Working on a home renovation project is daunting, especially if you have not done any major work around the house before. The entire process, from planning to execution, can take months to finish, which can be quite overwhelming. But despite being exhausting, this journey can be exciting. Home renovations can improve your quality of life, make your home more spacious, or change the outlook of your entire house.
To make your home renovation project a breeze, below are a few suggestions you should consider before starting it.
- Setting a Budget
When it comes to home renovation projects, setting up a feasible budget is extremely important before you dive into the work. It includes costs of materials for the renovation, permits, hiring contractors, etc. While setting up a budget plan, you need to consider every minute expense that might be incurred during the process. In addition, there are mobile scaffold tower hire at affordable prices, available for different lengths of time depending on your scaffolding needs.
For instance, if you hire a team of contractors, you must also take care of their needs since they are working tirelessly on your house. So offer them drinks, snacks or a special lunch whenever possible to appreciate their efforts. Allocate a small space for them where they can rest for a bit, give them a long lunch break and rent a porta-potty so they have a place where they can freshen up. If you create a budget considering all these factors, there are lesser chances of overspending.
- Planning
Planning is an essential part of any project. You need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve through the renovation. For some people, the goal of a renovation project is to change the house’s entire outlook; for some, it is just to remodel certain sections of their property. Your renovation plan should be laid out very clearly so you have a clear idea of how you will start the process, what room you will renovate first, and which room will be the last one to be renovated.
- Hiring Contractors
Hiring the perfect team to work on your home renovation project is imperative since you will work closely with them. These projects can take months to finish; therefore, maintaining a trustworthy and respectful relationship is key. You can ask your friends for recommendations of contractors or hire a team whose work you admire. According to experts, you need to interview three to five potential contractors before choosing one.
Ensure you have prepared a list of questions you want to ask before meeting with your potential contractors. And once you have narrowed down your top candidates, do an online search of their company, read their reviews, and ask about them from friends and relatives to get a better idea. Then, once you have vetted all the candidates, hire the team that meets your needs.
- Communicate your plans
Communication is vital at this stage so make sure that you tell your contractors all the details about your plan from start to finish. Discuss your budget with them and ask them whether they will be able to do the renovation in the budget that you have in mind. Be specific about the design you want and communicate it. Do you want an all-white kitchen or a black countertop? Do you want the sliding French door in your living room to open on the outdoor balcony? These are the questions you should think about before starting renovations. Browse design ideas from magazines or websites. Have a clear picture of the end goal.
- Manage your living situation
The biggest question that comes with the renovation process is where to stay. Some homeowners prefer to stay at home during the renovation, and some prefer to stay at a nearby motel. Timeline and cost play an integral role in making this decision. If the renovation takes months to be completed, then staying at a motel will incur huge costs. Living in a house full of workers can be uncomfortable because you have to deal with strangers moving around in your home, loud noises, and dust.
The best thing to do in this situation would be to consult with your contractor and
come up with a working schedule that causes the least disruption to you and your family. You can ask the workers to perform certain tasks that might disturb you when you are out of the house. You can also allocate a space that can be considered a renovation-free zone where you and your family go for some peace. If you are a parent of an infant or a toddler, then protecting them should be your number one priority. Install child safety gates, put electrical safety covers on sockets, and put sharp tools in cabinets with locks.
Conclusion
Home renovation is a long and expensive commitment. It might start as an exciting adventure but can soon turn into a tiresome journey. So we have compiled a list of things to do before starting a home renovation project to help you deal with the stress and chaos. Meticulous planning will give you an approximate timeline of the duration of the renovation, setting up a budget will ensure that you do not incur extra expenses, and hiring the right contractor will help you better execute your goals. So follow these tips and make the home renovation project easy for yourself.