You are aware that you would like to renovate your house, but you are stumped as to where to begin, right? Well, you're not alone. Many homeowners begin the process of planning a home renovation without having any idea what kind of challenges they will face. They don't come to regret not having a plan until after they've been through some unfortunate events throughout the restoration. Because, unlike when building a new home, you don't begin the process of home remodeling with a clean slate, the lack of planning can lead to a process that is fraught with frustration and disappointment. There is the potential for unforeseen costs as well as problems, both of which can make the process more difficult. Therefore, before you walk down the twists and turns of the renovation path, here are seven things that you absolutely need to know about where to start with remodeling a house.
1. Make the Purchase of a Key Lockbox
If you live a significant distance away from your home and are in the process of remodeling it before moving in, you might want to consider purchasing a key lockbox. If there are substantial jobs on your checklist that you are unable to complete on your own, you will have no choice but to employ a contractor. Keep in mind that construction workers start early in the morning; therefore, unless you want to drive in the morning rush hour traffic to let workers inside, plan to attach a lockbox or install smart door hardware that allows you to provide entry to guests with a code. This will prevent you from having to drive in the morning rush hour traffic. It can save you many hours, tanks of petrol, and those agonizing wake-up calls that come early in the morning.
2. Having Experiences in Outer Space
It is vital to postpone making certain choices, such as the color of the paint, the carpet, and the light fixtures, until after you have spent some time in the area that you are remodeling, no matter how obvious this may appear. If you want to replace your old carpet, for instance, you could feel overwhelmed by all of the options. Dense or loose fibers? Or was there no discernible pattern? What precise hue of gray? The responses are contingent on other components of the makeover, such as selecting paint colors, for example.
Even if you choose paint palettes prior to the beginning of the makeover, you still need to test them out on the walls. As you spend more time in the house, you might find that your initial color choices no longer feel appropriate. Additionally, newly painted walls and new carpet may expose that the current light fixtures in the room do not provide the level of illumination that you had anticipated they would.
You can avoid going back to the drawing board on more than one occasion if, prior to repainting and replacing the carpet in the space you are redesigning, you give some thought to how the various components of the space interact with one another.
3. Maintain a Realistic Perspective on Your Timeline
It will take longer than you anticipate to complete your renovation; therefore, while planning a home renovation, you should be prepared and make accommodations to avoid being frustrated. For instance, you might believe that updating an old whirlpool tub and double vanity in a bathroom will be a simple and straightforward process. It may take a few hours to remove the old fixtures, but it may take several weeks to choose a new tub and vanity that you just adore. There is a possibility that it will take an additional two weeks before they are delivered. A waiting time of six weeks may be required if you had anticipated using your brand-new hall bath within the next week. It is important to have a pragmatic outlook about the remodeling procedure and the timetable, and to choose your new additions before eliminating the present components.
4. Anticipate that which is Unforeseen
Every house has something hidden, whether it's in the attic, the basement, or the walls. A makeover might bring those to light.
During the process of measuring for your much anticipated new hardwood floors, for instance, your contractor may inform you that your floors are uneven because of a moved central joist. Before you can install the replacement material, you will need to take action against the house inspector who overlooked the problem and have the floor joists fixed. This is just one example of anything that could go wrong unexpectedly, which is why you should build in extra time and money into your renovation budget in case something like this happens. This will provide you a cushion to deal with any problems that arise along the road.
5. Conduct Interviews with Multiple Independent Contractors
It is in your best interest to conduct interviews with multiple contractors and to compare their bids. Let's say you want to move your existing water heater from the upstairs closet to the garage so that you may install a new one there. It's possible that the first plumber you approach may tell you he expects to charge you $6,000 to relocate your hot water lines, which will require cutting into the tray ceiling of your living room. It's possible that the second plumber won't be able to fit everything in given his timetable. Plumber three estimates that the work will be completed in one day at a cost of $3,285 and will not require any water line rerouting.
If you don't interview numerous contractors, you run the danger of overpaying for the work and not obtaining the results you want. Before making a final choice, it is in everyone's best interest to complete their research and consult with a number of knowledgeable people.
6. Prioritize the Remodeling of Your Kitchen
The sequence in which a house should undergo renovations is a question that is frequently asked by homeowners. Because kitchen renovations typically result in the greatest increase in resale value, this is the room in which you should get started. According to the remodeling effect report published by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry in 2022, Realtors predict that homeowners can recoup 75% of the cost of a complete kitchen renovation if they sell their property after the renovation has been completed. In addition, if you have an old kitchen and want to be able to enjoy the space more while you are at home, replacing the worn-out area is a good investment.
In real actuality, the renovation of the kitchen should come first on your to-do list. This is due to the fact that the work involved in this project will generate the most dust and dirt, neither of which can be allowed to settle on freshly painted or finished surfaces. Placing plastic over entrances and other passageways is a tried-and-true method for isolating any mess that may result from demolition. Because a comprehensive kitchen redesign normally takes many months to complete, you will need to create a makeshift kitchen in another part of your home, such as the dining room, the family room, or another area that is next to the kitchen.
7. Be Particular Regarding Your Design Ideas
Before you meet with an interior designer, you should work to narrow down your choices in terms of design. Find ideas for designing your home by looking through interior decorating periodicals and online, as well as attending design exhibits. You will be able to avoid being talked into a designer's personal ideas by getting a hold on a design direction, which will help you avoid being talked into a designer's personal ideas, which might differ from your vision for the restoration.
Also, be sure that your designer works within the confines of your financial plan. Do not give them permission to buy pricey items and then bill you for those materials later. If you make an effort to complete the task within the allotted amount of time, you will see that your expenses do not escalate.
