20 Tips for Planning a Successful House Remodel
Home and Kitchen remodels can be a daunting task and you may just want to skip to the fun stuff like the design, colors, and fixtures. However if you want a successful renovation you should consider the following tips before you jump right in.
1.) Know Your End Goal
Have a plan and think about why you are renovating in the first place. Do you want to bring your home resale value up or is it just for your pleasures to live in a newly remodeled home for years to come? Don’t forget about the demographics of your neighborhood and know what kind of renovations are good for your neighborhood. You don’t want to overspend in a neighborhood and not get the true value of your home.
2.) Have a Budget
Create a reasonable budget and stick to it! Don’t forget to tack on contingencies and unexpected costs to your budget. Some contingencies may include the cost to eat out because your kitchen is being renovated or even to get a hotel room for the night. Do your research and plan your budget before you start your project.
3.) Consult the Calendar
If you have a renovation completion date that you would like to stick to, look at the calendar and work your way backwards. Make sure to leave space for delays due to weather, or appliance delivery delays.
4.) Do Your Research
Consult with the people around you like your friends, family and neighbors. It’s good to get an understanding from people who have gone through a renovation. The process can be challenging and getting support or advice from them can be helpful. ANDY DEAN PHOTOGRAPHY/SHUTTERSTOCK
5.) Know Your Limits
Saving on costs and DIYing some projects may seem easy to tackle but they can be difficult if you don’t know what you are doing. Know your limits and let the professionals handle the tough projects you can’t handle.
6.) Ask for References
If they are a good general contractor they will have no problem providing references and copies of liability insurance before a job begins. We at Elite Living Remodeling will have that on hand for you if you ask for it. You can go to our Yelp page and read our testimonials but also we would highly suggest you reach out to them as well and get your questions answered. We want you to feel safe and taken care of when we take on a remodeling job.
7.) Pack Up
For a smoother transition and start to any home reno project we highly suggest you pack up and tidy up your home where the renovation will be occurring. For a full home remodel some people consider renting out a storage unit or pod.
8.) Consider Your Routine
Be upfront about your routine to any contractors you hire. Work with your contractor to come up with a schedule for a start and end time for the least amount of disructions for your family’s day. You wouldn’t want an unexpected visit from a contractor and be in your bathrobe.
9.) Establish Mission Control
The worst thing about starting any kind of project is not having all your materials and tools at hands reach. Designate a zone for all contracts, plans, materials and tools so that you can always get to it when you need it.
10.) Protect the Kids
Home remodeling can be fun for kids to help with picking out colors and small DIY projects, but it can be dangerous as well because of all the tools, sharp objects and debris. Be sure to install child safety gates, electrical safety covers and store sharp tools well out of the way of curious tots, especially on off-hours where there may not be adequate supervision in the remodel zone.
11.) Don’t Forget the Pets
As much as a remodel can be draining and hard on us, our fury little family members feel the chaos as well. Keep your pets safe from all the debris and renovation.
12.) Plan For Outages
In case you need to shut off your water at the main valve, plan ahead and place containers of water in the fridge for drinking, on the counter for cooking and have buckets of water available to flush the toilet. An easy way to do this is to fill the bathtub with water and place a bucket nearby to pour into the toilet bowl.
13.) Make a Master List
Make a masterlist of things you have and things you need to buy. This will keep inventory of what you have and also remind you to get things you need.
14.) Create Drawings
Draw things out on how you envision things. You don’t have to be an artist or engineer to create a drawing. Just make sure to measure things and document square footage, heights and widths of doors and windows, and current locations for any services like electrical, gas or water.
15.) Obtain Permits
Permits are a necessary part of the process in most cases, which can come back to haunt you if not obtained in the first place. Building permits are necessary to ensure your house remodel meets structural and fire safety requirements and code inspectors in most jurisdictions can make you rip out non-conforming work if not up to snuff. This can create a very expensive headache when looking to sell your home down the road. It’s always advisable to think ahead and ensure the permit process is followed.
16.) Plan a Reno-Free Zone
Before starting all the mess of a remodel, it’s a good plan to designate a renovation-free zone for your family to gather in semi-relaxation. Make sure you have everything you need in one place, such as a kettle or microwave, so you have one functional space to gather, eat or just unwind at the end of the day.
17.) Schedule Cleanup
Renovations can get messy and dirty. Papers and tools can get lost in the mess. It is best to schedule a designated time for cleanup after every day.
18.) Plan Ahead
Even in a cosmetic remodel, there can be an opportunity to enhance the function or money-saving capability of your home. When ripping out an entire room, for instance, this may be the perfect time to add insulation to the walls, upgrade your electrical panel or add additional light or electrical fixtures. The key is to think ahead to how you will use the room, and take advantage of cosmetic updates to enhance the structure of your home.
19.) Book the Help
Gather your friends and family for the small projects and make sure they have the time to help you and give them plenty of reminders. Remember they are doing this to help you. For the large projects hire a great contractor like us at Elite Living Remodeling. Make sure you allow enough lead time to snag your desired timeline, otherwise you could be stuck waiting on them.
20.) Check the Weather
Even if you’re planning a spring or summer remodel, don’t bank on having gorgeous weather to do it. Be sure to check the long and short-term forecasts before beginning a job, and schedule jobs that require outside access, like spray painting or wood cutting on days that have the best outlook. Consider heat and cold on days you may have to cut power to your furnace or air conditioner for comfortable working conditions and be sure to stay alert to unexpected changes in the weather.