It is the right of your house to get a makeover once every few years. Even a small remodeling project can make a lot of difference in giving your home a new look and life.
Often the purpose of a remodeling project is to make your house more functional or repair worn-out elements. So, if your walls are chipping or kitchen cabinets are getting old and losing their appeal, it is time to renovate your house.
But we all know that home remodeling is a tough nut to crack. It seldom happens without hurdles and delays. Sometimes the problems you face during your home remodel are due to your slip-ups during the early stages of your project. This means you can avoid many of these problems if you pay attention to these issues.
Some tips for carrying out a successful and stress-free home remodel are:
- Plan about the stuff in the house
If you have a comprehensive plan, don’t start the project with a house full of stuff. It can be perilous for those working in the house as they can trip and fall. There is always a chance that your belongings will be misused and get ruined.
Think about all the places where you can put your stuff. Will your friends and relatives be able to look after your belongings during the remodel?
Indeed, home remodeling projects extend longer than planned. Therefore, even the closest relatives might hesitate to keep your stuff.
Keeping everything in a storage unit seems like a more practical option. Finding a storage unit in populated cities such as Brownsville, Knoxville, Vancouver, Shreveport, etc., is often easier as people rely on these facilities to keep their stuff safe.
If you are in Shreveport, your goal should be to find a temperature-controlled storage Shreveport la facility. Such facilities keep your belongings safe in all weather conditions.
- Be clear about your home remodeling goals
Planning a successful home remodel also starts with being clear about the goal of your home refashion project. You have to choose what you want to achieve from this exercise.
- Do you want to increase the resale value of your house?
- Are you planning to make more space or add a room or two?
- Is modernizing your house and making it trendier your final objective?
- Have you decided on a specific style you would want to incorporate?
- Do your research
Before starting a home renovation project, talk to your relatives or friends who have done a home renovation project. Ask for their counsel, what problems and challenges you must avoid, and what aspects must be taken care of.
Doing your research and talking to people about their home renovation experience will give you a wealth of information. They will help you avoid many snares that can hurt the timelines and budget of your project. Often this information also makes you alter and refine your plans.
- Make a detailed budget plan
Make a detailed budget plan. An all-inclusive budget includes the cost of material, permit, labor and contractor, utility cost, decorations, and furnishing. The more extensive and exhaustive your budget plan, the lesser the chance of facing a glitch. Some points to ponder when you make a budget include:
- The total money you can spend on your project
- Sources of financing for your project
- Setting aside at least 15-20% contingency budget for unexpected changes
- Current material and labor cost after conducting a market survey
- Meetings with professionals such as architects and designers for estimations
- Request price estimates from professionals
If you want an experienced contractor to look after your project, meet a few of them to get price quotes. The same goes for designers and architects.
Discuss your project with these professionals, your goals, the design you have in mind, and how you want your house to look at the end. Get their quotes and compare them. Also, compare the working quality and payment schedule of these people.
An experienced professional won’t force you to pay the whole amount upfront. They recognize home remodeling is a big investment, and you would want to see some results before spending all the fees. So, they may agree on an installment-based payment plan that spans the project’s length.
Going with the one with the lowest rates is not always wise. Some people reduce the quality of their work according to the rates. Therefore, go with the one whose fees are neither too high nor too low.
- Make a timeline of your project
Once you have a team and budget for your project ready, the next element of your home renovation planning should be to make a project timeline.
Decide the total time you can allocate to this project. If you want your house to be completed by a certain date, say your wedding anniversary six months from the current date, communicate it with your contractor.
Sit down with your team and work backward from the completion date. Mention how much progress you want to see when you are one, two, and three months from the completion date. If you have six months, the last three months of your project are more crucial.
Decide what elements of your home renovation project should be completed in the beginning and which parts can be completed simultaneously. Make sure your timelines consider the following points.
- Time to furnish the area
- Time to clean the renovated area
- National and regional holidays and those your contractors might ask for
- Shipping of the material
Before you finalize the timelines, share them with your team members to confirm that your timelines are realistic and will keep you within the budget.
Conclusion
Home renovation plans are a great way to revitalize the feel of your house. Whether you are trying to get a sense of accomplishment by DIYing or hiring a contractor for the whole project, extensive planning can save you from many pitfalls. Therefore, consider your project’s aspects, talk to your relatives or friends, and conduct market research before finalizing the project.