Home renovations are a challenge. Between staying on time, under budget, and across all aspects of the project, giving your home a makeover is like a huge juggling act. And it can be so stressful that it almost feels like a full-time job.
That’s why planning is so important. Ultimately, taking the time to prepare a design strategy before you begin is going to save you time, money, and grey hairs from all that stress. Simply follow this renovation planning guide to tackle everything on your next project like one of those home improvement professionals on TV.
Understand your goals
Before you can start planning anything, you need to know exactly what the goals of your renovation are. Sure, you may want a new bathroom, but what specifically do you want? You need to have an idea of the details so you can create a scope of work. This is one situation in life where you actually do have to work backwards.
This can be a list of ideas, sketches on a cocktail napkin, a mood board with magazine clippings, some photoshopped pictures, all the way up to complete architectural plans. Then once you’ve got the finished product down on paper, you can start working on creating a step-by-step renovation plan for how you’ll be getting there.
Do some research
Once you know what you want, it’s time to do some research into what’s involved. This means drilling down into the project to find out how each aspect of the renovation should progress. This is often a good time to consult professionals who specialize in renovations like architects, designers, or builders and discuss your ideas or even draw up a plan.
It’s often a good idea to research renovation ideas first so you can ascertain whether or not they will value-add to your property. You should also consider how the reno will affect the layout of your home, the use of space, and your future needs, and so on. Remember it is always much cheaper and easier to make changes or correct mistakes on paper than during or, even worse, after the renovation.
Set a budget
Now that you understand the intricacies of your dream renovation, it’s time to work out how much you can afford to spend to make it a reality. While having an accurate financial plan is critical when planning a successful renovation, actually sticking to it is the most effective way of avoiding going over budget.
A renovation budget should factor in all expenses involved with the entire project, such as the anticipated costs of acquiring permits, building materials, trade labour, overhead expenditures, and the final aesthetic touches. This will typically involve a little guesswork and there are often extra unexpected costs for things like unexpected, so you should have some extra cash in the kitty. Just don’t overdo it unless you can afford it.
Know your limits
Doing some of the renovation work yourself can often help cut some of the costs. Plus there’s a real sense of achievement and success when the reno is complete. But it’s important to know when to DIY and when to call in the pros. Otherwise, they can very quickly turn into a disastrous money pit if you don’t understand what you’re doing.
So you must be honest with yourself and your abilities regarding which tasks you can tackle safely. If you’re not confident, always hire a pro to carry out the work. And don’t forget that some aspects of your reno must be completed by licensed professionals, such as plumbing, electrical, or structural work.
Schedule of works
For the best chance of a successful project, you should always have an up-to-date schedule of works. This is absolutely essential to ensure the project stays on track. The schedule should outline each job that’s required to complete your renovation, written in the most efficient order they should be happening.
This should include all the information regarding each job in the project, such as which trade is doing what, when it is happening, how long it will take, and the individual job costs. Basically, this is a master checklist of all required materials with supplier details, trade contractors with contact details, administrative task information like permits, all the way down to specific paint color numbers.
Image Source: Pixabay
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