Prior to starting your home renovation project, it is important to consider the following tips which most homeowners wished that they had known before doing their remodeling. You want to renovate your home, but unfortunately, you don’t know where to start. But don’t worry, because you are not alone.
Most homeowners get right into a home renovation without having any idea of what to expect. And consequently, when mishaps happen during their renovation, they would regret not having any plans. If you are not well-prepared for your home renovation process, then most likely you will have a lot of disappointments.
This is because compared to constructing a new house, you do not start from the very beginning. There might be unforeseen circumstances that can make the whole process more complicated. So before you face the twists and turns of the renovation process, here are some important things that you need to know when it comes to renovating a house.
Purchase a Key Lockbox
If you are living far away from your home that is undergoing renovation, purchasing a key lock box can be a convenient solution. This will allow contractors to access your home early in the morning for any projects that you cannot do on your own. Instead of having to drive to your home every day to let the workers in, a lockbox can save you time and effort.
Another option is installing smart door hardware that allows access using a code, reducing the need for physical keys and early morning trips. This can save you a lot of time, not to mention the gallons of gasoline you need as well as the agony of waking up early in the morning.
Allocate More Time to the Space
Obviously, it is essential that you should put on hold some of the decisions such as light fixtures, carpet, paint colors, etc. until you spend more time in the space that you are remodeling.
For instance, if you want to change your old carpet, then the options can be overwhelming. Do you prefer loose fibers or dense ones? Would you rather go for a striated or without any pattern? What would be the right shade of gray for you? The answers to these questions will likely depend on the other factors of your home renovation, such as deciding on the paint colors.
If you have already chosen your paint palettes prior to the start of your renovation, then you should see them on the walls. Sometimes your choice of colors could change as the renovation is going on. Additionally, you might discover that the newly installed carpet and the newly painted walls can’t brighten up the space using your existing light fixtures.
That is why it is important that you should spend more time considering how everything will work in the space that you are renovating before deciding on the carpet and paint colors. This can save you a lot of time from going back to the drawing board over and over again.
Anticipate a Realistic Timeline
Most likely, renovations can take longer than you’ve expected, hence, you should always be prepared when planning for a home remodeling. To prevent yourself from being frustrated, try to make some accommodations. For instance, you might think that changing the old vanity and the whirlpool tub in your bathroom can be done quickly.
However, you have to consider that removing the old fixtures cannot be done quickly since it will take some time. Also, it will take weeks before you can choose the vanity and the tub that you like. And most probably, the delivery will take another two weeks.
You might expect that you can use your new bathroom within a week, but in reality, you will have to wait at least six weeks before it can be ready. That is why you should be realistic when it comes to the process and timeline of your renovation. Choose your new replacements first before you start removing the old ones.
Always Expect the Unexpected
There are always secrets in every house. You could find them under the floors, within the walls, or anywhere else. These secrets can be uncovered during the renovation. For instance, while taking measurements for your new hardwood floors, your contractor discovered that you have uneven floors caused by a shifted center joist.
Perhaps this is something that the home inspector missed. It is important that you get this repaired right away before the new material will be installed. This is just one of those unexpected things. Hence, you should allocate extra time and extra money for your renovation for those unexpected things that could happen along the way.
Screen Several Contractors
It would be worthwhile if you could interview several contractors and make a comparison of their bids. For instance, what if you want to remove your existing water heater upstairs and install a new one in your garage? The first plumber that you interview might charge you $6,000 and plan to reroute the water lines by going through the ceiling of your living room.
The second plumber might charge you $3,500 and reveals that he can get the job done in just a day without the need for water line rerouting. Finally, the third plumber might decline the job since he finds it too complicated, and does not have time for it.
It is essential that you should Interview several contractors to avoid the risk of paying too much for a job that is not done the way you want it to be. So, be sure to talk to experts, get some recommendations and do your homework before making your final decision.
Start Renovating Your Kitchen
It is recommended that homeowners start their home renovation with the kitchen as it has the potential to add the most value to their property. According to real estate experts, homeowners can expect to recover around 75% of the cost of their kitchen renovation when they sell their homes in the future. Renovating an outdated kitchen not only increases the value of the property, but also provides homeowners with a more functional and enjoyable space to spend time in.
When remodeling the kitchen, it is important to keep in mind that the process can generate a lot of dust and debris. To prevent this from affecting other parts of the home, it is a good idea to isolate the area by covering doorways with plastic. The kitchen remodel process can take several months, so it may be necessary to set up a temporary kitchen in another part of the house, such as the family room or dining room.
Make Your Design Ideas More Accurate
Before making an appointment with your interior designer, try to narrow down your preferred designs. Get some ideas by attending design shows, browsing interior decorating websites, or going through home decorating magazines. If you have a design direction, then you can avoid being persuaded by the designer’s personal ideas, which are different from your own perspective.
Also, inform your designer that they should not go beyond your budget. You should not let them buy expensive things that will be paid for by you. As much as possible, try to remain within a particular time frame to lower your renovation cost.
Allright Construction can help you with your renovation needs. We also offer roofing services. For more information, you can contact us at (210) 725-6082 or (210) 698-6081. Our fax number is (210) 698-6081 and our email address is [email protected].