Starting a home renovation project yourself can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve never completed one before. Whatever the project might be, your remodel is sure to involve many different details and it can seam daunting at times. This post aims to help with that by giving you some tips for planning a home remodel. Learn what order you should be completing tasks in, how to prioritize and build a detailed home project plan that will reduce your stress level while also keeping you on schedule and on budget. Continue reading to learn five important steps to planning a home renovation project.
How To Plan Your Home Renovation Project
1. Set a Budget – If you’re preparing to start a new remodeling project then you probably have a good idea of what you want to spend on your project. Still, you should get some estimates on what the project might cost. You can do this by asking friends who have remodeled before or contacting a renovation company. Once you get a general idea on what the project will cost, add roughly 10-20% for unforeseen expenses. You never know what other expenses might arise, such as your electrical not being up to code and needing to be replaced or wanting to make additional upgrades during the renovation. Either way, it’s a good idea to have some money set aside for these types of things.
2. Design Your Space – This is the most exciting part! You probably have a rough idea in your mind of what you want to accomplish. But now you get to sit down and really plan it out. Start by looking through magazines or websites like Pinterest for inspiration and save pictures of rooms that you love. Then, start planning how you can recreate that look in your own home.
As you plan you renovation, think about things like:
• The layout of the space.
• Needs and wants for your project.
• Which parts of the project you can DIY and which parts will need a professional.
• The style of furniture and fixtures.
3. Hire Contractors – Once you’ve determined a plan for the space you’ll be remodeling, it’s time to start looking for contractors. If you’re going to be doing this project yourself, then you can move to the next step. Otherwise, pay close attention to this one because you want to make sure you hire someone who is qualified and trustworthy.
When choosing between contractors, consider:
• Years of experience
• Past projects
• Insurance
• References
• How payments are handled
• Licenses
For big remodels that involve a lot of different trades, consider hiring a general contractor. They’ll either have the employees on staff with skills for each trade or they’ll take care of organizing subcontractors for each trade.
4. Build a Timeline – Next, you need to focus on building a timeline for the remodel. This step is also important because you want to make sure the contractors are all on the same page about what needs to be done.
You need to factor in things like:
• How long it will take to get materials.
• The time of year.
• How long it will take to complete each stage of the project.
• Projected completion date.
5. Set Expectations for Ongoing Communication – If you plan to hire a contractor to do your remodel, setting expectations for ongoing communication is a must. This will ensure that there are no surprises along the way.
Some things you might want to consider:
• How often you’ll need updates from your contractors
• Type of communication you each prefer (email, text, phone call..etc)
• What information needs to be included in each update
• How to proceed when problems arise
• What to do if you want to request a change
A properly planned renovation project is easier to execute and stands a much better chance of being completed the way you imagine. Whether you plan to tackle this project yourself or by using a remodeling company, make sure you’re prepared for everything that goes along with renovations. Set a reasonable budget, create a detailed design, hire experienced contractors if needed, build a timeline, and set clear expectations. If you can follow these five simple steps then your next home, kitchen or bathroom renovation should be great!