Renovating your home is a big endeavor that should be approached rather carefully and with a solid plan. People decide to renovate their homes for numerous reasons, such as to make them more comfortable, stylish, or functional. Regardless of the reason, there are certain things you should keep in mind when renovating your home.
First things first, you should start with the budget. You should have a clear idea of how much money you have at your disposal as well as how you are going to finance the renovation and what the cost of labor and materials is. When it comes to changes you want to make, you should be specific. You should interview and hire the right people. Moreover, you should be realistic about your plans and timeline and be prepared for the unexpected. It is a regular occurrence in the home renovation process. Finally, you should also consider storing your belongings safely.
1. Set your budget
The first thing you need to set in the home renovation process is your budget. It dictates how extensive your renovation will be. Setting a budget is definitely not an easy task you can do quickly. Planning a big project such as home renovation is also not a simple thing, especially if you don’t have experience doing it. These require careful planning, thorough research, time, and effort. When it comes to home renovation expenses, they are often relatively high as you need to pay for the necessary materials as well as the people you hire. Before you start planning your budget in detail, you should consider an approximate flexible number you can afford to spend.
Financing
If renovating their whole house, most people need financial help in some form of financing. You can learn more about your financing options by talking to your bank or a specialist lender. It is often best to take their advice as they know all about the market, the overall costs, and prices – generally, they specialize in those things. However, you should keep an open mind as it is possible that there will be a need for change later on. In that case, it’s good to have a small contingency if possible.
Labour
A significant cost in the whole renovation process is the cost of labor. Not only that, but labor costs will probably account for the most significant part of your budget. There are indeed more affordable and more expensive contractors, but it is also true that you get what you pay for. It is always a better option to pay a little more and get a top-notch job done that will last for years. Their experience can mean a lot to you in predicting certain potential issues and offering solutions. Also, paying good labor often implies saving on materials, which is something you’d definitely want. True professionals tend to keep waste at a minimum.
Materials
Yet another substantial cost is the cost of materials. Obviously, the cost of materials varies on the size of your renovation project. Renovating an entire house will require quite a lot of materials in comparison to renovating a room or two. To have an estimated material cost, it’s best that you get quotes from a few contractors and compare. Don’t just look at the number – consider all other things they mention and what they base their decision on. Home improvement projects that include flooring and insulation tend to have higher material costs.
2. Be specific about the changes you want to make
When it comes to changes you want to make, you should be specific about them. Communication with your interior designer or a contractor is crucial in this step. Even if you don’t know exactly what changes you need to make, but you know the ultimate result you want to achieve, that is enough. Professionals you hire can decide and run by you the changes that could bring you to the desired result. It’s essential to stay within the budget you set previously. For example, if you’ve planned to install one of the top-notch bidets in your bathroom and change the tub, but you haven’t planned on changing the sink, stick with that plan. Also, purchase bathroom necessities in the price ranges you’ve set.
3. Interview and hire the right people
As far as contractors are concerned, it is always advisable to get quotations from several contractors. You should interview a few whose proposals you like and seem professional, as well as whose work up to now you find extraordinary. As renovations can be costly and time-consuming, finding the right people for the job is important as it can reduce costs as well as the time needed for renovation completion. Even if there are some things you can do yourself, think about whether you want to do them yourself and waste your time, money, and energy on that instead of doing something for yourself or spending time with your family.
4. Try to be realistic
This is probably one of the most challenging things – keeping things real. It is crucial to be realistic about the changes you want to make and the results you want to achieve. You must understand that renovation projects can last for a few months or even a year, depending on what exactly you’re renovating. There is always an estimation of how long it will take, but if you count in some unexpected problems that almost always arise, without exception, you should take that estimated date of completion as a reserve. Most likely, the project will last a bit longer.
5. Be prepared for unexpected
As we mentioned in the previous paragraph, home renovation projects require you to be prepared for the unexpected. There are always certain things that cannot be predicted or accounted for. The sooner you accept this, the better for you.
6. Store your belongings safely
When extensive renovations are in progress, most people decide to move somewhere temporarily. In that case, or in cases where contractors will have to let themselves in, it is best that you find a way of storing your belongings safely. This implies things such as furniture, artwork, and other belongings. You don’t want them getting damaged during the process.
Making changes in your home is a big step that takes time, but it ultimately brings you a more stylish, comfortable, and cozier home.
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