Renovating your home can be a bit overwhelming, particularly if you haven’t done such a project before. Regardless of the type of renovation project, there are a number of factors you must consider to make your home renovation project easier.
You can utilize the following tips and steps for a home renovation to choose how to prioritize, order, and build a comprehensive home remodeling plan that will reduce stress and help you save a few dollars.
Building a Detailed Project Plan
The very first step when remodeling or renovating your home is developing a plan that clearly lays out the goal of your home renovation project. It includes designing inspiration and the outline of the project. Using a company such as A+ Construction & Remodeling can make the process go much smoother.
A detailed renovation plan should entail the following:
- A list of material needed and other wants
- Sketches or blueprints of the finished project
- Steps to completing the project – divided into DIY steps and those steps that will require a professional
At this stage of planning your home renovation project, you should investigate the local zoning permits and regulations. It is important to make sure that your neighbor is zoned for your renovation and finding out whether you will require a permit.
If you are planning to complete renovations that will change the appearance of your home or a room, you will definitely need a permit. You can wait to apply for the required permits until you have built a project outline and hired a team.
Project planning can be done six to twelve months prior to the commencing of the project.
Budgeting
After completing your project plan, the next step should be preparing your home renovation budget. You do not want to overspend while completing your renovations, making a project budget is crucial. Your budget should include the cost of building materials, permits, decor, labor, and cosmetic touches.
How to Build Your Budget
- Decide how much you want to spend on the project and finalize financing.
- Request for cost estimates from professional renovation contractors
- Price out all the required materials such as new exterior doors
- Set aside about 10 percent of your budget for unexpected expenditure
When your cost estimate doesn’t fit in your project budget, you can use the renovation plan in step one to eliminate low priority needs. To find the best options for your project budget, collect cost estimates from multiple professional contractors.
Just like the project plan, you should prepare the budget 6 to 12 months before the start of your home renovation project.
Hiring Contractors
The ultimate step is hiring professional home renovation contractors to handle your project. You should not choose your contractors based on cost estimates alone.
Below are some of the factors you should consider when interviewing and choosing your renovation contractors:
Years of experience
Professionals who have been in practice for many years are a safer bet compared to contractors who are new to the industry.
Contracting License
You should make sure the contractor you end up hiring has undertaken all the required steps needed to secure the certifications specific to their line of work.
Certificate of Insurance
The best contractors to work with are those with liability and compensation insurance specific to their line of duty.
References
Call and request references are a great way to ascertain that the contractor is not just good on paper.
Payment Schedule
Reputable contractors will not ask for full payment upfront. Actually, the Better Business Bureau advises against upfront payment of full prices. It is critical to discuss payment terms with your contractor before the project begins. Sometimes, you might have to spend a little bit more to work with a contractor you are comfortable with.
If you will need to hire multiple contractors for your project, it is important to determine who will lead the project to avoid confusion and unnecessary slowdown. Do you want to try DIY with your renovation project? Well, if that’s the case, you should make sure you have the expertise and support required to complete the task with no hired help. You can confirm the help of a friend or family member before starting the project.
Final Thoughts on Home Renovation Ideas…
It can be challenging to entirely do away with the inconveniences that come with home renovation, but it’s possible to reduce the stress by preparing the project in advance. It is my hope that this guide will help you remodel or renovate your home effectively.