’t move forward with your renovation until you envision what the final product will be. This is one situation where you need to work backward. Imagine what you want your home to look like once it is finished. You can use references from the internet to gather design inspiration. Kelly Window & Doors professionals recommend considering all factors when addressing what you want and what can be done. Of course, visualizations and references from finished projects are crucial to coming up with something you will love. Still, the current conditions of your house and budget may limit your aspirations. In the end, it does not have to be that bad.
2. Set Your Budget
The next step for planning your home renovation is to determine your costs and financing. Your budget should include the permits, building materials, labor costs, and the cost of decorations or cosmetic touches.
To build your budget, you need to decide how much you want to spend. Once you have decided on a strict budget, put aside no less than 10% of it for unexpected costs.
Finally, request cost estimates from professionals. Remember to price all your required materials as well. If you end up exceeding your budget after pricing everything out, eliminate things one-by-one based on priority.
3. Hire Contractors
The next step is to hire your renovation team. When selecting your contractor, consider the following:
- Recommendations and references from homeowner friends (Word of mouth is an old and trusted way of finding great contractors.)
- Where the contractor got their license (They should be state-certified.)
- Contractor portfolio & Examples of finished projects (They should be able to point to their past work.)
- Certifications (For example, did they use a reputable resource like Contractor Training Center to verify they have all the correct certifications for the job.)
Once you’ve selected three to four options, interview them to see if they’re a good fit. Then, you can narrow down the choices and determine which company best suits your needs.
4. Create a Schedule
By now, you should have every resource you need to bring your project to completion. In step four, all you need to do is put the tasks together in a cohesive schedule. Determine your start date and let your team members know about it. Ask each team member for an estimate of how long their parts will take.
Typically, a renovation timeline goes something like this:
- Planning
- Demolition
- Electrical and Plumbing
- Framing and Drywall
- Cabinets and Fixtures
- Doors and Surrounds
- Cleaning
- Flooring
- Trim and Finish Work
However, remodels can vary in terms of timeline. Speak to your team to determine the best course of action, and ask a professional if you have any questions.
5. Pack Up and Prepare
Now that the planning process is almost complete, it’s time for you to clear and prepare your space. Remodeling projects can affect every room in the house, so you need to clear your space and protect valuables before the renovation begins. Start by taking down pictures, moving vases, and packing away valuables before the renovation.
You should also take steps to protect immovable fixtures such as built-in cabinets, chandeliers, and flooring. Cover your flooring with cardboard sheets or a tarp if you’ll be painting. If the renovations are extreme, plan to temporarily move into a hotel or with family. You should make plans 2-3 months before you begin renovating and pack up your home 1-2 weeks beforehand. Once you’re all packed up, you’re ready to start remodeling your home.
Final Thoughts
A successful renovation also requires you to know which materials you need, like steel bars or other metal materials that you know are sturdy and worthwhile purchasing and using. Simply follow the five steps above, and you’ll be on your way to a beautiful home.