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If it’s time to revamp and remodel your pad – then you will love these home renovation tips. Learn how to have a home that is both gorgeous and functional.
Is it time to revamp and remodel your pad?
Maybe your kitchen is stuck in the sixties with wood-paneled appliances and linoleum flooring. Or, perhaps the entire second story of your home could use a refresh. Either way, opting to remodel your home is a fantastic way to enhance your quality of life and increase the value of your home.
If you’re familiar with my background, then you know I’m an award winning designer. I mainly design books, video courses, branding, greeting cards and products. But I love home design too. I wrote about how I interior designed our home in an article here.
So, what are the best home renovation tips that every homeowner should have in their back pocket? Read on to discover thirteen essential tips on how to facilitate a stress-free and successful home renovation.
First and foremost, you’re going to want to begin by establishing a realistic budget.
This will entail accounting for the costs of everything from labor and permits to service fees and the costs of the materials themselves. In general, most home renovations are going to take longer than you initially plan for. With this, the cost of the project will also increase and your initial budget just might not cut it. It’s important to be carefully choosing home renovations that will add value as well in the long run.
Remember, your price quote isn’t only going to be based on the project itself. Instead, it’s also going to be based on other factors such as location, desired materials and the experience levels of your contractor and their team.
When it comes to hiring your crew, be sure to meet with different contractors in order to receive different quotes.
Each contractor is going to offer you a different perspective as well as a different pricing-model for your renovation.
For example, some might allow you to pay for the project in installments while others will require the majority of the funds upfront.
When a contractor is aware that you’re shopping around, they’ll feel more inclined to offer you a competitive rate and ideas.
One of the best ways to familiarize yourself with a contractor and their work is to look at their past jobs and clients.
Be sure to research each contractor that you meet with. Here, you can reviews and peruse the projects that have completed in the past.
This is a simple way to get to know their abilities and determine whether their past clients have been happy with their work.
After all, 90% of consumers read online reviews before visiting a business. When it comes to hiring a contractor for your home renovation, the same concept remains.
Of course, hiring the team that offers you the lowest quote is always tempting.
When it comes to initial pricing, it’s important to remind yourself that this number is merely a quote.
This number can and will fluctuate as the project goes on and issues present themselves.
When you make the decision to hire one team over another, this should be because you’re more confident in their work and abilities.
Will your home renovation cause you to temporarily relocate?
A large-scale home renovation will often lead homeowners to find alternate housing for the time being. For example, adding an additional story to your home will likely cause you to relocate during the renovation. This is because the roof of your home will be removed to allow for the additional story.
With this type of renovation, homeowners will often opt for a short-term and furnished rental. Once the project is complete, the homeowners can return home and enjoy the fruits of their labor.
However, smaller-scale home renovations will not call for homeowners to relocate. While a bathroom remodel may temporarily reduce the home to fewer bathrooms, it’s still entirely possible to live at home during the renovation. Perhaps this is why bathroom remodels continue to be ranked as the number one home renovation project.
In addition to hiring a contractor, you’re also going to want to consult with a designer.
If you’re going to be splurging on a renovation, you want to rest assured that you’re making the best aesthetic decisions possible. Of course, an expertly designed home will allow you to enjoy your home to the highest potential. However, working with a designer to enhance your home will also benefit future resale value.
It’s important to note that you don’t have to hire a designer for the entire duration of the project. Instead, you can consult with them on one or two given occasions throughout the project.
When it comes to designing your dream renovation, it’s always tempting to opt for the latest home decor trends.
In choosing your design, ask yourself what you truly desire and what speaks to you personally.
Whether it’s selecting your cabinetry or your flooring, resist the urge to settle on the latest design trends.
This is where working with a designer comes in handy. Together, you can decide on designs that are both everlasting and true to your very own sense of style. With over 65,000 interior designers in America, it’s easy to find a designer that aligns with your style.
In most cases, home renovation trends come and go every few years. If you design a renovation based entirely on the current trends, you’re setting yourself up for a soon-to-be outdated interior.
When it comes to choosing your materials and items, you’re generally going to be faced with two options:
Where possible, splurge on the options that are of high-quality.
Of course, these items always look better aesthetically. But, at the same time, they’re also going to show their strength over time and resist the need for replacement. Making sure you get a good vent cover for your flooring vents is also something people overlook and shouldn’t!
While it may require a more significant initial investment, opting for high quality is sure to be worthwhile over time.
Let’s face it, the majority of renovations are going to face delays.
Perhaps your contractor temporarily loses a member of their team to illness.
Or, maybe the materials for your cabinetry are being held up at the border.
Whatever it may be, surprises are going to present themselves along the way. In many cases, these surprises will result in delays and extend the overall timeline of your project.
When it comes to your home renovation, don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Remember, you’re choosing to work with professionals for a reason. Home renovations are what these professionals have dedicated their lives and careers to. When they’re explaining a complex concept to you, resist the urge to incessantly nod your head in agreeance.
Instead, ask the right questions and showcase your true opinions and concerns. At the end of the day, this is your renovation and your money being spent.
From the beginning of your home renovation until the end, it’s best to anticipate surprises along the way.
Unfortunately, these surprises are likely going to increase the cost of your overall renovation.
This could be discovering the presence of mold in the basement or finding asbestos behind the walls.
This is why setting a realistic budget from the very beginning is so important.
In creating your budget, you’ll want to factor the element of surprise into this budget. If and when these issues do present themselves, you’ll be far better equipped to handle them.
If you’re looking to save some cash, why not roll your sleeves up and offer to pitch in?
With this, contractors will often allow homeowners to get involved in the more simple aspects of the project.
This might involve anything from knocking down walls and installing flooring to removing cabinetry and stripping wallpaper.
Whatever it may be, pitching in yourself is sure to save you money in the long-run.
In the midst of a home renovation, it’s important to remind yourself that not everything needs to be replaced. Removing and then replacing large-scale items can be incredibly costly and harmful to your budget.
Instead, why not opt to save money and refinish materials that prove to be in good standing?
For example, solid wood cabinetry in a kitchen renovation can be refinished instead of replaced. With a touch of sanding and a fresh coat of paint, these cabinets can look just as good as new cabinets.
Want support? Contact Housing Repair Barking.
Don’t be fearful of asking your contractor which large-scale items can be preserved. This could help to preserve the character of the house and save you money.
When it comes to planning a home renovation, there’s more to the process than television shows let on.
From hiring the right parties and designing the remodel to choosing the best materials and budgeting for surprises, there’s certainly a right way and a wrong way of planning a home renovation.
If you’re new to the world of home renovations, be sure to make use of these home renovation tips.
Not only will they help you facilitate a more stress-free renovation, but you can also count on a better renovation overall.
Go on, it’s time to plan that home renovation you’ve been dreaming about for years!