Renovating your home is a significant undertaking that demands careful attention to every aspect. The home renovation process might be frustrating if you don’t prepare ahead. Unexpected costs and complications can complicate the procedure. However, if you properly set yourself up with a clear goal in mind, you can avoid headaches. So, before you embark on a renovation project, here are some things to consider.
Decide What You Want Out of Your Renovation
Understanding what you want to achieve and why with your renovation is important. If you are renovating to avoid moving, the work you do now should serve for a few years. Consider how many bedrooms and bathrooms you will need in the future, as well as how much living space you will require, especially if you have a growing family.
Even if you don’t want to sell your home right now, consider how a renovation could boost its value. A good rule of thumb is to spend around 10% of your home’s worth on a kitchen renovation and about 5% on a bathroom renovation.
Realistically Assess Your Budget
Be honest with yourself about how much you can afford. Obtain written quotations from at least three builders and clarify what these estimates include or don’t include. You should budget for 45-50 percent of material costs, 30-35 percent for labour, and 20-25 percent for fees, taxes, GST, and levies. Remember to include extra charges like storage and council permits.
Talk to your bank or mortgage broker about extending your current home loan, refinancing your mortgage, or acquiring a construction loan if you are short on cash. Keep track of expenditures and timeframes even if you have employed a project manager. Keep all invoices, receipts, contracts, and plans safe and organised, and make a note in your calendar of any deadlines you need to achieve to ensure the project runs successfully.
Be Realistic About Your Timeline
You might believe that replacing a washing machine and an outdated double vanity in a bathroom is simple. It may just take a few hours to remove the old fixtures, but it may take several weeks to find a new tub and vanity that you like. It could take another two weeks for them to arrive. Be prepared and make concessions to avoid irritation if your renovation takes longer than expected.
Expecting to use your new hall bath in a week can quickly evolve into a six-week delay. Be realistic about the remodelling process and timeline, and pick your further improvements before tearing out the old ones.
Be Specific About Design Ideas
Before you meet with an interior designer, you should narrow down your design preferences. Browse home decorating magazines, interior designing websites, and design shows for ideas. Having a solid grip on a design direction will help you avoid being influenced by a designer’s personal preferences, which may differ from your renovation goal.
Also, stick to your budget when hiring a designer. Allowing them to buy expensive materials and then charging you for them is not a good idea. For low cost, try to stay within a specific time frame.
Finding the Right People to Work With
Finding the ideal person to work with from the initial designs to the construction and finalisation is one approach to ensure that the project runs as smoothly as possible.
You will almost certainly be working closely with the individuals you choose to renovate your home, so be sure you maintain good, trustworthy, and productive communication with them.
Create a Plan to Move House Material
Appliances, furniture, clothing, kitchenware, and other items exist in a home. It is tough to keep everything organised during the renovation process. As a result, making a plan for self-storage materials throughout the renovation time is ideal. Private lockups protect the material safe and secure. As a result, you should always look for a reputable self-storage lockup service provider organisation that will protect your dwelling items at all times. Make reservations with storage service providers before starting the renovation procedure.
Figure Out What You Can Do Yourself
While more difficult tasks should be left to specialists, you can complete some projects with the help of your spouse and other talented family members. Painting the walls, replacing cabinet hardware, adding new stains to the flooring, caulking gaps in the walls, and installing new cabinets in certain rooms are examples of these jobs. It is cost-effective and provides a sense of accomplishment.
Stay Legal
Building laws and permits in many areas impact your ability to renovate your property. It would help if you learned about your city’s construction regulations and related legislation so that you don’t have to pay large penalties or redo specific projects to stay within your city’s guidelines.
Don’t Rush the Renovation.
This is important for everyone’s protection. Ensure that your contractors follow all safety precautions while using particular types of equipment. If you’re working on the tasks with your partner, go through each step thoroughly. Make sure you buy the necessary supplies and take accurate measurements. This ensures that your restoration appears amazing and that you don’t have to spend time fixing mistakes.
Consider Alternative Living Arrangements
Figure out a place where you’ll stay temporarily while the renovations are being done. You have the option of staying at a hotel or staying with family in the region. Just make sure you know how long you stay with them and that you’re courteous while staying with your relatives.
If you plan on subdividing, read everything there is to know in our blog: What You Need to Know Before Subdividing
