House remodeling is one of the most tiring but exciting jobs. It is a serious undertaking and requires you to consider multiple important aspects. Running after the laborers, fetching the right construction materials, finding the perfect match between paint and accessories, etc., are just a few things you might be dealing with at once. The stress continues until everything is cleared and you are settled in your renovated house.
The process is stressful and demanding, no doubt about that! But it is also true that you can do a lot to ease up this process and make your house renovation a success. Wondering what you need to do? Read on to find out!
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1. Clear the extra stuff out of the way
Taking up a house renovation project means opening your house to workers for weeks or even months. You will have workers in the kitchen, bathroom, living room, etc. And even if you try your best, you cannot prevent your stuff from getting damaged if you keep your belongings in the house during renovation. A splash of paint or a scratch is enough to ruin the look of your vintage coffee table. You might even find the workers using the chairs as makeshift stools to reach raised places. All these happenings are a nightmare for a homeowner who has invested time and money in collecting different pieces and decorating stuff. A more practical and hassle-free option is to move the extra stuff out of the house and put it in a safe place.
Keeping your things with your family is an option, but for how long can you do that? You cannot bother them with your things if you have a lengthy home remodeling. Renting a self storage unit is a much better option. Storage units are affordable and provide the utmost safety for your stuff.
2. Decide the ‘WHY’ of your house renovation
You might be tempted to make a lot of changes in your home and burn a lot of money. But to make your hosue renovation a success, you must determine the ‘why’—goal of undertaking the project.
- Are you doing it to spike up the resale value of your house?
- Do you want to make more space because your family is growing?
- For how long will you live in the house?
- Will renovation increase the resale value of your house?
If you want to resale your house after renovation, talk to an estate agent and discuss your plan with them. They will help you estimate the current value of your house or whether making changes will actually increase its price.
After examining the existing condition of your house, they may suggest you renovate the kitchen and bathroom only. When this happens, spending money to modify other parts of the house wastes resources.
Even if you are renovating for personal use, think about the time you will stay in the house. If you intend to live for a few years only, only make the essential and indispensable changes. The idea is not to spend more than the requirement!
3. Make a realistic budget
Making a budget is one of the most important aspects of a successful house renovation project. Your budget should consider the following aspects:
- The amount of money you can spend on the project
- The market value of the material (cement, tiles, furnishing, fixtures, ceramics, etc.)
- The current cost of labor
- Designer’s and architect’s fees
- Structural engineer expenses
- Contingency amounts
Before making your budget, conduct market research to estimate the current labor and material cost. Making a budget without proper research will result in an unrealistic budget— which is often too constrained. As for the designer, structural engineer, and architect, meet a few of them, take their quotes and analyze the difference in their services and fees. Finalize with the ones who you think you can afford.
One essential aspect many homeowners fail to consider is to keep a contingency amount for unaccounted-for changes in the initial plan. In many cases, hosue renovation projects expose many of the hidden problems of the house.
For instance, while changing the vanity and bathtub, you may find that water damage has wreaked havoc in your bathroom. Now that you have found it, you must address this issue before fixing the bathtub. Otherwise, sooner or later, you will come back to this problem again. Such surprises require you to have some extra money apart from your regular house renovation budget.
4. Choose an experienced contractor
Despite your fondness for DIYing, suppress the whim to undertake a DIY home renovation, especially if the project is beyond your expertise. Hire a professional contractor if you don’t want to make costly errors, break structures multiple times, and waste money and resources.
To find the right contractor, ask your friends for a recommendation or search your social media for professional home contractor services. You can even ask the local estate agent; they often have contacts of contractors working in the area.
After using all these channels, you will have the contact details of more than one professional. Contact at least three contractors on your list and ask about their fees. Discuss how many workers they will bring, how they will manage the accommodation and food of their team, and how long they will take to complete the project.
Choose the one you like, and don’t forget to ask them about having a professional home renovation permit allotted by the local building department.
5. Discuss with your family
Family and friends can provide unparalleled support when you plan to undertake a house renovation project. They will help you realize what you are getting into and how big this project is. Discuss your ideas with them and seek their advice, especially if it is your first time doing something like this.
If any of your family members have undertaken a renovation project, they can advise about the aspects you must consider and what you must avoid.
Let them share their experience, what they struggled with and how they solved the problems that came their way. Their experience can help in saving a lot of resources and time. The contractor you choose can be a great help. Still, it is better to know details from someone you personally know than solely relying on your contractor.
6. Make realistic and achievable timelines
When do you want your home to be ready? Is it your daughter’s birthday in a few months you intend to spend in your renovated house? Whatever your goal, consider the timelines carefully, keeping the national and weekly holidays in mind.
Make realistic timelines, and don’t rush into anything. If you don’t have enough time, consider choosing another time or reducing your project's scope. Your haste can encourage your contractor to not give their best by being more concerned about completing the project on time.
Conclusion
A house renovation project does not happen in your life very frequently. Often they are taken once in a few years, so even if it is not your first time, you may still not remember what went wrong last time. Reading through the tips mentioned above is a great way to recall what must and must not be ignored.
