The majority of people renovate their homes to make them more stylish, more comfortable, and more functional. The journey to completion will be stressful regardless of your decision, but you will be glad you did it once the ultimate goal is achieved.
1. Budget
Budgeting is never easy. A large project you haven’t done before presents an even more significant challenge than just creating a budget. A detailed plan and a lot of research are necessary for building a feasible budget for this type of job.
Renovating your home can be a considerable expense. You need to purchase the proper materials to make the changes you want to make, and you need to hire the appropriate tradespeople to do the job.
It can take time and money. Before you even begin, you should develop a price in mind that you are willing to spend. The amount can be flexible and will likely change once you price out the materials and labor, but you will have a better sense of where you are by completing this initial step.
Some things to think about include:
Financing
If you are renovating your whole house, you will likely need some form of financing to help you out. This will involve speaking with your bank or specialist lenders and getting their feedback.
It would be best to take what they advise on board because they will have done this before and know general costs and the budget you will need. Be open-minded, however, if changes need to be made later on. I.e., you will want a small contingency if possible.
Labor
Probably taking up most of the budget, this will be one of the most significant expenses. Nevertheless, you tend to get what you pay for, and the better contractors will help you price up the entire job using their previous experience.
Furthermore, when you pay correctly for good labor, you often find that you save money with materials. This is because experienced tradespeople who know their craft are experts at keeping waste to a minimum.
If you opt for cheaper labor, you could find yourself in a position where the work is taking longer, you need more materials, and the price ends up the same.
Materials
This cost will vary significantly with regards to how much of your house you are renovating. If you decide on your entire property, you will see a significant increase compared with only one or two rooms.
To get an estimate, you will typically need to receive quotations from different contractors and get their opinion. As mentioned previously, you must listen to what they have to say and base your decision on that.
2. Dimensions
Keeping in mind the dimensions of the renovations and how they fit into your existing furniture will help you. This is often overlooked and can cause serious problems if not addressed at the initial stages.
For example, will all of your current white goods fit in the space you have allocated? Conversely, if the area is becoming larger, will you need to purchase more products to keep the room from feeling empty.
This applies to all rooms you will be fixing up and no more so than your bedroom. If you buy new bedding and mattresses, you can use this guide to help you figure out which size mattress will fit perfectly in your newly designed room.
Getting your dimensions correct is vital in the renovation process and should not be left until the last moment. If your budget stretches far enough, you should consider hiring a skilled architect to plan everything out and work in conjunction with the general contractors.
3. Which Room First?
Before letting your contractor begin work, you will need to carefully consider which room or rooms you want to get finished first. This is so that you will have some form of normality as the work progresses.
The most common rooms to finish first are the kitchen and at least one bedroom. Renovating your home is a stressful event, and you will need a place to escape the mess and chaos.
4. Compare Several Quotes
Choosing the right contractor is a challenge. You want to hire someone whose experience, portfolio, and rates are all top-notch. You probably know what you need, but you don’t know how to find the right person.
What are some things to look out for when interviewing each one?
Check their experience:
Find out what jobs they have completed recently and ask them how it went. If possible, contact the people who hired them last to get their opinion. After all, you will be paying a lot of money, and you want to know if they are good
Verify their permits
Depending on what state you live in, they should have specific permits that allow them to work in this industry.
Ensure they have insurance:
Check that they have enough insurance to cover all possible events, not only for structural and health possibilities but also if they cannot finish the work. It would be wise to check if they are bonded.
Ask about payment:
Do they require half now, half on completion, or will they accept installations as the work progresses? These are questions you should ask each contractor as you interview them. As a side note, stay away from any contractor who demands the entire payment upfront.
5. Have A Realistic Timeline
Set up a deadline and stick to it. This is the mantra many home improvement websites will tell you. However, it is not that simple. Having a realistic timeline that you want to follow is better than setting a deadline.
This will include contingency planning and allowing for small overruns. You should also consider the time it takes to clean up and put things back in their proper places, as this will affect when you get back to normal.
6. Be Prepared For Anything
Construction is a mixture of art and science, and certain materials push it further into the art side of things. This brings with it unexpected challenges that you must overcome to get the job completed on time.
If you can run with the punches and expect the unexpected, this construction will go far more smoothly and result in less stress.
Renovations can be time-consuming, costly, and stressful. By planning well and remaining flexible, it becomes more manageable and the result more achievable.
If you live in and around the North or Central Okanagan, then give Phyxter Home Services a call. We would be more than happy to help you out. You can contact either of our offices in Vernon and Kelowna.
