What You Need for a Home Renovation

Before swinging the hammer, or punching out walls, just how prepared are you to undergo a home renovation? Whether you’re attaching a small DIY renovation with your spouse or a family member’s help, or a major renovation to multiple spaces throughout the home with a hired contractor, you’ll want to be certain that you are properly equipped to handle all that comes with a renovation. Not only are there concerns related to the actual construction, but there are also budgetary constraints, properly planning out the renovation, and keeping the renovation from turning your home into a mess. Here are a few major items that need to be squared away before the renovations begin.

Draw Up Your Plan

Most homeowners constantly daydream about adding additions or doing renovations to their home. In many instances, those ideas remain in our head as an afterthought. In some cases, they may even make it onto a piece of paper with the aid of a measuring tape. If you’re really ready to move forward with a renovation idea, it’s best to have plans drawn up by a professional. These professional plans will assess exactly how much space and resources you will need, as well as act as a blueprint that you can shop around with to different contractors and builders to find the best price for the job. In addition, you should be able to get a good idea on what the renovation is going to cost based off of the plans so you can begin to develop a budget for the project.

Create a Budget and Stick to It

Once you have a firm understanding of what the structural, electrical, plumbing, and other “unseen” construction will cost, you can then start to look to add on additional finishes depending on what type of space you are working with or the functionality of the room. A general rule of thumb is to leave ten to twenty percent of your total budget available for unforeseen costs during the renovation. When factoring in items to your budget, it’s best to consult with an online guide that can point out additional expenses that you may not think of until it’s too late, such as dumpster rental or air duct cleaning following the renovation.

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

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Depending on the scope of your renovation, preparations for the project will vary. Figure out how your day to day life will be affected with a space of the house unavailable, and start with making preparations for that. If your bathroom is being remodeled, finding a hotel room for a few nights might be the best option if you have to get showered and ready for work. If outside contractors are doing the work, be sure to remove all furniture and items from the space, as well as in the path from the jobsite to the door. Understanding where and how you’ll get rid of demo materials is often overlooked until there is a huge pile of rubbish in the driveway or backyard. Renting a dumpster for your renovation that will be hauled away by the company is an efficient, worry-free way to manage the waste produced during the job. Determine the size of the dumpster rental based on the amount of renovating that is going into your project. If you intend on doing any of the renovation yourself, or with family/friends, be sure you know what tools will be required for the job so you can prevent having to run to the home improvement store while your help sits around and waits for you to get back.

 

Whether you are undertaking a full home renovation, a single bathroom remodel, or removing a wall, creating equity in your home through renovations is a great way to see the value of your home increase. Be sure to consult with trusted family or friends who have experience in the contracting or construction field throughout the process, to ensure that no corners are being cut and that all work is being performed up to local code. When the project is done, you’ll be glad you did it!

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